International Assistants East Students' Transition to BC

The International Assistant Program was established in 1980 in response to the needs of incoming international students at Boston College. The program matches each incoming undergraduate international student with an upperclass student who is an International Assistant. Last Friday was the application deadline for students interested in being an International Assistant (IA) next year.

According to the program’s Web site, “the purpose of the International Assistant Program is to facilitate the adjustment of new international students to BC, Boston and American life in general, especially during the crucial first month.” IAs serve as mentors, friends and resources in helping facilitate international students’ transition to BC and the US in general.

According to Kristen DeMayo, International Coordinator and LSOE ’00, “applicants are not required to have had any international experience, but must be able to empathize with the hardships felt by international students in having to assimilate into a different culture.”

“It’s a highly competitive application process where obvious preference is given to those possessing international cognizance and experience as well as a genuine desire to help, “ said Hozaifa Cassubhai, coordinator of the International Assistant Workshop and International Student Orientation and A&S ’00.

Once selected, IAs go through extensive training in order to be able to be a resource for the international students with whom they are paired. Training sessions include lectures on BC policies, international regulations, active listening and decision-making strategies.

Prior to the International Student Orientation, each IA is paired with one to three international students.

Criteria for matching students with IAs include language, course of study and outside interests.

Throughout the year, the International Assistant program holds programs to enable international students to get to know one another and to foster their assimilation into the BC community. “This year, we went on a whale watch, Duck Tour, Harbor Cruise, we cooked a spaghetti and Thanksgiving dinner, had two socials and spent Halloween in Salem. On a smaller scale, small groups have met for dinners at Addie’s, pizza and a movie in Ignacio, and coffee at the old Dunkin’ Donuts,” DeMayo said.

While the IA program is competitive to get into, many students who serve as IAs consider the program beneficial for both the international student and themselves.

“I am an IA to two students and have found the experience absolutely enriching. One of the unrealized aspects of the program is how much the International Assistant themselves gain from their interactions with the international students. It’s a two-way learning and growing process. For me, I have cherished the moments where I’ve been called on to provide advice about maybe what professor to take in the history department or where to go on Saturday night,” Cassubhai said.

“Through the program, I have learned a lot about other cultures just by talking to the students I am paired with. We talk about the differences between our respective societies and learn a lot from each other,” said Meghan Murray, A&S ’02.

“As a senior, I can honestly say that being an International Assistant and now Coordinator has been one of the most memorable things I’ve done at Boston College,” DeMayo said.