BOSTON — There are many international students at universities across the United States who have left behind families and friends in order to make a better life for themselves through resources offered in U.S. schools. Building a new life in the U.S. proves to be difficult for many of them, but most hope to earn degrees and be first generation graduates from college.

Paco De Aubeyzon, a sophomore at Suffolk University from Peru, says he is very thankful his parents were able to give him the opportunity to come and study in the U.S. Therefore, he hopes to do the best he can while studying here. “I hope that when I get my degree from the business school here that I’m able to find a well paying job that I can be proud of.”

Many international students hope to graduate from a university in the United States and go on to hold prominent positions that will help them thrive in the U.S., or back in their home countries.

“I would love nothing more than to go back to Mexico and build a company to help improve conditions over there and help out with taking care of the large amounts of poverty,” says Suffolk University sophomore Miguel Rubalcava, who is from Mexico City, Mexico.

While the international students who come to the U.S. feel they are getting the best education possible, most admit that it is hard to be away from their family, friends, and community, and adjusting to life in the U.S. is not always easy.

“The first few months here, I had a lot of fun meeting new people and exploring the city but after a while it got very hard to not be able to see my parents, and I definitely felt out of my element here,” said David Darden, a sophomore at Clark University who is originally from Mexico.

There are many on campus clubs and organizations designed to bring together international students and to help them feel like more a part of the community. Clubs and organizations such as immigration services, international alumni, international programs, diversity services, and the many international student clubs such as the Asian American Association and African Student Union, among others, help international students feel recognized as an important part of the community.

Diversity is important to schools across the U.S. and the diversity helps to make international students feel more welcomed and comfortable. The main goal for most international students studying in the U.S. is to do well in school, make their families proud, and gain experiences that will help them for the rest of their lives. Having universities that make the transition easier is always helpful to the international students who come to the U.S. to take advantage of the schools and opportunities offered.