In this episode, Nancy shares how a friend looked out for her and helped her craft a strong resume and how networking opened the door to a paid summer internship in Arizona - An internship that resulted into a job offer before graduation. Nancy talks about the challenges of securing work permits and getting experience/internships while still in school

Nancy reflects on how the internship changed the way her school department viewed her, leading to more recognition which made her feel a certain type of way. She also opens up about graduation, the role of community, embracing change, and her plans for the future. The episode closes with an honest conversation about navigating the H1B visa process and green card applications.

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#NancyUmutoniwase #InternationalStudentLife #InternshipSuccess #H1BVisa #GreenCardJourney #NetworkingTips #CareerDevelopment #DiversityInSTEM #StudentStories

In this episode, Nancy continues to share her journey as she recalls the 14-hour bus ride from Kentucky to West Virginia University (WVU).

She recalls feeling the reality of being independent as her mom was getting ready to leave her by herself. Faced with anxiety about adjusting, succeeding, and finding her place, she began to question if she could handle it all.

Things started to shift when she connected with a community of fellow Rwandan students—one of whom became like a big brother and helped her navigate the campus and the new reality of being an international student.

The adjustment wasn’t easy. Nancy reflects on the difficulty of adjusting to unfamiliar food and the challenge of managing her own routine and schedule for the first time. With no job and limited money, Nancy learned to budget using YouTube.

As she explored various academic paths, she eventually found her passion in mining engineering while also developing a deep interest in midwifery.

She shares an honest look at battling depression in her third year in college, the importance of leaning on friends and family, and how gratitude helped her find strength during tough times.

Nancy’s story is one of resilience and discovery.

#NancyWVU #ImmigrantJourney #CollegeLife #MentalHealthAwareness #BecomingYou

In this episode, Nancy shares her inspiring journey from Rwanda to West Virginia. 🇷🇼✈️🇺🇸

She first arrived in the U.S. in 2014, landing in Kentucky with her mom and siblings before taking a 14-hour bus ride to Morgantown, WV. But her story begins much earlier. Nancy opens up about her experience at Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology—a place she didn’t want to attend at first but her dad talked her into giving it a shot for one year, and the rest is history.

At Gashora, Nancy was introduced to a world of leadership, academic possibilities, strong mentorship, and college counseling. Inspired by her sister who was already studying in the U.S., Nancy began exploring opportunities abroad. A visit from a WVU representative at Gashora helped her envision her next steps, and her father’s encouragement leaned her towards engineering as a major of choice in college.

A natural planner, Nancy shares how she leans on her faith to navigate the unexpected.

She closes out Part 1 by recalling her U.S. Embassy interview and the confidence her mother taught her to carry into every room. From school uniforms to bold dreams, Nancy’s story is one of growth, courage, and determination.