Sharing stories of belonging and finding home
Photos courtesy of Center for Global Programs and Services May 05, 2026
International students shared their triumphs and challenges in annual essay contest
When it comes to building a life in a new place, adjustment isn’t always easy. Finding a sense of belonging in a country with a new culture comes with its challenges, but from these hardships come important lessons. Thanks to this year’s International Student Essay Contest, the UD community is able to gain insight from Blue Hens who are far from home.
“In each essay that we received, there were diverse stories, ranging from anxieties about coming to the United States, conversations with parents about leaving home to come all the way to the United States, and initial challenges in the first few days or weeks in the United States,” said Vina Titaley, director of student engagement and success. “But those anxieties and challenges turned into stories of personal triumphs, both small and big, from figuring out how to navigate the bus system, to ordering at restaurants, to making friends. These eventually turned into stories of belonging, finding community and finding home.”
Launched in 2013, the International Student Essay Contest, organized by the Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS), gives international students the opportunity to share their unique narratives and perspectives with the broader UD community. The Division of Student Life and the Graduate College have since joined as collaborators to help promote cross-cultural awareness on campus and in the community.
Liubov Kalugina, an international undergraduate student studying art conservation, earned first place for her essay titled “Unbuild Your Shell.” In it, she shared her journey of moving to the United States from Russia to complete her college degree in spite of the hardships she has faced.
"It begins with small acts of conscious vulnerability,” wrote Kalugina. “Holding a smile for a second longer, forcing my shoulders to drop when I talk to my peers, answering 'I'm from Russia' and telling about my past and the culture I lived in without shame and an immediate sense of apology. It will be the hardest work I have ever done — not building a fortress, but patiently, brick by brick, taking it down."
For many international students, the essay contest is also an opportunity to reflect on their journeys from their home countries to now pursuing a higher education at the University of Delaware. Isaac Adelekun, a student from Nigeria pursuing a master’s degree in Africana studies, placed first in the graduate student category for his essay titled, “The Library That Followed Me Home.”
“My father was right. America does have libraries — beautiful ones, with resources I could never access back home. But what he didn't know, what I'm still learning, is that I brought a library with me too,” Adelekun reflected in his essay when looking back on how his roots have shaped his studies in the U.S. “And the work I'm doing here, the conversations I'm starting, the bridges I'm building, they're all about making sure that library, the one filled with African voices and African knowledge, finds its rightful place on these shelves.”
CGPS hosted a reception at International Coffee Hour during International Education Week in November to celebrate the many stories submitted to the contest. Winners of the undergraduate, graduate and English Language Institute (ELI) essay categories were formally celebrated, with $500 grand prizes for first place recipients and $250 prizes for second place recipients. In addition, winning essays were displayed in Trabant University Center among a selection of favorite quotes and advice from all writers. The hosts thanked all students who submitted essays for being vulnerable, writing down their stories and dreams, and being willing to share them with staff and fellow students.
Ilan Park, a student from South Korea and the first place winner in the ELI essay category, offered advice to other students with similar experiences. Park’s essay, “Courage Over Perfection,” shared her story of overcoming the fear of the language barrier she faces living in the United States.
"To the next student who will walk the same path at UD, I’d say this: Don’t hesitate just because your English isn’t perfect,” she advised. “Just speak, even if your voice shakes a little. You’ll realize that courage connects hearts faster than perfect grammar ever could. Courage over perfection. That is what UD truly taught me."
Additional winners of the 2025 International Student Essay Contest include:
Domenica Moya Chavez, undergraduate second place
Banushree Jawaharlal Nehru, graduate second place
Ilian Herrera, ELI second place
To learn more about the international student experience and read past essay contest winners, visit the contest webpage.
About the Center for Global Programs and Services
The Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) at the University of Delaware is home to the operations of UD Global, which includes Study Abroad, International Student and Scholar Services, World Scholars Program and Global Outreach and Partnerships. The Center provides leadership and collaborative innovation in support of all of the University's global initiatives and campus internationalization efforts, with its Global 360 Strategy serving as a roadmap for infusing international perspectives throughout the University’s scholarship, research, and service missions. Focused on a student-centered approach, CGPS provides expert advising and a wealth of global engagement opportunities to the UD campus community, including the weekly International Coffee Hour in the fall and spring semesters.
Follow and engage with @UDGlobal on LinkedIn and Instagram for the latest updates on everything global happening at UD.
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