From International Student to Student Leader: Finding My Voice

Moving to a new country to study is an experience that changes you.

You leave behind familiar places, family, friends and routines and enter an environment where almost everything feels different.

As an international student from Nepal studying in the UK, I experienced that transition myself.

But somewhere along that journey, something unexpected happened.

I found my voice.

And eventually, I found myself using that voice to represent other students.

Starting as a Student

When I first came to university, my primary focus was education.

Like many students, I was thinking about assignments, exams, making friends and building a future.

But university became much more than a degree.

I started becoming increasingly interested in the student experience and the issues affecting the people around me.

I began asking questions.

Could students have more opportunities?

Could university feel more inclusive?

Could students have better access to support?

Could international students feel more connected?

Could the student voice have a stronger influence?

Eventually, I decided that instead of simply asking these questions, I wanted to help find the answers.

Becoming Vice President – Community & Welfare

Becoming Vice President – Community & Welfare of the Students’ Union was a major turning point.

Suddenly, I was no longer speaking only for myself.

I had a responsibility to listen to students from different backgrounds and represent their experiences.

That was both exciting and challenging.

I had to learn how to communicate with senior university leaders.

I had to understand institutional processes.

I had to advocate for students while also working constructively with the university.

And I had to learn that not every problem can be solved overnight.

Finding Common Ground

One of the most important things I learned was that leadership is not about winning every argument.

Sometimes the most effective approach is finding common ground.

I worked with university teams and Students’ Union colleagues on issues including student welfare, accommodation, transport, mental health, inclusion, accessibility and student engagement.

I learned to ask:

What is the problem?

Who is affected?

What can realistically change?

Who needs to be involved?

What can we do next?

These questions helped me move from simply identifying problems to thinking about solutions.

Celebrating Where I Came From

My background also influenced how I viewed community.

As someone who moved from Nepal to the UK, I understand how important cultural connection can be when you are far away from home.

That made cultural and community events particularly meaningful to me.

Supporting South Asian Heritage Month, international student activities and Nepali cultural celebrations gave students opportunities to celebrate where they came from while building connections with others.

I learned that inclusion isn't simply about inviting everyone into the same room.

It is about making sure everyone feels that they belong in that room.

The Confidence to Speak

Perhaps my biggest personal transformation was confidence.

I learned how to speak in meetings.

How to present ideas.

How to challenge decisions respectfully.

How to have difficult conversations.

How to represent someone else's experience.

And how to stand up for an idea even when there is no guarantee that it will succeed.

That confidence has become one of the most valuable things I have taken from university.

What Comes Next?

My student leadership journey has shown me that your starting point does not determine where you can go.

I came to the UK as an international student.

I became a student representative.

I worked with university leaders.

I supported students through difficult situations.

I contributed to campaigns and events.

And I learned how powerful a voice can become when it is used for something bigger than yourself.

I don't know exactly where my journey will take me next.

But I know what I want to carry with me:

The willingness to listen.

The courage to speak.

The ability to bring people together.

And the belief that leadership should always be about creating opportunities for others.

**Sometimes, finding your voice isn't about learning how to speak louder.

It's about discovering what is worth speaking for.**