What makes you a Difference Maker?

I came from Tunisia to the united states four years ago to finish my undergraduate studies. It was the first time for me being so far from home, away from my safety net of friends, family, and general familiarity. Since I did not come to the United States until that fall, everything for me was new. I did not know anybody who can give me advice or guidance. I lived a driving distance from school and did not know that public transportation here in Michigan is not safe or convenient. In short, the first year was complicated and difficult, to say the least.

Throughout the years, I have developed to know the culture and the way things operate in Michigan. Step by step, I was able to overcome the hardships of living in a different environment. I have given myself a promise to lend a helping hand to any foreign student and give them the guidance that once I wished I could have had. I made myself available to the students that are coming within the exchange program that my undergrad university has with UM-Dearborn. I helped answer their questions about housing, living expenses, commute, campus life, or any other question that a newcomer could have. Once they are here, I make sure they have everything they need to adapt to life and culture here more quickly. I believe in the idea that doing good for other people is contagious. People are more likely to perform feats of generosity after observing another do the same. Helping new students can spark a chain reaction throughout the school community, inspiring dozens of individuals to lend a helping hand to new international students and make a difference in their lives.