Culture Shock: The International Student Experience

           The boarding school experience for international students at Lawrenceville felt like a dream straight out of an Enid Blyton book. With our friends and family, we fantasized for months, imagining what the experience would actually be like when we got here. However, the realities of Lawrenceville were quickly unveiled upon our arrival to campus, after the immediate encounter with a plethora of house bonding activities, scheduling sessions, and a lengthy checklist of dorm supplies. The whir of the first few weeks left no time for us to take in the sprawling campus at our fingertips, and it felt like we were hastily dropped off without truly understanding the reality of being alone in a foreign country thousands of miles from home. 

 However, reflecting on the past nine months at Lawrenceville, we have come to terms with the social and cultural differences in order to make the most of our experiences on campus. Modes of communication drastically diverged from those that we were used to in our home countries. 

          Reflecting on her arrival at  Lawrenceville from Costa Rica last year, Sofi Keith ’25 emphasized the important distinction between language barriers and cultural colloquialisms, remarking that “Lawrenceville culture has its own language, meaning that it has its own definition of what is acceptable, what is funny, what is agreeable, and what is likable—and having to come in not understanding this made it really hard to build connections because you feel like you’re not speaking their language.” Keith expanded on her personal experience, stating, “I feel like I didn’t find my place here until I learned to speak their language and, therefore, had a means of communication to express who I really was.” 

 However, acknowledging the diversity of experiences that each international student has, Keith remarked, “I know a lot of people whose first year was made even harder because their House culture was such a different [experience] for them, and they had to assimilate to that, whereas others found it natural to fit into the preexisting culture of the House, so it really depends on the person.” 

          In addition to overcoming communication boundaries, the adjustment to House culture proves yet another challenging aspect of assimilation  for international students. 

          Nishka Malik ’24, recounting her adjustment to the Stanley House in the fall of 2021, emphasized the importance of the House in feeling accepted into the Lawrenceville community. “Coming from Singapore, I was so lucky to have been paired with my big, who was also from Singapore [and] gave me so much advice on navigating the social scene here at Lawrenceville.” 

          Simona Audzevicuite ’26 echoed Keith’s sentiments regarding the chance nature of House culture concerning the international student experience. Hailing from Lithuania,  Audzevicuite found it very difficult to fully embrace Lawrenceville’s social culture during her first few months, stating that “there wasn’t much support provided for us, [so] I felt like an outsider to many of the American experiences that connected my fellow Housemates.” Audzeviciute expressed her desire for increased support for international students.

          Conforming to social standards is a heavy weight that sits upon most, if not all students, at any institution; for international students, this fear is intensified by the daunting realization that Lawrenceville is completely different from their home country. Stuart Robertson ’11, a Lawrenceville alumnus and current faculty member, serves as the School’s Artist-In-Residence. During his time as an international student from Jamaica, Robertson initially experienced culture shock and was hesitant to share his Jamaican heritage. While he later got more comfortable expressing his individuality, many other students do not, as they still feel the straining pressure to fit in with their peers. Robertson described the complex duality of fitting within the norm and maintaining the intricate elements of one’s cultural identity. “Not everyone is going to understand why you talk a little bit differently, why the things you care about are a little different. If those are important to you, share them with your American friends,”  Robertson encouraged.

          At Lawrenceville, classrooms provide a unique departure from the learning styles that many international students are used to. Vice President of Academics Sophia Liu ’25, who came to Lawrenceville from Hong Kong in her II Form year, stated that “the biggest shock when it comes to academics at Lawrenceville is the Humanities [classes].” Before Lawrenceville, Liu’s Humanities courses typically consisted of lectures and standardized tests; on the contrary, Lawrenceville emphasizes the construction of argumentative essays and discussion-based learning. “At Lawrenceville, [I am] less test-driven, and I actually pursue the knowledge just for the sake of learning more,” she continued. While the Harkness table might be intimidating, Liu advises students “not [to] be afraid [of] seek[ing] out help because there are just so many resources available on campus, such as peer tutoring and consultation.” 

           Multifaceted in its joys and challenges, coming to America from abroad exposes students to the wide array of experiences and relationships that Lawrenceville provides. Still, many shared struggles encompass an international student’s life at Lawrenceville. Whether it be the narrow halls of the famed Woods Memorial Hall or the hustle and bustle of the Tsai Commons, international students find themselves working to navigate  the labyrinth of challenges that are inevitable during their time at Lawrenceville.