When I first joined the Connect Program, I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest, I thought it
might be boring, and I doubted I would enjoy interacting with people I didn’t know especially
from different countries and cultures. I also felt anxious because I often feel nervous when
meeting new people, and this time it wasn’t just one person it was several, all with different
identities, backgrounds, and stories. I assumed we would all be very different, and not everyone
would be kind which is normal because we are all different.

It also seemed challenging to join a two-hour Zoom session every week with people I don’t
know and try to find meaningful topics to talk about. But from the very first session, the
facilitators did an amazing job creating a space where we could engage comfortably. Even
though it felt challenging to talk to new people for so long at first, it slowly became easier with
each session.

One of the biggest surprises for me was how many similarities we actually shared, despite our
different cultures. For example, some participants had lived in foreign countries for many years
and struggled to make friends or feel like they belonged. They talked about feeling anxious and
isolated something that two other students deeply related to. Seeing others open up about these
experiences reminded me that even though we come from very different places, we often carry
similar feelings. This helped many of us feel more relaxed and comfortable with each other,
opening the door for more honest conversations in the following sessions.
What stayed with me most from this program was the authentic kindness and genuine
interactions among participants. Everyone showed up as their real selves nobody was trying to
impress or pretend. The respect we had for each other was clear in the way we listened,
encouraged, and gave space for everyone to share their opinions.
By week four, I found myself talking more confidently. The activities in breakout rooms helped
us bond through shared interests and meaningful topics. Everyone made sure others had a chance
to speak, and the environment was always respectful especially when it came to differing
opinions. No one was ever judgmental. Even when someone didn’t agree, they would say things
like “Thank you for sharing” or “That’s very interesting,” and when they agreed, they would say,
“I can relate to that,” which made everyone feel included and heard.

I really enjoyed one of the topics about our identity and culture, where we discussed aspects of
our culture that we would like to change in the future. One thing I mentioned was the tendency to
show offI wished that people could be more authentic, truly themselves, and live their own lives
instead of trying to become what others want them to be just to fit in. Many participants agreed
with this point, which opened the door to further conversations, and everyone was interested and
engaged in discussing it.
Looking back, the Connect Program has truly changed the way I see group discussions and
cross-cultural communication. It helped me step out of my comfort zone, opened my mind to
different perspectives, and showed me that respectful dialogue is possible even among strangers.
Most importantly, it reminded me that kindness and authenticity are powerful tools in building
meaningful connections.