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Assignment 03 - Photo Album (WIP)

Title: "The Struggles of an International Student" (WIP)

For the second media output, I chose to do a photo album with collected quotes and sayings from international students written in my International Student Survey. The photos were originally taken through many different moments of my own experience as an overseas student.

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Assignment 03 - Interview Video

Title: "The Struggles of an International Student"

This is my first media output for Assignment 03. In this video, I interviewed two international students about how they are finding university life so far, and other daily struggles they go through as international students.

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Creating a survey

I also created a International Student Survey to collect more information and opinions on the daily struggles of living abroad as a overseas student.

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Interview Questionnaire

For the next procedure, I made an International Student Survey to get more information and opinions about the daily struggles that overseas students often have.

After a few considerations, I skimmed down the list of questions into one final version to be sent out to all the interviewees before setting up the date of filming.

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Assignment 03 - Concept Brainstorm

Title: "Struggles of an International Student"

Media format: interview video & photo album.

For this assignment, I decided upon 2 media formats: an interview video and a photo album. I started off brainstorming the concept and the production procedures to complete this assignment.

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title 04 | Adulthood

Transcript: It's unfair, that all the time we have is now. It's unfair, to be given such big emotional luggage to carry, and so little time to unpack. It's unfair, to even think that it is unfair. Believing that we are expected to resolve everything as soon as we step into this so-called "adulthood".

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I wrote this poem during my first month of living abroad on my own. Everything felt new and strange, with endless possibilities and what-ifs lying bare beneath my breath.

"Freedom", I whispered to myself... But whenever did freedom ever feel so lonely before? Freedom, to where? Til' when? And how?...

Through this poem, I want to share the feeling of the confusion underlying the start of a new chapter. Which I think is a feeling that the majority of international students can relate to;

That feeling of homesickness, independence, family pressure, or simply just the feeling of loneliness even at times when you're not alone.

Music: https://music.apple.com/es/song/arros/1473283598

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title 03 | Insecurities & Impurities

Transcript: I used to be very insecure about my facial features. Every single day, I tried to use makeup or possibly anything to cover up the parts that I don't like about myself. I tense up in front of every camera and get extremely awkward when my photos are taken. But one day, a stranger once told me that, "Even though you're covering your face with a face mask, I can tell that you're really pretty because of how beautiful your eyes look" I was taken aback. I started gazing at my reflection in the mirror more often and thought to myself, "What is there to even like about it?". But over time, my thoughts soon became "You know what? Maybe they are right." Maybe I am pretty, I am beautiful, from the inside and out. So have this positive mindset of, "This time, let's believe in them. Let's believe in me. Let's believe in those words until it all comes true some day" Once you learn how to take care of your mind, your body always comes along with it. And that is why, it will always come true.

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As time pasts, I learned that the best way to perceive your "impurities" is to acknowledge them.

"My unattractive side profile, my dark under eyes, folded eyelids, my crooked nose bridge, how short my lashes are, my asymmetrical eyes and lips, round face, my double chin,..."

It may look like a long journey ahead for a person who contains so many past insecurities about themselves. But regardless, get yourself out of bed. Kiss yourself in every mirror, and hug yourself extra tight whenever the misogyny takes over.

Learn that there is such a practice called "glow up" (enhancing my own beauty through healthy remedies); whilst looking at all of the other facial features that we cannot change and say,

"Actually, you're pretty cool too!"

Music: https://music.apple.com/th/song/past/1589457550

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title 02 | Something I've learned from a friend who has never fallen in love before

Transcript: During my time in healing, I've learned so many valuable lessons. I asked and received advice from so many different people. From those who've been through many relationships, and even from those who haven't. This was one of the things that I learned from a friend. In her whole life, she has never even fallen in love with anyone before. She said, "You don't need to be at your highest form of self to be able to love someone. You can be at 50%, 70%, 90%, or 95. It doesn't matter. What matters is your willingness, and able-ness, to reciprocate back the things that you want from them. That should always be 100%" ...But in some cases, going into relationships while you are thirsty might not be the best idea. Better to just fill yourself with so much love, then let people come and love the overflow of it.

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This was one of the things that I have actually learned from a friend whilst healing from a breakup. On top of that, there were many other things that I had to juggle along with the pain: the loss of a family member, balancing between my personal life and studies, and work & income as an overseas student in a foreign country.

From this way of thinking, I've learned that you can learn how to love yourself and the relationship as you go. As long as your significant other is also willing to do the same.

There are also some cases, however, that would sound contradicting. After many thought processes, I finally compromised that: It is still best to fill yourself with so much love, that you don't come into a romantic relationship feeling thirsty. Then, let people come and love the overflow of it.

Music: https://music.apple.com/us/song/alone-late-at-night/886464491

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title 01 | X marks the spot

Transcript: Funny how I thought I couldn't fit in, that this place wasn't for me, as if I had to be somewhere else in order to seek validation. Funny how none of those is what I want anymore. is it a sign of growth? or just me being ignorant? for seeking something that has already been here forever. Funny how things just part ways and reunite, like how each of us went our separate paths, but driving on highways that bring us back together in the end. Funny how everything I love has always been here, people whom I wish could've made more time to love them back. people whom of which where I could just stand there, and they'll embrace all of me. Oh, my home! You've always been here, right where I left you.”

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I wrote this piece back in last year, the day before I got on a plane to go studying in a brand new environment.

After spending quality time with family and friends in the last week before I took off, the sudden realization started to hit me: This sentimental feeling of how I will sincerely miss this place that I have always called home. And even though I'm not leaving for good, it was still the conflicting feeling of detaching yourself physically from a place that we used to always call "home".

I think that most international students can definitely relate to these contradicting emotions; especially to describe the feelings of leaving the things you love behind in order to start a brand new chapter on your own.

Music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=B5EhExUcU_M

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Concept Brainstorming

As I further created my mind map about the topic, I found that the aim of my blog is to help international/overseas students gain a deeper understanding of themselves internally & externally.

Related topics mainly surround mental health, happiness and well-being, social connections, and analyzing different emotions within one's being when studying in a foreign country as a 20-year-old.

Furthermore, it should serve as an aid to students in gaining a deeper retrospective about their own purpose in life, and what it truly means to find happiness in everything that they feel and do.

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Introduction

(A case-study project for MEDIA220-23A)

This blog page is dedicated to helping international college students unpack the feelings of having an Existential Crisis at the Age of 20.

The blog will talk about several different aspects of a university student's life in general; whether it is about love, relationships, career, goals, mental & physical well-being, wealth, and so forth...

Music: Blossom - jan garbarek & keith jarett (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUw8QsGQdBI)