International student opens up on life at GCU
A Medical Bioscience student has reflected on her first trimester at GCU and how she’s making the most of her experience in Scotland.
Ebelechukwu Nwafor-Orizu moved from Nigeria to study her Master's degree, having previously completed an Undergraduate in Microbiology.
“I chose Scotland because I have family here and realised that adjusting wouldn’t be too difficult for me” explained Ebelechukwu.
“It’s very beneficial studying here because if I wanted to do something like this in my own country, it would be difficult for me to get the chance to gain practical experience. The facilities here at GCU allow me to practice and help make me a more confident person, both personally and professionally.
“I expected the course to be difficult and it hasn’t disappointed. It’s challenging but it’s very interesting. I’m getting to learn a lot of new things that I never knew before, and it feels like I’ve started school all over again.”
Studying at GCU has allowed Ebelechukwu to gain more confidence and she now wants to help support other students with any issues they may be facing.
She added: “It’s difficult because I’ve always been introverted and don’t usually ask questions in class, but since I got here I’ve become more outgoing.
“I like to help people and tried my best to support friends that had any issues getting settled into university. The opportunity to become a class representative also came up and I knew I wanted to get involved. I felt it would allow me to help my classmates because I would have access to new information and staff members that could provide support.”
Ebelechukwu has also had the chance to develop new friendships with other students from around the world during her time in Scotland.
She said: “I recently attended the SHLS International Student Welcome Event – it was a fantastic opportunity for me. It allowed me to meet other international students and build new connections, which helps me massively as someone in a new country.
“We also got to take part in a really fun quiz about Scotland. I didn’t know any of the answers but I now know all about Robert Burns! I’m also going to make sure I go and visit The Kelpies at some point in future.”
Despite having nine months until graduation, Ebelechukwu is already considering the possibility of staying in Scotland beyond her degree.
“I see myself staying in Scotland because I like the people and the overall environment. It’s very calm here and I feel like my spirit really flows well with this place. Glasgow is a very clean city and thankfully it’s not as busy as Nigeria. You get to meet all sorts of different people.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of my time at GCU, especially the range of opportunities available to me.”
Find out more about what you can expect as an international student at GCU
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter