Third Culture Kids/Global Nomads - The Hidden International Student
Third culture kids (TCKs)/global nomads (interchangeable terms) are youth who have spent all or many years of their childhood living abroad due to their parents' employment. They are a relatively unknown population. Looking specifically at U.S. youth who have grown up abroad and their reentry to the United States, I will describe the population's basic characteristics and experiences in order to help make TCKs more understood. Often these students struggle to understand their American roommates, are unable to identify with American references, as well as a host of other issues. They often want to attend international student orientations, which are usually designed for students holding non-immigrant student visas, just to be close to other internationally-minded people. Creating a better understanding of these students is crucial in order to create more welcoming campuses at U.S. institutions. It is also crucial that international high schools understand their needs to help them prepare for higher education in the U.S.
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