Values that Bring Personal Fulfillment and Professional Growth

Growing up in a large family and understanding the importance of inclusion, engagement, and volunteerism influenced my personal values and ideas. As an international educator at the University of Houston, I have an opportunity to put these values into practice as I interact with international students and scholars from around the globe.

I have three guiding principles that kept me inspired and influenced my experience during the pandemic:

1. Love what you do.
2. Connect to available services and resources.
3. Volunteer to help others.

These guiding principles have shaped my work and the way I contribute to our international students and their success.

Love What You Do

I have always enjoyed meeting with the students to hear how I can assist them so that they could spend more time studying for their courses.

Listening, learning, and laughing with the students, exchange visitors, and scholars are among my favorite parts of my job. During appointments, I am always thinking about how I can make a difference or refer the student to someone who can help.

For example, if the appointment is academic in nature and does not have anything to do with immigration compliance, I will get an academic adviser on the three-way conference call to assist the student. When you are passionate about your work, going the extra mile never feels like you’ve travelled too far. I have a routine practice of asking the student to recap our conversation before the appointment has ended to ensure the student understands the next steps for success. I strive to make students feel comfortable and listen to each one, showing compassion and empathy—because I never know exactly what challenges the students have until they tell me. I listen carefully to hear the student out and I follow up to make sure that the student takes personal action.

Connect to Available Services and Resources

My second guiding principle is connecting to available services and resources. It is very rewarding to me professionally and personally when I see the smiles on the faces of students at orientation. I make special effort to invite organizations like Visit Houston to keep them informed about things to do in the city, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (METRO) to provide access to low-cost available transportation, and Apartment Living to assist those students who prefer to live off campus. I spend a lot of energy making sure that I include as many campus partners as possible in orientation so students will have an opportunity to seek services and resources later if needed.

My major objective is to have students engaged with their peers, colleges, departments, resources, and services. I include many of these groups—like career services, undergraduate and graduate admissions, and business services—in the international student orientation, allowing students to interactively exchange with professionals from the departments and each other.

I also lead our students on trips to nearby cultural institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and Museum of Natural Sciences for exposure, enrichment, and life balance. Plans are also underway to take our students and scholars to the Houston Museum of African American Culture.

Volunteer to Help Others

My third guiding principle, volunteering to help others on the national, community, and campus levels, continues to make a difference. So many international educators did not have anyone to interact with during the pandemic or did not keep in touch with the international educator community. Leading the NAFSA member interest group Blacks in Multicultural in International Education (BMcPIE), I continued to reach out and share an exchange of ideas, self-care workshops, virtual gatherings, hybrid happy hours, and inspiring stories from our international educator community.

I thrive whenever I can make life better for others. BMcPIE virtual sessions promoted wellness and a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Our international educators were able to share this information with their colleagues and peers.

On my campus I am the chapter coordinator for the national Phi Beta Delta Honor Society. During the pandemic, our team of dedicated members worked to have an induction ceremony for our students, faculty, and staff so our students could wear their medallion to the first in person graduations that took place during the pandemic. My community volunteer experiences with campus organizations for first-generation students, Toastmasters, and career services job fairs also enhance my interactions with students.

Enduring Values

I have learned that three guiding principles—love what you do, connect available resources and services, and volunteering to help others—have been most valuable in my work as an international educator during the pandemic. Not only are these efforts personally fulfilling, but they help prepare students for both their educational and professional careers in the United States and abroad. These same values will guide me through 2023.  •

Ida Thompson is an international student counselor at the University of Houston and a co-leader of NAFSA's Blacks in Multicultural in International Education Member Interest Group (BMcPIE MIG).