Coming to a new place can be a daunting task. But Xiaoxuan He took a chance four years ago moving from China to attend McMaster, and she’s never looked back.

He has decided to make Canada her permanent home after living in China for almost 18 years. Her various experiences at McMaster have allowed her to not only learn about herself, but also broaden her horizons. She’ll graduate on Monday with a degree in Commerce.

“People’s different mindsets have constantly been inspiring me to think in a different perspective,” she says. “It is largely because of these positive learning experiences I am prompted to decide to stay in Canada.”

He will enter the workforce this fall as a staff accountant, preparing audit and accounting files, and helping clients in professional institutions with assurance and accounting engagements. During the summer months, He will be studying in the pursuit of her Chartered Accountant designation.

Over the past few years, the Commerce student has immersed herself in the University’s rich culture — becoming a true Marauder in the process  Being an international student, He had to overcome challenges such as a language barrier, differing cultures and gaining confidence in a new environment.

“When I first started university, it was a little bit intimidating. I had to constantly make my own decisions,” she explains, comparing her new academic home to the tight school schedule in China. He truly appreciated the flexibility offered during her first year at McMaster — allowing her to explore all her areas that interested her, while adjusting to student life.

She originally chose McMaster as a Grade 11 student, after attending a three-week ESL camp hosted on campus. He immediately saw that the University places high value on cultural diversity, and believed McMaster could help her become better integrated into the community.

As an international student, He felt it was important to hone her English language skills and break out of her shell by exploring the McMaster community. During her first year, she joined the Welcome Week production IRIS (Inspiration, Reflection, Integrity, and Success), which is presented each year to incoming students to demonstrate campus life from varying perspectives.

Even in those early days, He noticed that the DeGroote School of Business has extremely dedicated faculty members. “What they have done may seem small acts to them, but they mean a lot to me,” she says. “Without the advice and support they have provided me, I would not think I could have gone this far.”

Volunteering also became a big part of He’s McMaster experience, and she eventually began lending her time in the greater Hamilton community. Her list of placements includes the Hamilton Public Library, Engineers Without Borders, and being a mentor for the International Student Mentorship program, as well as participating in the Beanstalk Project conference.

Being a mentor with the Beanstalk Project was a significant experience for He, as the initiative encourages high school students to develop and launch their own project ideas. At the event, she learned that development and growth are enhanced when people step out of their comfort zones.

“Had I not been part of the Beanstalk Project, I would not think I would have the courage to participate in IRIS and teach second year students in a classroom as a TA later on in my university life,” she explains.

On campus, He went on to TA for various Financial Accounting classes — not only grading assignments, but lecturing students and helping them navigate through the tasks at hand. She was also an Academic Skills Assistant, and met with various students to help them gain confidence in their capabilities. He recalls, “I still remember one girl whom I talked to a few times about time management gave me a hug at the end of our last session. Also, every time when her eyes lit up because of some strategies that she had never tried, I found the experience very rewarding.”

During her time at the DeGroote School of Business, He found that the vibrant and dynamic campus environment enhanced her learning experience. “DeGroote heavily emphasizes the importance of experiential learning and innovation through a variety of group projects, class presentations and case competitions,” she says, adding that these lessons helped her develop practical and critical thinking skills.

Straight from the Source: Tips for International Students

He says the most important thing an international student can do is break out of the comfort zone. Students need to challenge themselves, she explains, and always keep an open mind to new opportunities. Some of her advice includes:

• Attend your program’s networking events
• Seek out resources to help you such as writing workshops
•  Be part of the community through volunteering
• Don’t be afraid to take essay writing courses
• Make friends that speak English as a first language, to improve your own.