Meet a New Mind Coach! Minyan's Story
Every student has unlimited potential!
As a member of the University Performance Program (UPP) team, I work with students to achieve their academic and personal goals from that perspective.
After having the chance to experience different university systems in the United States—liberal arts colleges (Drew University) and top research universities (Columbia University)—I've learned so much about the importance of the first-year college experience for international students. I've also seen firsthand how crucial it is to find the right advisor for you. It's so important to lay a good foundation. That way, you'll feel more comfortable and have a wider range of options. Looking back at my time as an undergraduate majoring in Applied Mathematics, my graduate research project on higher education policy, and my current career in academic coaching, I truly believe that anything is possible! I've seen first-hand that you can change your major, research topic, or career path, and still stick with what you love. I joined New Mind Education as a UPP Coach because I wanted to help students in any way I could. I love assisting students with their academic, personal, and practical skills development. I'm passionate about preparing international students for college in the U.S. and helping them to embrace the local culture, language, and lifestyle. I'm also there to support students in discovering their strengths and taking responsibility for their chosen majors and career paths. And of course, I love being able to help students experience life in the U.S. as they study abroad!
As a UPP Coach, I provide academic, social, and personal support for Yicheng, an international transfer student at Stony Brook University, for the 2024-2025 academic year. From the first day I spoke with Yicheng, I realized that this was not just a role of guiding students through their academic tasks, but also a role of building deeper connections, helping Yicheng find a path to adjust to college life, and effectively plan for his professional and personal development. This job is challenging, but also fulfilling.
After spending close to two months observing and coaching Yicheng, it was so inspiring to see all of his bright spots! He has such a wonderful range of skills, including excellent communication abilities, a deep empathy for others, creative ideas, a love of sports, and a strong bond with his family. All of these wonderful qualities can be great tools for Yicheng in his studies and will continue to give him a strong foundation. We started communicating with each other early on over WeChat and Zoom about all the important things necessary to study abroad, and then moved on to more practical matters like studying for the fall semester. We also had a good laugh discussing some of the more mundane tasks he’d need to complete before he left, like renting an apartment, buying a SIM card, and setting up a bank account. It's so important that he has these non-academic life skills. Once the fall semester started, we had both online and face-to-face coaching sessions, and it was lovely to see Yicheng gradually becoming more confident in sharing his thoughts, status, and interesting things he had done during each session. At the same time, Yicheng took the lead and I was there to help him plan an effective study program along with weekend trips with friends. We've identified several areas where Yicheng could do with extra support, like time management, general skills, choosing a major/course, and personal development planning. My team and I will focus on these areas in the next phase of our coaching.
It's unfortunate that a mentoring experience like this just can't happen at a public university as it's so important for international students to get off to a good start in their first year at college. That's where UPP comes in! We're here to help international students troubleshoot problems, adapt to American university culture, and improve their life skills in a logical and efficient manner.
At UPP, we don't just help students with their studies. We care about them as individuals, too!
Last month, I was lucky enough to arrange for Yicheng to volunteer at Meta, a large technology corporation. He got to experience the latest worker smart bracelet program first-hand! Before applying for the program, I helped Yicheng understand what it was all about, how it would work, and what he could look forward to. I have to say a big “well done!” to Yicheng for making the whole process go so smoothly. The nearly three-hour outing was a great learning experience for him, testing his patience, his brainpower, and even his physical strength! I really hope Yicheng will come up with lots of new ideas (I'm looking forward to reading his reflective essay!). By designing this activity, I intended to bring some new experiences to the students, give them a preview of different majors/careers, explore the latest technology, and network with other like-minded people.
Helping Students through Empathy and Understanding.
I find that in this job, the traditional boundaries between "teacher" and "learner" are blurred, which is lovely. As a UPP Coach, I'm so much more than just a transmitter of knowledge; I'm also a companion, a listener, and a supporter. My new position has made me think a lot about my role as an educator. I've been thinking about how I can help students find their own motivation to make learning a two-way interaction, and how I can support them when they're feeling confused. I realized that what I needed as a coach wasn’t just professional knowledge but also the ability to connect with students emotionally in order to empathize with them. This is something that we can all learn, little by little, through our interactions with each student. One of the most important things I can do for my students is to show them I understand what they're going through. It can be really tough for students when they face many different challenges in a cross-cultural academic environment. Things like language barriers, culture clashes, and academic pressures can really take their toll. I'll never forget when Yicheng first arrived in the US. He was so overwhelmed by the unfamiliar campus and complex schedule! As his coach, I realized that it wasn't enough just to teach him academic skills. I had to get to know him and understand what he was feeling. Sometimes, just a little encouragement or some simple guidance can help a student get out of a slump and get their passion for learning back.
Educator's Sense of Responsibility and Mission
As an educator, I feel so lucky to help students achieve their academic goals. But I also feel a real sense of responsibility to help them develop holistically and become confident, independent, and responsible individuals. I often think about my work and how I can do it better: I wonder if my teaching is truly helping my students to grow and flourish. I want to make sure I'm giving them all the tools and support they need. Reflecting on these issues really inspires me to keep improving the way I teach.
Every student is different, with their own background and needs. There's no one-size-fits-all solution, but that's what makes them special! I'm passionate about finding the best way to give each student the individual attention they need. This is what UPP was always meant to be and where we're headed long-term! Take Yicheng, for instance. He had some difficulty during the early stages of his academic planning. He was really trying his best, but because he wasn't familiar with the course selection system and didn't manage his time very well, he wasn't able to take the courses he wanted to in the fall semester. I worked with him to look at how he was spending his time and we chatted about how to make sure he was balancing his studies with everything else in his life. I also helped him tweak his schedule and got him to meet with advisors of different majors so he could choose an academic path that was better for him. I'm happy to say that through this process I was able to help him regain his confidence and learn how to be flexible and responsive to each student's unique needs.