NAFSA 2025
By Isis Rodriguez
Before attending, I must admit I didn’t know what NAFSA was, I hadn’t even heard of it before, and our teachers couldn’t clearly explain what the event would be like. However, from the moment we arrived, we were all pleasantly surprised and excited to see educators from around the world gathered in one place.
The activities we participated in were interesting and fun. I especially enjoyed speaking with students from the U.S. As a Mexican student, I found these interactions incredibly valuable for practicing my English and learning more about different cultures. I felt very welcomed throughout the event, and the presenters were kind, approachable, and attentive.
During the event, I was introduced to a wide range of international opportunities that we can pursue as we prepare to enter university, such as student exchange programs, volunteer work, and even options available during or after completing a degree. These experiences were incredible and inspiring.
I’m deeply grateful to the San Diego Diplomacy Council for making this opportunity possible. It allowed me to develop a clearer vision of what I want for my future, and it motivated me to explore global paths for my education and personal growth.
By Emily Alexa Jimenez Mata
Some weeks before the conference, I was feeling in some type of rut. Always with the same activities and with no chances of innovation, I started to think I needed something bigger, something that could make me believe I’m making an impact in real life. So, I began looking for international opportunities that could bring me closer to global changemakers and at some point, be part of them.
But the main problem? I didn’t know any, and the ones I found seemed suspicious or didn’t have credibility enough for me to adventure into another country. Starting to feel insecure, my school launched a call to students for the NAFSA annual conference. I entered the website and everything seemed interesting and exciting to me, but to be honest, I didn’t understand the whole concept of the conference and I was waiting to get talks about ideas for a new educational system at an international scale, but it was greater than that.
Then, my school accepted my application and I had the chance to meet Dr. Fanta Aw, the CEO of NAFSA, an amazing and wise person. Encouraged to ask her a question, I said: How can I make people closer to me believe that international opportunities and change are possible for us, and they aren’t that much out of reach as they think? Because I found some people that thought I was trying too much and I should just stick to my reality but for me, believing them was not an option.
And Dr Fanta told me the best response she could give me: “Be the first one to make it and lead with example, people like that are way more influenced if you show them success first”
I think it was an incredible response because she is the livid example of it. She didn’t grow up with all the opportunities but created them herself and attracted people with the same goals to her. And she motivated me to act like that and be someone who leads people to a bigger dream.
At the conference, I was happy to find people that also wanted to take a bigger step into the world, gladly to receive new ideas and perspectives. And I was even more happy to find that all the opportunities I was searching for were there, ready for me to just ask about it and get involved.
I was amazed by the amount of countries with programs such as volunteering, exchange or with the possibility of a degree or phd. I even found my dream college (Oxford), telling me it is possible to be part of them. The conference room was full of stands that extended amazing opportunities for an international education, and they were willing to answer any questions I had.
In brief, I had my first chance to get into international education and make one of my first big steps into the world. But I especially want to thank my teachers and the San Diego Diplomacy Council for allowing me to experience this event and for always trying to bring new types of advantages to students like me, who also strive for change.
By Melanie Reyes Tejeda
I really enjoyed participating in NAFSA. It was an unforgettable opportunity that helped me discover many new things. NAFSA is not just a place to explore global experiences, it is a gathering point where people, schools, and volunteer groups come together to work toward a better future. Everyone I met was kind and committed to share valuable opportunities and experiences. One of the highlights of my experience was the “Portal Experience” by Shared Studios. Through this Portal, we had a meaningful conversation with people online, seeing and hearing each other clearly. It was amazing to connect and share ideas even without being in the same place. This showed me how technology can help us in a positive way, as long as we use it correctly. During our conversation on the Portal Experience, we discussed the concept of creativity. While creativity is often associated with art, it can be expressed in many different ways, and I believe NAFSA represents this perfectly. I think creativity is a vital part of our world and an important tool for change. At NAFSA, creativity was evident through the opportunities offered by schools, platforms, and volunteer programs, all developed by creative people. Overall, NAFSA made me feel excited about the future and confident in the impact young people can have. I am very thankful for the chance to be part of this event.
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