Coming to America

Columbia native studies on campus

Jessica Ramirez, a junior Mass Communication major, has been a foreign exchange student at Georgia College since Fall 2008. She is a native of Baranquilla, Colombia. Through the International Education Center, Georgia College has over 100 different foreign exchange students from countries all over the world in the program. Jessica is not the first of her family to have studied in Milledgeville. Libby Davis, Associate Director and Student Advisor for the International Education Center, saw two of Jessica’s three sisters come to Georgia College— one graduating in 2007 and the other now attending Georgia Tech for engineering.

Ramirez

From pre-school to senior graduation Jessica was enrolled at Karl C. Parrish, an American-built bilingual school. Maintained much like a private school in the United States, her graduating class consisted of 40 students. The small environment and close-knit group of students did not distract her though.

“My mother never had to tell us to do our homework,” Ramirez said. “We were very disciplined.”

Taking her education serious as the years went on, she applied for a scholarship sponsored by the Rotary Club. After she was granted the scholarship, she traveled to the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, getting the necessary visa to be allowed access to the country. She always knew she wanted to go to college in America, but some major factors were holding Ramirez back. Her oldest sister was battling cancer upon her decision to set for the states. Through a strong bond from her parents, sisters and grandparents, Jessica decided it was a necessary but difficult decision that had to be made. In less than a year’s time, she had been granted the Rotary scholarship, graduated high school, made her first visit to America in the summer of 2008, and then enrolled in her first American university, Gordon College just west of Milledgeville, that following fall. The Rotary Club scholarship only covered expenses for one year of college; however her passion for a higher education led her to Georgia College.

Through the university’s International Education Center, Ramirez fit right in after attending international orientation. Unlike the usual orientation, international students only have one week in the Fall, prior to classes to get acclimated to campus, get their Bobcat card, enroll in classes, and find books. Like any new student, she lived in residence halls, Sanford Hall to be exact. There she met one of her best friends, junior political science and Spanish major Callie Heisner.

“Jessica was actually talking to another friend in my dorm room,” Heisner said. “When their conversation ended she turned right to me and said ‘I like your shoes.’”

Their friendship has grown so much that they will once again be roommates next year in their own place. With friends like Heisner, becoming accustomed to her environment got easier with each day.

“In Colombia I was more dependent. I relied a lot on my family. But here it is very different, I am way more independent,” Ramirez said.

Carrying a massive smile wherever she goes, Ramirez has a profound reputation. She is a club officer and treasurer for the International Club and a community advisor in Sanford Hall, overseeing students. Ramirez made it a point to find a job within the institution because foreign exchange students cannot get a job in the public because they are on temporary residence visas. Upon graduation Ramirez wants to continue her studies in broadcast journalism, getting an appropriate internship and Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Whether she’s in front or behind the camera in her broadcast and electronic media classes, performing traditional dances for International Week events, or organizing and maintaining Sanford Hall, Jessica Ramirez does all things through love. Love for her roots in Colombia, love for her new friends at Georgia College and love for her chance to make the most out of her time.

Posted by Taylor Lamb on Jan 27 2011. Filed under Close Up, Special Sections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.