International Students Athletes

Being an international student and adjusting to a new environment can be quite challenging. On top of that, being an international athlete can bring several obstacles as the student needs to juggle multiple things at the same time such as dealing with homesickness and language barriers. According to a research written by Lynn Ridinger and Donna Pastore, the number of athletic recruiting has been expanding tremendously within the United States. Indeed, sports with the most international recruits include- but not limited to- tennis, volleyball, swimming, track, ice hockey, and soccer (33). As numbers continue to rise, many coaches and athletic administrators wonder if international athletes are struggling in this transition in such a new environment. Ridinger and Pastore once mentioned that adjusting to a new culture can be a huge stressor for international athletes.

During my previous year in college, I have known many international students that were athletes as well. One friend, in particular, was a freshman and was still trying to adjust to a completely new country. On top of that, my friend had to practice four hours a day, participate in weekend tournaments, while having to do homework at the same time. That experience can be very overwhelming as the student has to juggle so many things at once. However, at the same time building a community, such as an athletic team, can also build a sense of security for the new student. 

Indeed, in Lynn's and  Pastore's research, it was discovered that international student athletes were relatively more adjusted to college life than nonathletes. Although adjusting to a new culture can be a big stressor, making close relationships with other students helps international students to feel more comfortable and adjusted. When thinking about my friend's experience it seems very overwhelming; however, my friend once mentioned that all the team members, as well as the coach, were very supportive and welcoming. 

Playing a sport, being part of a team, and feeling included and welcomed can have such a positive impact on an individual's life. Although time management can be a stressor since the student needs to juggle training and schooling, there is also the positive side of having a supportive community that contributes to the well-being of the international student experience.

The research written by Lynn Ridinger and Donna Pastore has come to the conclusion that international athletes are actually more well-adjusted to college than international nonathletes. However, there is so much more research that should be done on this topic. Future research will allow us to understand what are the factors that cause those athletes to adjust better to college. Those future findings can be used to create tools to enhance the overall international experience in college within the United States. 

Work Cited

Pastore, Donna. Ridinger, Lynn. "International Student-Athlete Adjustment to College: A Preliminary Analysis". https://meridian.allenpress.com/nacada-journal/article/20/1/33/35785/International-Student-Athlete-Adjustment-to.