How to Avoid Painful Experience as a Student in the U.S. (The Advise Nobody Gave Me)

You may have got F1 visa.

You may be preparing for F1 Visa.

You may be waiting for admission results.

You may be waiting for I-20 from your dream school.

If your Visa is approved, congrats!!!

Now, the real work starts.

Now, you are in Honeymoon phase till the reality strikes. Reality strikes when you reach the land of opportunities.

Reality Strikes?

Some students have a smooth transition to new life in the new country.

Some students tend to have a bumpy transition.

But, it’s all good.

My Advise:

Don’t focus on money from Day 1.

I have seen students running with resume from Day 1 to find part-time jobs to RA and TA the moment they land.

• Student Life in U.S.A. = Experience
• Student Life in U.S.A. = Journey towards greater Goal

Make use of the time for Self-Development and Improvement.

Maybe, you never had the habit of having a To-Do list for your tasks. Now maybe the time to start using one.

Maybe you never used a calendar for scheduling and tracking the time and meetings. Now is an excellent opportunity to start being productive.

Working for 1 hour could give you $8. But, investing that time in self-improvement would pay you higher dividends.

Working 10 hours would have given you $80, but same 10 hours spent learning to write code in new language could get you a $80 per hour job tomorrow.

Think!

Do you want $8 now or $80 in future?

$80 in future depends on the time you invest today. Don’t expect to get $80 per hour job when you are working for $8 in gas stations for cash!

So, your goal should be about getting better and staying productive.

Focus on several areas of life.

• Technical Skills
• Personality
• Communication
• Networking
• Health
• Personal Finance

Set goals.

Learn to measure and track.

Above all reach your goals.

Goals should stretch your current limits and capabilities.

Getting “B’ from a tough course that stretches your knowledge and forces deep learning is far better than “A” a course that doesn’t help you learn new skills.

If the course doesn’t push you beyond your current knowledge limits, then you are not growing.

When you are in the new country and place, it’s an opportunity for your to change your habits.

If you have a habit that you need to break, then make plans to get rid of that.

If you want to for a new habit, like regular exercise or becoming a morning person to learning to swim, etc. then take steps to acquire that skills.

Maybe, you want to pick-up reading books. Then make set time every day. It can be 10 to 15 minutes at 9 PM every day. Pick a place and stick to it for 30 days.

Every small improvement that you make will help you reach a greater level in your life.

Studying in the U.S. is going to boost your level of skills, maturity, and knowledge.

But, being average is what you will get if you are reactive to your environment and events that happen to you.

If you want to be above average, then be proactive.

One particular example: Driving License(DL).

You need to get a DL in the U.S. sooner or later.

You need to learn to drive if you can’t drive a car.

Some of you will choose not to get the DL till you have a job or need. Once you have a job, it’s a scramble to find ways to commute until you get a DL, a car and not to mention a hefty insurance due to lack of driving history.

That’s being reactive.

If you can find someone who has DL and ask them to help you get a DL, within first two months in the U.S., you are building driving history. That’s being Proactive.

There are several such instances and events for which you can be proactive.

Another example is job search.

After all, finding a job is your primary goal right?

• Proactive – Day 1 in the U.S. is your Day 1 of your job search.
• Reactive – OMG! I’m going to graduate in 3 months; I need to apply for a job.

You are 100% in control of the nature and type of experience, career and life you are going to have.

Make it count. Stay Educated.