Starting something new is always exciting, but it can also be intimidating. The more stable my life feels, the scarier a big change can seem. Things that used to feel natural suddenly become unfamiliar and uncomfortable. This was all to be expected, but when I arrived in Durham, I faced a challenge I never could’ve anticipated: I had shipped nine boxes from Korea by air, but all of them were lost. Now, not only was I stepping into a new country, but I also lacked the essentials and comforts from home that I needed to make that transition.
What happened next was unexpected. Here are three moments where I saw myself becoming part of Team Fuqua, meeting wonderful friends to learn from, and realizing that this journey could be a joyful process.
The first moment was in mid-June, right after I arrived in Durham. Leaving behind everything I knew well and stepping into a new country and city to meet new people was overwhelming. During Business, Communication, and Culture (BCC), introductions went on endlessly. I even wondered if I had come to the wrong place.
On the second day of BCC, while sitting in a classroom with new classmates, I tried to lighten the mood by sharing with them the situation with my missing items. For two weeks, I had no clothes, no shoes, and no bedding. Since the boxes contained almost all my daily essentials, I worried constantly about what to do if they never showed up.
But then something happened that completely changed my perspective: two classmates, Marina and Leticia, whom I had only just met, immediately asked if I needed anything. They offered to go shopping with me and wanted to help in any way they could. Their kindness almost brought me to tears. It felt like drinking a warm cup of tea on a cold winter day, a familiar comfort. In that moment, I realized that I was truly welcome here and that belonging would not be as difficult as I had feared.
Even afterward, friends continued to check on me. Ana, who returned to Peru for a short trip, messaged me several times to see if I had found my boxes. Opal, before leaving for vacation, asked if I needed anything and even offered to shop for me while she was away. I believe that when something difficult happens, something good often follows. Losing my boxes turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it helped me gain true friends. (Thankfully, a month later, I was able to recover them!)
The second moment came during orientation. I am not particularly shy, but being surrounded by many new people at once can be challenging for me. I shared this feeling with Ricardo, who was sitting next to me. From the very next day, Ricardo came to check on me every day for nearly two weeks, asking “How are you today?” or “Are you feeling okay?”
He could have just brushed off my words, but instead, he cared enough to follow up. His thoughtfulness gave me courage to greet more classmates. Little by little, I began to adapt more comfortably.
The next moment was during my C-Lead team experience. In our Leading Business in a Complex World class, international students like me were given one hour to prepare and submit assignments during class. It was difficult to keep up. I had so much I wanted to contribute, but I hesitated, worried that I might slow down the flow or not be helpful to the team. Even though I am an adult standing on my own feet, I often felt like a powerless child here, asking myself, “Can I really do this well?”
During the final assignment, Jennia asked me, “Eunmi, are you comfortable?” I was not used to showing my emotions or vulnerabilities, especially in a professional setting, because I thought revealing weakness would be seen as a flaw. But her question gave me the courage to be honest about how I felt.
When I opened up, my teammates reassured me that it was natural to feel pressured under such tight time constraints. They told me that with more time, I could contribute fully and that they would support me. Jennia, Nathan, William, Rajitha, and Weihang gave me the encouragement I needed to keep moving forward.
Me (in the front, second from the left) with my C-Lead friends at the section party, August 2025
Now it has been two months since I came to the United States. Adapting to a new environment is still not easy, but I am convinced that every experience is helping me grow stronger. Most importantly, I have learned that whenever I feel lost or tired, there are friends by my side to support and cheer me on.
As I reflect on these moments, I want to make one promise to myself. Just as my friends have cared for me, I also want to become someone who is kinder and more supportive of others. To all my friends, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
The post When I Truly Felt Part of Team Fuqua appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
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I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : When I Truly Felt Part of Team Fuqua
What happened next was unexpected. Here are three moments where I saw myself becoming part of Team Fuqua, meeting wonderful friends to learn from, and realizing that this journey could be a joyful process.
1. Feeling Welcome From the Start
The first moment was in mid-June, right after I arrived in Durham. Leaving behind everything I knew well and stepping into a new country and city to meet new people was overwhelming. During Business, Communication, and Culture (BCC), introductions went on endlessly. I even wondered if I had come to the wrong place.
On the second day of BCC, while sitting in a classroom with new classmates, I tried to lighten the mood by sharing with them the situation with my missing items. For two weeks, I had no clothes, no shoes, and no bedding. Since the boxes contained almost all my daily essentials, I worried constantly about what to do if they never showed up.
But then something happened that completely changed my perspective: two classmates, Marina and Leticia, whom I had only just met, immediately asked if I needed anything. They offered to go shopping with me and wanted to help in any way they could. Their kindness almost brought me to tears. It felt like drinking a warm cup of tea on a cold winter day, a familiar comfort. In that moment, I realized that I was truly welcome here and that belonging would not be as difficult as I had feared.
Even afterward, friends continued to check on me. Ana, who returned to Peru for a short trip, messaged me several times to see if I had found my boxes. Opal, before leaving for vacation, asked if I needed anything and even offered to shop for me while she was away. I believe that when something difficult happens, something good often follows. Losing my boxes turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it helped me gain true friends. (Thankfully, a month later, I was able to recover them!)
2. Settling In During Orientation
The second moment came during orientation. I am not particularly shy, but being surrounded by many new people at once can be challenging for me. I shared this feeling with Ricardo, who was sitting next to me. From the very next day, Ricardo came to check on me every day for nearly two weeks, asking “How are you today?” or “Are you feeling okay?”
He could have just brushed off my words, but instead, he cared enough to follow up. His thoughtfulness gave me courage to greet more classmates. Little by little, I began to adapt more comfortably.
3. Opening Up to My Team
The next moment was during my C-Lead team experience. In our Leading Business in a Complex World class, international students like me were given one hour to prepare and submit assignments during class. It was difficult to keep up. I had so much I wanted to contribute, but I hesitated, worried that I might slow down the flow or not be helpful to the team. Even though I am an adult standing on my own feet, I often felt like a powerless child here, asking myself, “Can I really do this well?”
During the final assignment, Jennia asked me, “Eunmi, are you comfortable?” I was not used to showing my emotions or vulnerabilities, especially in a professional setting, because I thought revealing weakness would be seen as a flaw. But her question gave me the courage to be honest about how I felt.
When I opened up, my teammates reassured me that it was natural to feel pressured under such tight time constraints. They told me that with more time, I could contribute fully and that they would support me. Jennia, Nathan, William, Rajitha, and Weihang gave me the encouragement I needed to keep moving forward.
Me (in the front, second from the left) with my C-Lead friends at the section party, August 2025
Now it has been two months since I came to the United States. Adapting to a new environment is still not easy, but I am convinced that every experience is helping me grow stronger. Most importantly, I have learned that whenever I feel lost or tired, there are friends by my side to support and cheer me on.
As I reflect on these moments, I want to make one promise to myself. Just as my friends have cared for me, I also want to become someone who is kinder and more supportive of others. To all my friends, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
The post When I Truly Felt Part of Team Fuqua appeared first on Duke Daytime MBA Student Blog.
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : When I Truly Felt Part of Team Fuqua