Anonymous Event | Photo by Aaron Cline | The Wright State Guardian
On Aug. 16, the Indian Student Association and the University Center for International Education held the Yours, Anonymously event, which was created to allow students– especially international students– to share their stories and their feelings about living and adapting in a new setting.
Writing your story
From 1 to 9p.m. in the Apollo Room, students could sit down and write out how they felt about anything– whether that be their childhood, their feelings about being on campus or even something as simple as how their day was.
After they finished writing, attendees could either pin up their piece around the room on provided strings, or they could add their piece to a submissions box, where the hosts would pin it up for them. With their anonymous stories out on display, students and faculty alike explored the various pieces and read the stories of strangers.
The event quickly gained traction; within an hour of starting, the front wall of the Apollo room already had dozens of pieces pinned up. Each piece depicted someone’s life. The deep bond attendees felt with the lives of people they may have never met left a feeling of melancholy and connection.
Multiple students at the event also said that it was an excellent time to meet new people and make friends before the semester started. One student described it as the “perfect” atmosphere for making connections.
As the day went on, the hosts introduced some interactive ice-breaker games to get people even more involved with one another. These games included kahoot and a “find your pair” game.
By the end of the night, over 100 letters, notes and doodles were written.. Each one reflected an individual’s mind and life in both heartbreaking and silly ways.
Hosting the event
While the event was hosted by two organizations, a big organizer of the event was graduate student Shasmitha Kombaiah.
According to Kombaiah, the event was born out of the experience of isolation that can come with being an international student.
When asked about how happy she felt with the outcome of the event, Kombaiah said, “I think ‘happy’ might be an understatement…having walked the tricky line between cultures, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be to find your footing in a new place. This event was born out of that experience… [and] it became this beautiful, organic representation of how, at the end of the day, we are so similar in our differences.”
“The fact that so many people felt safe enough to share their stories, it was beyond what I’d hoped for,” Kombaiah said.
The event was open to all students, but according to Kombaiah, the main purpose was to focus on international students. As students in an entirely new space who often have to learn a whole new way of living, especially in terms of culture and social norms, it can be a lonely experience.
“Our goal was to remind everyone– whether they were participating or just visiting– that while our individual stories may differ, the emotions we experience are often the same,” Kombaiah said.
Feeling isolated on campus
Hana Habib, Treasurer for the Muslim Student Association, expressed a personal story of being an international student in a new environment.
“As an international student from Egypt, I felt isolated in my first few weeks on campus. Everything was different from what I was used to– language, food [and] social norms,” Habib said.
To help alleviate this loneliness, Habib attended club events like those hosted by the Muslim Student Association. According to Habib, getting involved on campus was an essential part of her college life, as being involved allows her to connect with people with similar interests, backgrounds and goals.
“The group provided a space where I could express my culture and learn from others. I found comfort in shared experiences and, before long, the campus started to feel like a second home,” Habib said.
Getting involved on campus is an important part of any student’s college journey. For those who feel isolated at college– whether that be international students, freshmen or anyone who has not made those connections yet– joining clubs and organizations can help you take that first step into making campus home.
Students can learn more about upcoming events for all organizations through Engage.
For those who missed the first event, Kombaiah is already planning a second round of Yours, Anonymously. This event will potentially be held around World Mental Health Day and International Education Week.
“Expect to see us with little pop-up events around campus, appearing out of the blue! Come find us,” Kombaiah said.
There is always a place for students on campus. The hard part is finding these places, but once you do, campus can quickly become a second home for everyone.
