Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be at college for a whole semester without going home? Some students on campus do not have to wonder what this would be like. For a chunk of Northwestern’s finest, specifically those who live overseas or in another country, this question is a reality. For a small group of students here at NW, the only time they have the chance to go home is when all of campus is kicked out of the dorms for Christmas break and over summer at the end of the school year.
Even though many international students have host families they can stay with over breaks, it is still a challenge to not be able to truly take a break from being a student in the comfort of their own homes.
Although NW’s international program has provided many wonderful opportunities for international students, it still is not the easiest thing in the world to live so far away from home and family. This can be draining and taxing for international students who go to classes and are involved in extracurricular activities just like any other student on campus would be.
Because of how taxing it may be on students who come overseas to go to school here, it is important for NW’s students, faculty, staff and community as a whole to remain gracious and serve international students with love and understanding for their situation. It is NW’s goal to show love and hospitality to all and to welcome students from all walks and areas of life, showing them the compassion and love of Christ. One way in which this love can be shown to those who are not able to make it home for academic breaks is by giving them a home and a place where they can feel at rest and comfortable. By addressing others with a welcoming and caring attitude, one can create a warm atmosphere for those who need it most. This love and care creates a home away from home for students who live overseas and gives them something to find comfort in throughout the struggles of college living.
Showing love to those who come to NW from all across the world and making them feel at home not only reflects the love of Christ, but also ministers to students who come here with little to no understanding of the Gospel many members of our community hold dear and the redeeming grace God has for His children. By showing love and care to those who are not originally from our area, students work as missionaries on campus and point others from all around the world to Christ so that they might also experience God’s redeeming grace in their lives.
As a Christian campus, NW strives to serve and love others through sharing the truth of God’s Word with them and pouring the love of Christ into their lives.
