Student Union
Ilham Lists 10 Ways a Great Mentor Can Improve Study Abroad
I think it's fair to say Ilham's mentor relationship worked out pretty well. Here's what he had to say about how his mentor relationship improved his year in the States:
Believe it or not, leaving Madison in two weeks is more heartbreaking than the time I left Indonesia on August 2012.
I will always come back to my home country Indonesia to see my mom and family. But I don't know when in the future I’ll be coming back to Madison to visit my mentor family. My graduation day is coming up. My return travel itinerary has been prepared. Two suitcases of mine soon need packing. But no, I’m not ready to leave.
My mentor mom is Virginia Bryan. She is a librarian at the downtown campus of my college. Her husband is a retired university professor in Math and Computer Science. They have two grown children – Alexander and Elizabeth. They welcome and treat me like their son in their family and I love them so much.
Here are the reasons why I love her:
1. She is enthusiastic
School started. I was excited. She was too. I always found her messages on Facebook asking how my school days were going. I was like a kid in kindergarten whose mom was curious and excited what’s going on. She’s curious about my school and all activities I do and makes sure everything is fine.
2. She is inspiring
I admire says treats people with a good attitude. She looks happy every day and has a positive outlook on everything. Whenever I told people that I am her mentee, all of them said that I am very lucky. She's my role model. She is a problem-solver and motivator. I think, besides a librarian, she's really capable of being a psychologist.
3. She is a very good listener
During my transition, I complained a lot about everything: school, the weather, my instructors, people's behavior, and other things. I can't thank her enough for how she always found a way to make me feel better when I stressed out with all the strangeness of living abroad.
4. She is caring
I told her that a stranger followed me when I was walking home late at night; she worried about my safety then she lent me a bike. The other day, I got sick and she's the one I could contact early morning to take me to the clinic. She also bought me an electric blanket to make me warm sleeping in the death of winter.
5. She is understanding
From the beginning, I told her that I am not used to eating American food served with cheese, mayonnaise, or any strange spices that I have never tried before. I really appreciate her understanding that I am not an adventurous person about western dishes. So she knew where to take me for supper and how to have something edible for me if she took me to her house. And she's a good cook too. I am happy when she cooks Jambalaya and makes Pastel de Tres Leches for me.
6. She is full of surprises
On her birthday last January, my mentor family and my friends were in cahoots to throw me a half-birthday party because my birthday is in July and I would not have a chance to celebrate it in Madison. She prepared a half-birthday cake, delicious Indonesian dishes for dinner, and of course presents. That was one of the best happy memories. Many times she surprised me with groceries, ice cream, and snacks. She also planned me a family trip to Minneapolis.
7. She is consistent.
Waiting for her message on Facebook to let me know what she's planned for us on weekends is kind of exciting. I better make myself available on weekends, otherwise, I might miss something fun with the Bryans. She has taken me to museums, the garden, theater, orchestra concerts, art shows, and many local events in Madison. In my home country, I didn’t remember when the last time was that I visited a museum.
8. She teaches
She has taught me good life values of generosity, honesty, sincerity, positive thinking on life and hospitality. She's like candles in the dark that has power to lighten people around her.
9. She is encouraging
She never gets me down. She is always behind me to support and encourage me that I can achieve all of my goals.
10. She is very patient
This is something that I also learned from my mentor. I don't have a good explanation on this but I can tell you that her level of patience is high.
Knowing these all, how can I not love her?
Is there anyone who has made your university experience better? Share your story in the comments or by using the form below.
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Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges, including Columbia and Berkeley
The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.
It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.
Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.
"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.
An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."
House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."
Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.
Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.
The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.
"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."
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