This is part 1 of a two-part series on international students’ mental health. The author is Yiwen Ai, a Graduate Student Researcher at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education.
International students’ mental struggle that goes far deeper than missing home.
“I thought I was just homesick,” a student told me. “After a year, the feeling was still there, even when I started liking my classes.” Her words stayed with me. Many international students describe this quiet sadness. It is not only about missing home but about losing the sense of belonging somewhere between two worlds.
When I first came to the United States, I believed I was well prepared. I had studied English for many years and learned about the university. I thought that if I worked hard, I would adapt easily. However, in many daily conversations, I found myself hesitating before every contribution. I was afraid of saying the wrong thing or of not being understood. My classmates spoke with confidence, while I repeated my thoughts in my head before I dared to speak.
The Weight of Two Worlds
In my research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, I heard similar feelings from other Asian international students. One student from Malaysia said she felt pressure to join college parties to fit in, even though it went against her religious values. Another student from South Korea avoided group projects because he worried that his English would slow others down. A student from China said that calling professors by their first names felt strange and disrespectful, but she still did it because she did not want to appear unfriendly or different.
These experiences reveal the invisible pressure many international students face. We try to learn a new culture while keeping our own identity. It is not only about studying abroad but also about translating who we are in a new environment. This process can be exhausting.
Students told me they felt stress from both sides. At home, their families expected them to excel and make their parents proud. Studying abroad was seen as a significant achievement and a symbol of success. Yet in the host country, they had to prove that they belonged and could perform at the same level as domestic students.
“I cannot tell my parents I am struggling,” one student said. “They sacrificed so much for me to be here.” Another said she always smiled on video calls so her family would not worry.
This double pressure can be overwhelming. Many students must work hard in a new academic system while managing guilt, financial concerns, and fear of disappointing their families. One student said, “It feels like I am being judged by two worlds at once.”
The Language Barrier Is More Than Words
Language becomes another layer of this struggle. Some students speak fluent academic English but still feel lost in daily life, such as talking to doctors, coworkers, or landlords. They often say that speaking English is not only about words, but about being truly understood.
One student shared that she could write perfect research papers but froze when trying to explain her feelings to a counselor. “I do not know how to express emotions in English the way I do in my native language,” she said. “What if I say it wrong and they misunderstand what I’m going through?”
This gap between academic proficiency and emotional expression creates another form of isolation, where students can succeed in their coursework yet still feel profoundly alone.
Moving Forward
Belonging should not be another test we have to pass. Not one more way to prove we deserve to be here on top of visa applications, academic exams, and cultural adaptation.
As I continue this conversation in Part 2 of this series, I will explore what it means to build belonging together. It is a shared responsibility, not an individual achievement. Have you ever felt caught between two identities? Have you ever felt like you had to earn the right to belong?
This is Part 1 of a two-part series on international students’ mental health. Part 2 will discuss systemic challenges and solutions for supporting international students.
