Auburn is home to nearly 1,000 international students.
One of those students, Edgar Diomande, junior in finance, said he did not originally want to attend Auburn University.
"I did not even want to come to the United States," Diomande said. "I hated my English classes in high school. I hardly ever went."
Diomande was born in Cote d'Ivoire, a country in West Africa. He lived with his father, a politician, his mother and his three siblings.
"My life was basically normal back home," Diomande said. "I went to a private middle and high school, and I lived with my family."
In December 2010, Diomande's life changed drastically. The Ivorian Crisis, a dispute over which candidate won a presidential election, sent his country into a tailspin.
"I used to be very interested in politics, but after that happened I lost a lot of my interest," Diomande said.
One day when Diomande was 18 years old, his father told him they needed to talk.
"He told me I had to go college in the United States," Diomande said. "I said 'How do you expect me to do that? I don't even know English.' He convinced me it would be the best thing for me, and for my education."
Diomande applied to a number of American schools, but eventually decided on Auburn.
"My father told me Auburn was the best choice in order for me to get the best education possible," Diomande said. "My dad's friend went to school here, so that made it easier. Also, we knew Auburn has a good ESL program."
According to Diomande, the transition to American life was difficult at first.
"I had never been so far from my family," Diomande said. "I wanted to make friends but people move so quickly, and sometimes I didn't know if they were making fun of me. It was frustrating at first. But then I said to myself 'If you want to do or learn something you can't care what people think about you. You just have to do it'."
For Diomande, though, the real struggle was learning a new language.
"When I got here, I couldn't even order at a restaurant," Diomande said. "I just had to point at what I wanted."
Diomande worked tirelessly with Auburn's English as a Second Language department to learn English as quickly as possible.
To complement his English classes, Diomande developed some of his own learning tools.
"I watched any English television show I could," Diomande said. "I would just watch random shows, or the news. I also listened to a lot of English music. I mostly listen to rap."
Diomande, who now speaks fluent English, credits the Assistant Director of International Education, Sue Ann Balch, with helping him during his adjustment period.
"Sue Ann Balch is like a mother to me," Diomande said. "She assisted me when I needed it, and she is such an angel."
Diomande said despite his initial worries, he thinks his decision to attend Auburn University was the right one.
"I like Auburn because it is a small, college town and there is nothing to distract me from my studies," Diomande said. "I have met people that have helped me with my learning, and I've made new friends."
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