When Keshav Daga and Kavil Jain chose to continue master’s degrees in the United States, they admitted having felt some concern.
Admittedly, there were challenges associated with obtaining an advanced diploma, but by making 8,000 miles from their homes in India, in an unknown and immersed environment in a different culture of theirs, created additional anxiety .
But thanks to the support they had received from international students who had taken the path before them, the transition, although sometimes delicate, has become transparent.
And Daga and Jain, in turn, decided to exploit the kindness they received and pay it for international students who are considering Cal State Fullerton for their higher studies.
Daga and Jain began their studies at the CSUF in the spring of 2023 and obtained their master’s degrees in December 2024.
Their story begins in 2020.
Daga and Jain, close friends who have known each other since the school, had obtained baccalaureate diplomas in universities in India and worked in the computer field.
When they decided to continue a master’s degree in computer science, they wanted to continue their studies in a university in the United States
“We mainly travel the best universities in California,” said Daga. “We always wanted to come to California.”
According to their research, longtime friends have discovered that the CSUF offers not only a good computer program, but that the University of the County of Orange is proud of inclusiveness, welcoming learners from all walks of life.
Before traveling to the other side of the world, the couple went to LinkedIn to connect with other international students who attended the CSUS.
From the creation of these connections, Jain and Daga felt more comfortable about what to expect in an American university.
This support gave them the necessary confidence.
However, there were nuanced differences to navigate.
“Even to book an apartment, we did not know that we had to pay with a mandate,” said Daga. “Since we were back in India, how can we pay by mandate?” Everything, many people, they helped us, supported us; We are always grateful to them.
So grateful that once arrived at the CSUF, they launched initiatives designed to facilitate the transition to an American university for future international students at home.
Thanks to the support of the International Bureau of Students and academics and their own commitment to social networks, they started zoom sessions before the arrival for incoming students.
“And it was really useful for them,” said Jain. We have obtained excellent support from all our friends here. We had 60 to 70 students during our first call.
Due to their popularity, zoom sessions have become an official event for international students services that hold each semester for incoming international students.
“People of similar culture, a similar background, when they come here, most of them are faced with similar problems, I would say,” said Kavil. “Thus, the people who are already here, our elders for example, they have faced these problems, they know the solutions to most of them. So they are the best to guide the new students who come here.”
Based on the success of the zoom sessions before the arrival, Jain and Daga then revived the International CSUF Friendship Club.
The club connects new international students to current students, helping them to acclimatize to American culture through a variety of activities.
They kept the momentum and in the spring of 2024, Daga and Jain launched the Hindu Yuva club to celebrate the popular festivals of their homeland here in the United States
The club welcomed the Hindu festival known as Holi, which celebrates the arrival of spring.
Holi attracted 200 students in the intramural field.
The Hindu club Yuva has won the Prix for the emerging organization of student life and leadership.
Daga and Jain were drawn to running for campus management positions.
In the spring of 2024, the two were elected to the board of directors of associate students Inc. for the College of Engineering and Computer Science and began their falling roles.
Jain and Daga will walk during the graduation ceremony after the semester of spring 2025.
In the meantime, the two work in positions in the County of Orange.
But they are not sure of their future and if they will stay in the United States or return to India.
“We are still not sure about it,” said Daga. “We will work for a while, then we will determine if we settled here or returning. We are so attached to our family, and it looks long, we have to live with them. At one point, yes, we will come back.
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