Marsha Herron '07
Students from Germany, Mexico and Ireland called Virginia Wesleyan
their home. Pictured (L): Max Wuttke, Zuehaile Martinez Mejia,
Nadine Steffenhagen and Adrian O'Connell.
Six international students called Virginia Wesleyan home during the spring semester.
Virginia Wesleyan has housed students from various countries such as Ireland, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and more. This year is no exception.
Max Wuttke, a 22-year-old student from Berlin, Germany, is studying American Studies at Virginia Wesleyan. Wuttke has been at College since the fall of 2006 and has enjoyed his time here since the beginning.
Wuttke came to the College after attending Humboldt University in Berlin. The University recommended picking a place in Virginia to finish his degree. Once he visited the Virginia Wesleyan Web site, he knew this was the place for him.
"I could go to school and write my bachelor thesis here," said Wuttke. "And that’s what I wanted to do."
A peer of Wuttke, Nadine Steffenhagen also came to Virginia Wesleyan from Humboldt University in Berlin. She too is majoring in American Studies and plans to stay through the fall of 2007. Steffenhagen first discovered the College while completing an internship. In fact, her boss highly recommended Virginia Wesleyan. Once here, Steffenhagen quickly realized that college in America was different from her studies in Germany. Classes at Humboldt only required students to attend class and take the final, she said.
Although Steffenhagen may have to work harder, she has adjusted to taking tests and studying. Now, she prefers the academic structure at Virginia Wesleyan.
“I think its better," she said, adding, "you learn more.”
Hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland is 20-year-old Adrian O’Connell. Unlike Wuttke and Steffenhagen, O’Connell is a majoring in a different subject – psychology. O’Connell is one of 100 students sent by Northern Ireland to study in America through the Business Education Initiative (BEI).
O’Connell says that he has enjoyed traveling, taking various courses and the close-knit feeling of the campus. And like his other International colleagues, O’Connell is here to learn.
"Virginia Wesleyan has given me a good all around education," he said.
Virginia Wesleyan is nothing new to student Stefanie Nijssen, whose older sister attended the College. Nijssen, born in the Netherlands, moved to such places as England and Holland before her family finally settled in the United States. Before moving back to Europe, Nijssen’s father worked at the NATO headquarters in Norfolk. Since they moved out of the country she is at College on a student visa.
While here at Virginia Wesleyan, Nijssen joined Sigma Sigma Sigma, the Wesleyan Activities Council (WAC), the Student Government Association (SGA), and the Political Science Association.
Nijssen said joining Sigma Sigma Sigma was one of her fondest moments because it pushed her to interact more with her fellow students, and was the main reason behind joining other groups on campus.
Nijssen has decided to continue her education at Virginia Wesleyan until she completes her undergraduate degree. Then, she plans to either work for a year before attending graduate school or go straight to graduate school in Washington D.C.
If there is one thing Nijssen wants her peers to understand it is to live in the moment.
“I would like them to know that I am trying my best to cherish every moment while I am here,” said Nijssen, adding, “everyone should realize that you will graduate before you know it.”
Since January, Zuehaile Martinez Mejia, from Puebla, Mexico, has been at Virginia Wesleyan. Mejia heard about the small, liberal arts College through her hometown institution, University of Medairo. The University of Medairo has a partnership with Virginia Wesleyan as well as two other Universities. In addition, she received a scholarship from a group who admires and respects the College.
Although the International students come from all areas of the world, they share similar problems – transportation. But the lack of transportation had not had a negative effect on Mejia’s experience at Virginia Wesleyan.
“I really like to be here,” she said. “I enjoy learning about the way people think.”
A neighbor to the United States, Ashley Halicki is originally from Canada but has lived in the states for a number of years. A May graduate, Halicki has relocated back in Florida and is living with her parents.