Lilian Iyahen '04

Dealing with Cultural Differences

I would tell someone considering Guilford to come here because the classes are awesome and you can reach a professor anytime, anywhere, at home or in school. That's one valuable thing you don't get elsewhere. Don't be afraid to not fit in with society because we're filled with all kinds of people, all people from all classes, races, religions, international students…

College at Guilford was different for me because I transferred here from Nigeria. I came here as a third year, from a very big university. I mean, one department was bigger than this whole school. It was a big transition. I was majoring in math and economics. So when I came here I had to adapt;  I majored in economics and took math as a concentration.

I've learned a lot about different cultures by living in the Multicultural House. My roommate is a Native American from Montana, and my housemates include people from Palestine, Ghana, Japan, and Nicaragua. We come from different places and we can see the differences. There have been incidences of friction that come from cultural differences — some cultures say "Feel free to take my stuff," while others are "Hey, that's mine!"  So we've had to learn to work things like that out — I remember in particular some incidences involving ice cream in the house freezer.

I've learned to not judge people by the way they look outside. When you get here and you see people with their hair sprayed pink or blue, certain stereotypes come to your mind. But when you interact with them one on one, you realize that it's not just about the first impression. I've learned that people are approachable.

I'd say my favorite class was a Carolyn Beard Whitlow class, either "Black Women's History" or "Black Women Writers." I learned a lot about the history of this country, the history of women. I've learned a lot about where women are coming from, and where they are now. And then I realize that there are certain things that women have fought for.

For all that Guilford's taught me, I feel like I haven't gotten it all; I want to get more. I feel like there were certain things I wasn't able to get, though they were there. I just couldn't get them. I've been here four years -- it's over so soon. It's flown by.

Maybe I really just want to take the whole school with me.