Spotlight on: Rajaa Erragh
What is your major at St. Catherine University?
Education
What is your nationality?
Moroccan
What other facets of this experience have been challenging?
First of all I was struggling with one of my classes, it was so different than the way it is taught in Morocco, and it got on my nerves so much that I wasn't able to adapt so easily. Also the weather that obliged me to stay indoors instead of going out and enjoying America gave me a hard time. Additionally, the definition of friendship in America is so different than the one in my home country, or maybe my whole ethnicity. I don't know if we Arabs understand friendship in a different way than others. Some girls here never talk to you first and you have to do more effort to approach any of them. I faced rejection from some American girls and it hurt so much, I didn't understand why, they talk to you in class only if the teacher asked for it, but outside of class you don't even get a hi or a smile, but of course this doesn't apply to everyone I also made American good friends here and I am proud of that.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
I miss the warm weather, the delicious natural foods, and my friends and family.
What are the biggest differences you see between the university experience here and in your home country?
The university here provides the student with great facilities that make this educational journey easy to navigate. The library was my favorite because in my home country, even though we have a big library but sometimes I don't find the books that I need, and there is no option of requesting it from anywhere else. I would need to go on my own and search for it somewhere else.
Additionally, the housing is better quality. The teachers are so helpful, to a level that makes the teachers in my country sound so tough and difficult. Also the one gender school was a huge thing for me because all my life I've studied with boys and girls, so this experience really changed so many things in me.
However as I mentioned before, in my country classmates always help each other and gather after classes to discuss the lessons and help those who don't understand, that is one thing that I found difficult finding here. Here you're on your own. I know we have the O'Neil center and other resources but nothing feels like your classmates and friends working together.
Why did you want to come to study in the United States and at St. Kate's in particular?
I came to the U.S through an Exchange program called NESA UGRAD EXCHANGE program, and I chose the U.S because it is the most influencing country in the world, it is an honor if i come and study here. The U.S is where one learns to be responsible, organized and self-dependent. I expended my comfort zone so much and I will come here again for sure if I had a chance. As for st. Kates, I didn't choose it or choose Minnesota state, my program chose it for me depending on my grade in the TOEFL test.
What would you say was your most memorable moment, during your time here?
I think the moment I'll never forget is when the teacher handed me my first exam and i got an A, then I knew that a start like this will lead to even a better end.
What advice would you give to other students?
Relax a little and build strong friendships, I understand that studying is so important and one should focus on it the most, but as life goes by you might miss the chance to be friends with people that really deserve it. Friendship also counts :)
What are you passionate about in life?
My main focus is to study so hard, and help my family, not that they need it, but I have a very supportive family who gave me so much and I want to give them something in return. Personally I am passionate about languages, and I love learning new languages so much that I even made a reputation about this among my friends here and back home. I believe language can open so many cultural doors to anyone, and what is life if not cultures.
Education
What is your nationality?
Moroccan
What other facets of this experience have been challenging?
First of all I was struggling with one of my classes, it was so different than the way it is taught in Morocco, and it got on my nerves so much that I wasn't able to adapt so easily. Also the weather that obliged me to stay indoors instead of going out and enjoying America gave me a hard time. Additionally, the definition of friendship in America is so different than the one in my home country, or maybe my whole ethnicity. I don't know if we Arabs understand friendship in a different way than others. Some girls here never talk to you first and you have to do more effort to approach any of them. I faced rejection from some American girls and it hurt so much, I didn't understand why, they talk to you in class only if the teacher asked for it, but outside of class you don't even get a hi or a smile, but of course this doesn't apply to everyone I also made American good friends here and I am proud of that.
What do you miss the most about your home country?
I miss the warm weather, the delicious natural foods, and my friends and family.
What are the biggest differences you see between the university experience here and in your home country?
The university here provides the student with great facilities that make this educational journey easy to navigate. The library was my favorite because in my home country, even though we have a big library but sometimes I don't find the books that I need, and there is no option of requesting it from anywhere else. I would need to go on my own and search for it somewhere else.
Additionally, the housing is better quality. The teachers are so helpful, to a level that makes the teachers in my country sound so tough and difficult. Also the one gender school was a huge thing for me because all my life I've studied with boys and girls, so this experience really changed so many things in me.
However as I mentioned before, in my country classmates always help each other and gather after classes to discuss the lessons and help those who don't understand, that is one thing that I found difficult finding here. Here you're on your own. I know we have the O'Neil center and other resources but nothing feels like your classmates and friends working together.
Why did you want to come to study in the United States and at St. Kate's in particular?
I came to the U.S through an Exchange program called NESA UGRAD EXCHANGE program, and I chose the U.S because it is the most influencing country in the world, it is an honor if i come and study here. The U.S is where one learns to be responsible, organized and self-dependent. I expended my comfort zone so much and I will come here again for sure if I had a chance. As for st. Kates, I didn't choose it or choose Minnesota state, my program chose it for me depending on my grade in the TOEFL test.
What would you say was your most memorable moment, during your time here?
I think the moment I'll never forget is when the teacher handed me my first exam and i got an A, then I knew that a start like this will lead to even a better end.
What advice would you give to other students?
Relax a little and build strong friendships, I understand that studying is so important and one should focus on it the most, but as life goes by you might miss the chance to be friends with people that really deserve it. Friendship also counts :)
What are you passionate about in life?
My main focus is to study so hard, and help my family, not that they need it, but I have a very supportive family who gave me so much and I want to give them something in return. Personally I am passionate about languages, and I love learning new languages so much that I even made a reputation about this among my friends here and back home. I believe language can open so many cultural doors to anyone, and what is life if not cultures.