Hello, I am a student who’s lived her whole life in Saudi Arabia. Just in September 2018, I came to the US to study. I attend a community college now and was essentially very excited. However, now that I’m nearing the end of my freshman year, I realized that I dont think this experience is doing me any good. I have barely made any friends, I had a huge friend group in the beginning of the year whom I dont talk to either because of schedules and some seem to be avoiding me now. Secondly, I live with my noisy family and I am not moving out until after my last year of my AA degree which is another year from now. Additionally, I’m not doing that well studying wise despite going to a rigorous school back home. My major is biochem but I am starting to lose interest and all in all my mental condition got worse. I am starting to get panic attacks, paranoia and depression. Some days nothing would be specifically bad but I would cry for hours. Just recently I had a depressive fit in my bedroom for about 5 hours no joke. I find it holds me back from so many things. Despite all this, I am ry hesitant about going back home since I always thought the US had so many opportunities for me and this is something I daydreamed about since middle school. I have dedicated all my life learning English in Hope’s of studying in the US. I really need help deciding, can everyone tell me what they think?
Go see the student health center at your CC and talk with a counselor there. Find out if you have anything wrong with you medically. This could just be a health issue.
But my bet is that you are coping with a whole lot of cultural adjustment issues. You have been in school here since September, so you are exactly at the point where many people who are adjusting to life in a new culture feel saddest. Cultural adjustment is a lot like the chickenpox or measles, you will feel sicker for longer than you want to before you start to feel better. The people at the International Students Office at your college should have some helpful ideas for you. You also should look for a copy of “The Art of Crossing Cultures” by Craig Storti (buy it online or check your college library). Storti has good advice on getting through this stage of your adjustment to life in a new place.
Right now you aren’t sure about your major. That’s OK too. What other classes have you taken? What other classes would you like to take? Talk about those things with your advisor or a counselor at the advising center on campus. Even if you just switch to a General AA you will probably have enough credits to graduate next year and move on to a different college/university to finish your degree.
What are your plans for the summer? Can you get a part-time job so that you meet different people and do different things?