My name is Nadja Elisabeth Seyed Assiaban and two years before writing this, I applied for a scholarship offered by the VDAC to begin my grad studies in the US. I graduated from the University of Mannheim the following year with a Bachelor of Education in English and History. During my bachelor’s studies, I had had the privilege of studying abroad at the University of Alabama, for which I will forever be grateful. While I was in Alabama, I met a student from Germany who told me about the work of the VDAC. When I came back to Germany after my study abroad program ended, I was fully convinced that I should apply for a scholarship offered by the VDAC.

After researching the organization and seeing firsthand how committed they are, I had no doubt that becoming part of their network would be a great opportunity. I reached out to a contact person in Heidelberg and the support I received during my application process was extraordinary. After my selection interview, I was even more excited to fully dive into this new chapter of my life and was extremely happy once I received the acceptance letter. I was given the chance to major in German Studies and simultaneously work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in German at Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee. I knew that this would be a great opportunity to strengthen my skills in the field of humanities. The graduate chair of the Modern Languages & Linguistics Department at FSU reached out to me; we discussed the offer, and he patiently explained all the details regarding my arrival in August.

That August, I finally arrived in Florida, and it was an experience I will never forget. I was welcomed by the graduate chair and immediately felt very well taken care of. My grad-school orientation started a couple of days later. There I met other international students from all around the world, which was inspiring. At our orientation, we were introduced to our own studies, but also informed about our work as a teaching assistant (TA). I started making friends quickly and also got to meet students outside of the department through international events and the lively campus culture in general.

The atmosphere at FSU is unmatched. I am enjoying the warm weather along with the cultural and social events at this college. Florida State is a huge college with more than 40,000 students. Since 1851, FSU has placed a premium on rigorous academic standards, interdisciplinary exchange, and inclusive learning, preparing future generations to be valued, resilient, respectful and compassionate members of society with a voice of their own. With its world-class research facilities, inspiring teachers, and a diverse student body from over 130 countries, FSU offers an international and inspirational community where I can continue to strengthen my skills and share past experiences. I firmly believe that every student who is passionate about their studies will have a phenomenal time here.

Being able to study German and to engage with German authors from different centuries has been quite challenging, but at the same time very rewarding. My classmates who come from different parts of the world have been a great support network and we all encourage each other every day. My work as a TA has been great fun so far and I really enjoy getting to teach college students and interact with them first-hand. Our language coordinator is very helpful and also a great source of support. Before coming to FSU, I’d had no experience in teaching, but now it just comes naturally to me and is so much fun. I appreciate every single learning experience that I am getting here and am so grateful to the VDAC and FSU that I was chosen to study here and work as a language instructor.

Apart from studying, I also had the opportunity to travel around during Fall Break and Spring Break. During Thanksgiving break, I traveled to New York City, where I met up with one of my sisters from Germany and we got to celebrate this holiday together. Experiencing this American holiday in a city like New York has been wonderful. In March, I also traveled with friends from FSU to spend Spring Break in Mexico, a place I had never been before but which holds a lot of culture. I will forever cherish the memories that I have been able to make already and hope for many more to come.

Applying for the student exchange program of the VDAC and participating in an academic exchange is so rewarding. I value every moment and connection that I’ve made at FSU and am looking forward to my second year here. Not only has this program changed my life in such a positive way, but it will continue to do so, as I am looking forward to applying to PhD programs this year. My studies have always been a huge part of my adult life, and I will continue to strengthen my skills in the future. Studying at FSU has exposed me to a more diverse set of ideas and people while having access to various forms of culture and has also been challenging my own perspectives. Since coming here, I have developed a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of people and the importance of conserving and reflecting on personal stories as a vehicle to create empathy and understanding.

Lastly, I wish to thank the committee of the VDAC for giving me this opportunity. Thank you for all your work and your commitment. I would also like to express my gratitude to my professors and advisors at FSU, who have been incredibly involved and continue to support me during my cultural exchange.

Nadja Elisabeth Seyed Assiaban

Nominated by the German-American Women’s Club of Heidelberg

Dartmouth: Different and marvelous