For Pakistani students, the options for studying abroad are extremely diverse; whether it be North America, Europe, Australia, or Asia, gateways to world-class education, cultural experiences, and unmatched exposure are something that can only be found beyond borders. Yet it also brings a host of challenges: academic rigor in unfamiliar systems, language barriers, financial pressures, and the emotional toll of homesickness and culture shock. Without adequate research, students find fitting and adapting to new places quite troublesome. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here’s how Pakistani students can cultivate resilience at every stage of their international journey, with insights grounded in lived experiences, local resources, and proven strategies.
- The Cultural Transformation
Culture shocks are extremely common amongst people who immigrate to new countries. It begins with the honeymoon phase. When everything seems novel, exciting, and interesting. But then begins the longing for home, withdrawal, and adjustment phase. Students find it difficult to adjust to new societal norms and cultural differences that differ from their national heritage. This quickly counters how intriguing and alluring the experience of studying abroad is, and takes away from the beauty of sharing new experiences. What students can do to mitigate the effects of cultural transformation is keep a “Transition Journal.” Document your emotional highs and lows, noting triggers (e.g., challenging group projects, language slips) and coping tactics that worked (e.g., calling home, joining the Pakistani Students Union. Over time, you’ll spot patterns and build a toolkit for future challenges.
Social support is one of the most intense and flexible factors. Most universities have active Pakistani or South Asian student associations. These groups host cultural events, e.g., Eid celebrations, cricket games, and Iftar events that bring a little piece of home and a sense of belonging into your life. Join early. If you can join the first meeting of the Pakistani Students Association (PSA) – do it. Volunteer to help organize events. By participating, not only will you make friendships, you’ll also develop leadership opportunities and a support network where those students can advise you academically (what courses to take, which professors/teachers to avoid, etc.) and for emotional support during times of impending deadlines.
- Master Academic Adaptation: Strategize Your Success
Global academic systems are not the same. In the U.S. and Canada, you are mostly graded based on participation, various assessments, and research papers, whereas in the U.K., you are mostly graded based on exams and independent reading. For Pakistani students, it may be a shift if their assessment and evaluation were largely based on exams. Creating a sort of “Academic Playbook.” Research your host university on grading breakdowns (e.g., weights), types of assignments, and academic integrity. Find writing centers or peer tutoring (for instance, the University of Melbourne has an Academic Skills Unit). Book bi-weekly check-ins with your professors during office hours–sending your three questions in an email, in advance of your meeting, will be a good use of their time as well!
- Strengthen Language Confidence: Practice with Purpose
Even students who perform at their very best on the IELTS or TOEFL will often be left feeling linguistically exposed when required to converse in daily life, workshops, and networking events. Try “Shadowing” techniques. Choose a podcast or TED Talk by an international speaker, listen to two or three minutes at a time, and then pause and repeat out loud, mimicking intonation, speed, and vocabulary. Additionally, you might want to consider joining language exchange meetups (most universities organize Tandem programs) where you support a peer while learning Urdu or Punjabi in exchange for getting some speaking practice to improve your conversational English or local language proficiency.
- Financial Resilience: Budget, Earn, and Save Smartly
Tuition and living expenses abroad can be daunting even for the most optimistic families. Financial pressure can slowly wear down our mental health, counter to enjoying the life-changing opportunity you have made. For example, the value of local currency may change or fluctuate from what you anticipated for remittance, or you may incur more than expected travel or medical expenses while abroad. Consider establishing a “Resilience Fund.” When you arrive in your chosen country, open a bank account (e.g., Scotiabank for Canada, Barclays for the U.K.) and have a small amount of any stipend, scholarship, or income from part-time work automatically transferred every month into a separate savings sub-account. Consider downloading a budgeting application like Mint. You can categorize your spending (rent, groceries, transport) and consider reviewing your overall budget every Sunday late afternoon or evening. In terms of part-time income, you might consider any part-time jobs or employment on campus, whether it be some sort of research assistantship, library desk job, or tutoring other international students in your first language (Urdu) or a subject (e.g., Math).
Conclusion
Studying abroad is an experience of resilience for many Pakistani students. You can convert what feels like obstacles into opportunities for development by recognizing cultural transitions, utilizing community, adapting academically and being strategic in your management of finances, language and mental health. After this experience, you will have additional tools in your toolbox to adapt, grow and be a leader in a globalized world, such as Transition Journals, Academic Playbooks, Resilient Funds and Purpose Boards.
