Growth, from the Ground Up

Growth is a funny thing. It happens without warning, without notice, and sometimes, without much thought. Looking back at my previous blog posts I realized that I talk lots about my time abroad in Italy and Chile and how that shaped my perspective and life choices, how it changed my life. But what I seem to have forgotten in these posts is that day to day life is here in Santa Barbara, and without roots it’s quite hard to grow. Roots don’t have to be a place, for me they’re not. They’re the friends I’ve made here, they are Isla Vista sunrises and sunsets, the organizations that have stuck with me for several years now, including the International Student Advisory Board. Whether you’re spending six months or a year at UCSB, I hope you are able to find your “branches” here, limbs you climb out on and decide if they are or are not for you. I hope you let the good and the bad be processed as “growth” in your life.

In a 2008 article on “Initiating Personal Growth: The Role of Recognition and Life Satisfaction on the Development of College Students,” Stevic, et. al, present their research findings on growth’s relationship with life satisfaction. They state, “the study hypothesized that a positive relationship exists between life satisfaction and personal growth initiative. Finally, the study predicted that a positive relationship exists between frequency of recognition and personal growth initiative.” Taking this research in mind, I challenge you to recognize in which areas you have been growing lately and what role these “growth spots” have in other aspects of your life. I remember being abroad and not thinking too much about language learning because there were so many other things to worry about and then realizing, all of the sudden, that I could communicate easily now, Growth! Just like that. It’s easy to get caught up in the one word we mispronounced or couldn’t instantaneously bring to mind, but what about the thousand words we do know? What about all the energy we’ve put into coming this far? I think it’s about time to celebrate that. There are so many daily tasks that we take for granted that are actually true victories, especially when living long-term in a foreign country.

According to World Education Services, three of the biggest issues international students face are academic, social and language challenges. There are many nuanced frustrations in being an international student, anywhere from difficulty communicating specific needs with TA’s and professors to missing a cultural food you cannot get where you are. These things can add up quickly and feel like their defining your experience. However, in my experience and research, practicing gratitude has proven to be one of the most effective ways to combat the negatives that sometimes invade an abroad experience. By focusing on gratitude, on the little things you accomplish daily and the areas of growth that you’ve accomplished long term, you can improve your opinion of your overall experience at UCSB and create room for even more growth. So, go put your toes deep in the Santa Barbara sand, acknowledge how far you’ve come, and most importantly, keep reaching for those ocean stars that light up the Isla Vista sky.

Works Cited

“Challenges Facing International Students.” World Education Services, www.wes.org/advisor-blog/challenges-facing-international-students-on-campus/. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.

Stevic, C.R. & Ward, R.M. Social Indicators Research (2008) 89: 523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-008-9247-2. Accessed 6 Nov. 2019.