When I found out I'd be spending my summer at Tufts University in Massachusetts, I couldn't wait. Hailing from Kazakhstan, I've always been a person who thrives on change and meeting new people. I was eager to connect with teenagers from a completely different part of the world. But after a 16-hour flight and a long journey, the excitement was quickly overshadowed by a sudden fear: What if I was too different?
I remember my first day, seeing a group of girls laughing and talking. I stood there, hoping someone would notice me, invite me over. No one did. My aunt, sensing my hesitation, encouraged me to make the first move. Awkwardly, I approached them. Everyone was kind, but it wasn’t until I started asking questions and sharing things about myself that real conversations began. It was then that I realized that at Tufts, you have to be a go-getter. No one can know how amazing you are unless you show them.
I've always been passionate about fashion, and I love being a little "extra" with my outfits. Back home, it's just who I am. But here, I felt different. I started to worry that everyone was judging me, that I was a spectacle on a stage. One day, I even decided to play it safe and wear something basic, abandoning an outfit I truly loved.
That's when I saw her. A girl walking with such confidence in a cool dress and boots that made her the star of the room. She was owning her style, and it was incredible. Seeing her, I felt a spark of recognition. That's who I want to be. That's how I want to represent myself. In that moment, I found the confidence to stay true to who I am.
What truly saved me was my initiative. I started taking every opportunity to introduce myself and talk to people. I realized that being different doesn't mean you can't be friends. Exchanging stories and experiences is what leads you to finding common ground. By the end of the first week, I no longer felt like the ugly duckling. I felt like my bravery had turned me into a white swan, known for my unique style and surrounded by amazing new friends.
My time at Tufts taught me that the most important thing you can have in a new community is confidence. You can’t wait for others to be interested in you; you have to be the one to show them who you are. People will eventually follow your lead. Being different isn’t a barrier to connecting with others—it’s what makes us interesting. We aren't all meant to be the same, and that's the beauty of it.
