This week on SA Voices From the Field, we interviewed PhD candidate in China, Echo Zhao.

Echo Zhao was an international student in the United States for about six years and a double alumnus of Iowa State University. Like many international students, she entered college underprepared to succeed. Her parents valued education but could not help her navigate college with their language barriers. She struggled with her academics, self-confidence, and sense of belonging.

She switched three majors because she was unsure of what she wanted to do. With different student affairs professors' support and help, she continued her master's degree in higher education-student affairs. Her college experience became the catalyst for her career in student affairs.

She has worked in 5 different departments within Student Affairs in 3 different types of institutions in her past working experiences. She realizes the need to connect practical practices with theoretical knowledge to further contribute to the international higher education field.

Meanwhile, she values herself as a lifelong learner. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Macau in the Faculty of Education. I hope I can continue supporting college students' dreams and empowering them to own their path to a degree in my current role and future.

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