Photo By: Tori Thomas | Photographer
The International Student Organization (ISO) seeks to unite community members and students across campus with the world by celebrating diversity at Ferris with friendship, awareness, leadership and activities.
“There is a great impact from the community members,” said Jocelyn Aigboduwa, former ISO president and junior in the Actuarial Science program. “The events held by the ISO not only attract Ferris students, but residents of Big Rapids who are genuinely interested in the cultures and lives of international students in the United States. That is something I really treasure about Ferris and Big Rapids.”
“The ISO holds cultural events that we Americanize and copy,” Tran Thong, the vice president of the ISO, said. “For example, we have a Chinese New Year celebration every year, and the Holi Festival of Colors we had on April 5 was like a festival of light in India.”
Thong, a sophomore in computer information systems, joined the organization during his first semester as a way to meet new people and grow as a person. He ran for the position of vice president to improve his leadership skills and expand his role in the organization.
ISO members have many opportunities to strengthen their roles as leaders and communicators. Members often give presentations about the organization and its goals, which provide them with public speaking experience.
“The ISO is good for jobs and for communication skills,” Ferris freshman rubber engineering technology Mensehaj Singh said. “My experience through the ISO has been positive, for sure.”
ISO not only benefits international students, but also non-international students who want to become more cultured and informed about the world outside of Big Rapids.
“Americans who haven’t traveled and want to experience more—they can join the ISO,” Singh said. “The ISO provides different exposure and helps people expand themselves.”
ISO also aids international students with their transition to the United States.
“It’s really a blessing to be able to help people so they don’t go through it [the transition] as bad as I did,” saidAigboduwa, who made the trek from Nigeria to Big Rapids. “The ISO has helped me in so many ways. I’ve met friends from different parts of the world—it’s very educational. I’ve felt comfort being in the ISO. I didn’t feel as alone with people around who could relate to what I was going through.”
The International Student Organization welcomes international and traditional students who desire to step out of their comfort zone and broaden their perspective on life. ISO is open to all students and meets every Friday at 3 p.m. in IRC 122.