Far From Home: How International Students Navigate Mental Health

For international student-athletes, coming to the United States is seen as an opportunity, one that offers higher-level competition, education, and personal growth.

But behind that opportunity is a transition that can significantly impact mental health.

At Oakland University, international athletes are navigating not only the demands of college athletics, but also the emotional challenges of adapting to a completely new life.

“It was a mix of excitement and nerves,” Nisa Bulut, a sophomore from Istanbul, Türkiye, said. “I had never been this far from home before, so while I was excited, it also felt overwhelming at first.” 

That initial excitement is often paired with unexpected emotional strain.

“At the beginning, I struggled more than I expected,” she said. “There were times where I felt quite homesick.”

Homesickness is one of the most common challenges international athletes face. Being separated from family, familiar routines, and cultural comfort can create a sense of isolation, especially in the early stages of adjustment.

But for many, that excitement quickly gives way to a more difficult reality.

For William Kassi, an international student from Pontoise, France, and a member of Oakland’s men’s basketball team, that feeling was instant.

“The hardest part was leaving everything familiar behind,” Kassi said. “There were definitely moments where I felt isolated, even though I was surrounded by teammates.”

While teams can provide support, the transition still requires athletes to rebuild their sense of belonging from the ground up.

“I didn’t realize how much I relied on being around people I was comfortable with,” Kassi said. “Coming here, it felt like starting over in every aspect of life.”

In addition to emotional adjustment, international athletes often experience pressure to succeed, not just for themselves, but for the people they left behind.

“You feel like you have to prove yourself more,” Kassi said. “You’ve come all this way, so there’s pressure to perform and not let anyone down and make your people back home proud.”

That pressure can take a mental toll, especially when combined with academic expectations and cultural differences.

Julian Kanzler smiles at the camera during practice. (Photo courtesy of Ceejee Round, used with permission.)

For sophomore Julian Kanzler of Austria, managing it all at once has been one of the biggest challenges.

“There were moments where I felt mentally drained trying to keep up with everything,” he said. “You’re adjusting to a new culture and a new way of life all at once.”

Despite these challenges, some international students say their mental health has also improved in certain ways since coming to the United States.

“I think it’s made me more resilient,” Bulut said. “I’ve had to grow up quickly and learn how to handle things on my own.”

That sense of independence is a common theme among international students.

“You learn how to deal with challenges on your own,” Kanzler said. “It makes you mentally stronger.”

Support systems, both old and new, play a critical role in maintaining mental well-being.

“Even just texting or calling my family makes things feel more normal,” Kassi said. "I try to Facetime with my brother at least once a day.”

Developing routines and focusing on personal well-being  also seem to be key strategies.

“I try to stay in a routine and focus on what I can control,” Bulut said. “That helps me feel more grounded.”

While the transition to life in the United States presents undeniable mental health challenges, it also creates opportunities for growth. 

For many international student-athletes, the experience is not defined solely by the difficulties they face, but by the resilience they build in navigating them.