International Student Profiles

Aleksander Jeremikj'13
Macedonia
Exercise Science
ajeremic@pugetsound.edu

Aleksander Jeremikj is both a diligent student and a top competitive swimmer in his hometown. Since Aleksandar attended Puget Sound, he has been actively involved in campus activities, especially the varsity swim team.

Why did you to choose to come to University of Puget Sound?
I chose Puget Sound because I wanted to go somewhere different than home; I wanted to experience something totally different and I feel that coming to Puget Sound was the right decision. Another reason why I chose Puget Sound is because it is a smaller school, I like going to a smaller school because I get to meet people fast and I am able to establish close friendships.
What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Puget Sound?
I am currently involved in the varsity swim team at Puget Sound. Swimming as a sport although very time consuming has been one of my favorite past-times, likewise swimming for the Puget Sound swim team has been a great experience so far.
What advice would you give to a prospective international student about the Puget Sound experience?
For the prospective students I would advise them not to be afraid of trying something different. The first year experience at Puget Sound is simply awesome.
Are there anything else you would like to share about you or your experiences in the U.S./Puget Sound?
As a foreign student the U.S is a place very different from Macedonia, when I first came to Puget Sound I felt accepted by the people. Every single person I met was very friendly and very helpful. I feel comfortable in saying that Puget Sound is like a home away from home.

Dongni Wang'15
China
Business and Personal/Financial Service
dwang@pugetsound.edu

Dongni Wang is from Chongqing, a major city in Southwest China. She gets involved in different activities including dancing, singing, playing piano, and volunteering for disaster relief services. During her international exchange program of peace salvage to the U.S. last year, Dongni had a chance to visit Puget Sound's campus and, as she put it, "fell in love with the university." 

Why did you choose to come to University of Puget Sound?
There are many reasons why I chose University of Puget Sound: high reputation among students, good learning environment, friendly and diverse community... I was deeply impressed by the home page of our school, especially the virtual blackboard where students can ask questions with colored "chalk". And I have found Puget Sound a place which fits me well.
What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Puget Sound?
I haven't got any work experience so far but I am planning to have a job. Also, I will be a member of APASU and keep looking for other activities which interest me.
Are there any interesting things you would like to share about you or your experiences in the U.S./Puget Sound?
I had a great time with my yoga group in Orientation. I love my teammates and leaders, and we are still excited to meet each other on campus. So I want to say that different nationality and language are not barriers for friendship. And whenever I get a problem, there will always be a lot of people trying to help. I feel really good about that and want to help others as well... So please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions in learning Chinese. :)

Gyeong-A Kang'13
South Korea
Politics and Government (International Relations)
gakang@pugetsound.edu

Gyeong-A Kang first came to the United States as an exchange student at the age of sixteen. Gyeong-A later attended Mount Tahoma High School and Tacoma Community College (TCC). The holistic thinking from the courses she took, namely Cultural Anthropology, has fascinated her, so she wanted to pursue International Relations with a foundation of Cultural Anthropology. By transferring from TCC to Puget Sound, Gyeong-A hopes to explore more fully the influence and importance of different cultures on the International Relations in interdisciplinary classes.

Why did you choose to come to University of Puget Sound?
I chose to come to University of Puget Sound because it has great academic programs and small class sizes. I wanted to have an opportunity to have good interactions with professors and classmates.
Besides, when I first visited the university, I was captivated by the beautiful campus with the look of storybook buildings. Surrounded by the picturesque buildings and trees, I was impressed that the school provides a campus-centered atmosphere despite its location in a residential area. I also liked the numerous campus activities that provided students with a variety of choices to broaden their social network while enjoying a stimulating school life.
What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Puget Sound?
I'm currently working for Multicultural Student Services as the Diversity Theme Year coordinator. I'm also involved in several clubs, such as APASU, NASA, VOX, Habitat for Humanity, etc.
I like to spend time for myself, and I enjoy traveling by myself to have the real adventures.
Are there any interesting things you would like to share about you or your experiences in the U.S./Puget Sound?
I came to the United States when I was sixteen as an exchange student. I went to high school and community college here in Tacoma. I transferred from Tacoma Community College and currently majoring in Politics and Government with an emphasis on International Relations.

Akinaka Miura
Japan
Physical Therapy
akinakamiura@pugetsound.edu

Akinaka Miura is a graduate student at the School of Physical Therapy. He has always had a strong interest in the human mind and body and believes that a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. To Akinaka, becoming a physical therapist is rewarding as the career satisfies his desire to gain knowledge about the human body and mind as well as to help and connect with people. His career goal is to instill an understanding of physical recovery and an appreciation of positive thinking through different fundamental components of physical therapy. 

Why did you choose to come to University of Puget Sound?
I chose to attend University of Puget Sound because of the physical therapy program. I wanted to stay in the Pacific Northwest for graduate school and decided to move down to Tacoma from Seattle. I also liked the small private school environment and the quiet neighborhood around the campus.
What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Puget Sound?
I'm currently playing intramural soccer and volleyball and am a member of the Student Physical Therapist Association.
Are there any interesting things you would like to share about you or your experiences in the U.S./Puget Sound?
This is my 13th year in the U.S. I attended middle and high school in Portland, OR and graduated from Seattle University with a biology degree in 2008. Living in the Pacific Northwest gives me lots of opportunities to interact with people with diverse backgrounds and have different cultural experiences. I am hoping to explore Tacoma and learn more about the city and people.

Noal Bellier'15
France
Business
nbellier@pugetsound.edu

Noah Bellier is a French national, but he spent most of his life living in London, South Africa, and Thailand. He has traveled extensively with his family and has visited many locations and cultures over the years. With his love for sports, he has been engaged in various outdoor activities and often represents his high school in all soccer, rugby, swimming, and track meets during their competitions against other schools. His hobbies also include engineering and mechanics.

Why did you to choose to come to University of Puget Sound?
I've always wanted to go to a small liberal arts school because my whole life I've been in a school that has no more than 600 students. Plus Puget Sound has some rather interesting courses that I'm attracted to such as the Business Leadership Program. They also offer the course I want to major in - Communication Studies. There's also the fact that Puget Sound is on the west coast and here there are a lot of outdoor sports that I do. Some of these are downhill mountain biking, sailing, and rock climbing.
What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Puget Sound?
I'm on the club rugby team (I've been playing for 4 years).
Are there anything else you would like to share about you or your experiences in the U.S./Puget Sound?
I've never lived in the U.S. before. This is only my 4th time here and I'm enjoying myself a lot. However, I'm going to have to get used to some of the customs here.

Thien Vu'13
Vietnam
Biochemistry and Psychology
tvu@pugetsound.edu

Thien Vu went to Tran Dai Nghia High School, one of the most prestigious high schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. During his time there, he received different awards and honors for both academic and extracurricular activities. Thien has developed a passion for chemistry, and he is majoring in biochemistry and psychology at Puget Sound. He hopes to attend a medical school after his graduation in 2013. On campus, Thien is a Sigma Chi (Sigma Chi is a fraternity here); he is also involved actively in student life as a residential assistant.

Uyen Nguyen'13
Vietnam
Business (Business Leadership) and International Political Economy
unguyen@pugetsound.edu

Studying abroad did not come to Uyen Nguyen's mind until her sophomore year in high school. Inspired by a friend and her English teacher, she decided to study in the U.S. during her undergraduate years. Uyen has a deep interest in non-profit organization management and children-related issues like education. On campus, she does several community service at Community Involvement & Action Center.

Why did you to choose to come to University of Puget Sound?
I went to Puget Sound because the university has some programs I'm interested in such as Business Leadership Program and International Political Economy. It also offers me some scholarships which helps lighten my parents’ burden on my educational expenses.
What extracurricular or work experiences have you had at Puget Sound?
I work at the International Programs as a student assistant. Regarding extracurricular activities, I take part in some community service like Etc. Tutoring and Food Salvage. I also get involved in Phi Eta Sigma, APASU, ISM Program, and so on.
What advice would you give to a prospective international student about the Puget Sound experience?
I would suggest that you get involved in things you enjoy as much as you can and make friends with people. If this is the first time you have studied abroad, you will feel homesick for a while, but keeping yourself busy and talking to friends will help. You know, we can always build a home far away from home... if we want.
Are there any other things you would like to share about you or your experiences in the U.S./Puget Sound?
I'm happy that I've come here to study. I've met many wonderful friends. My experiences in and outside the classroom have opened up my mind a lot. For example, since I was here, I've known more about food and cuisine of different countries. I know that the U.S. is a diverse society, but I didn't expect that people would have lots of food choices every day before coming here. Hands-on experiences have more to offer me compared to what I gain from the media or learn from English textbooks.