Studying in UIC A Turning Point for Malaysian Student

 

UIC Student Najwa Azwan

 

 

Having grown up in Malaysia and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Najwa had always wanted to study in a country with a homogenous ethnic population and a rich culture. She also wanted to study political science from an Asian perspective. Although she sent out several e-mails to a number of universities in East Asia, she inclined towards applying to a Korean university because she could pick up Korean relatively easily. She found that UIC was a good fit for her not only because of their interest in her but also because the program met her criteria.

 

As a Muslim student living through the spur of Islamophobia after 9/11, Najwa wanted to contribute to spreading a new perspective on Islam. In order to do so, she decided to study political science. Studying in UIC has brought her a step closer to realizing that goal.

 

 

Najwa is thankful to many professors in UIC who provided her with a broader perspective which affirmed that her views were not eccentric. For example, while Najwa has considered herself a “cosmopolitan,” she felt caught between secular and conservative Islam. Professor Hans Schattle, who taught a course titled "Cosmopolitanism and its Critics," assured her that it is okay to be in the middle.

 

She wants to assure international students that feeling segregated from other students initially is normal. For her, spending the first year at Songdo International Campus was helpful because students are forced to interact with others from various majors, nationalities and backgrounds.

 

Najwa is currently the Chair of Student Ambassadors (SAM), a team of international students that helps promote UIC and Yonsei University among prospective international students. Her academic and extra-curricular experiences at Yonsei have definitely influenced her future career plans and options. Working as a student ambassador(SAM), she discovered an interest in marketing. 

 

 

Although she used to be very shy, her exposure to foreign culture and her experience with SAM made her the sociable person she is today. She advices prospective international students that UIC is a good choice especially for those seeking challenges.