Sometimes the cost of an education is more than money.
Graduate student Wendy Adjei has not seen her family in a year. She left them behind in Africa to come to PNW for her master’s degree in 2022. She hopes to see them for a few weeks during winter break.
“My family lives in Ghana,” she said. “My sister and dad are still there, and I had to leave my two kids with them when I was traveling to the U.S.A. I saw them last year when I visited Ghana for the Christmas holidays.
“Leaving my children behind was one thing that truly hurt but at the same time, it will be worth it,” said Adjei. “I know it’s for the betterment of their future. Hopefully, they will join me in December.”
PNW has 489 international students, from 50 different countries. That’s a 43% increase since last year. For many of them, the cure for homesickness is a long, expensive flight home.
The university recognizes the unique challenges these students face.
“PNW has been supportive throughout my stay on campus,” Adjei said. “I am a [teaching assistant] which comes with a fee remission. This has helped me since I don’t have to think about how to pay my fees.
“The faculty members are also supportive,” she said.
After she completes her master’s degree in Communication, she hopes to stay in the U.S. and enroll in a doctoral program.
“I plan to pursue a doctoral degree here in the U.S. and one day become a professor,” said Adjei. “While PNW does not have a [doctorate degree] for my preferred program, I have IUPUI, Ohio and Kentucky University in mind.”
Though she has acclimated to life in the U.S., sometimes Adjei just needs to connect with her roots.
“There are a lot of African shops [locally] that sell African food ingredients,” she said. “I most often cook my native food like banku, jollof rice, okra soup.”
There are other African students on campus, but Adjei said she feels at home with the entire community.
“I’ve met a few Ghanaians on campus,” she said. “But the American students are very accommodative and receptive.”
Even thousands of miles away from her homeland, Adjei has found a place to call home.
“I am happy to be at PNW,” she said. “It feels like home.”
