Like many students, I am a native Michiganian, growing up a mere hour and a half away from MSU. Despite my close proximity to campus, I remember how terrified I was during my own freshman orientation. Back then, campus seemed unending, composed of strangers and unfamiliar buildings. It didn’t matter that East Lansing was only a short drive away from my front door in Bay City, Mich., this new environment seemed foreign and a little terrifying.

Imagine what this experience must be like for an international student.

For many of these individuals, AOP is their very first time in the U.S., let alone at MSU. As a freshman, I was intimidated by an unfamiliar MSU landscape, while these students faced the daunting task of acquainting themselves with an entirely new country, culture, and of course, language.

Before my first day working the international portion of AOP at the end of the summer, I told myself extra effort and patience was going to be needed to help these students. Just imagine being in their shoes. Wouldn’t you feel a little stressed out? I went into my 8 a.m. shift dreading the long, difficult day ahead.

I could not have been more wrong.

The international students I encountered while working at AOP were some of the most optimistic, engaging and inspiring individuals I have ever met. Their comfort level, even in the midst of a completely foreign environment, astounded me.

Rather than appearing terrified or stressed, they talked to me about their love for Earvin “Magic” Johnson and inquired about things like where to get the best cheeseburger between classes, or what an exactly an “Izzone” is. Their excitement about being in America and becoming Spartans was palpable.

The enthusiasm didn’t burn out once AOP concluded, either.

Since AOP, I have stayed in touch with a handful of the students I helped and am constantly amazed by how these students embrace unfamiliarity of their situation.

Instead of frantically calling mom to arrange a plane trip home, as I’m sure I would do if put in the same position, my new friends, and other international classmates, gladly immerse themselves in the culture here.

By doing so, these students create a diverse MSU culture which permeates throughout campus. Here in East Lansing, for example, I can play basketball with friends from China and Korea and speak French with classmates from Lebanon and Egypt. To me, that’s pretty cool.

I might have shown these students how to enroll for classes at AOP, but the international students at MSU have taught me so much more.

Too often in my life, I have allowed anxiety and fear to stop me from attempting something new or potentially difficult. College life, however, should be about exploration and personal discovery.

Sometimes things might seem overwhelming or uncomfortable, but that does not mean you shouldn’t pursue these experiences.

Like the international students on campus, we should all approach the uncertain with a smile because who knows, your temporary fears might turn into a lifelong passion.

Alex Dardas is an international relations junior. Reach him at dardasal@msu.edu.