Four Years Anniversary 🎉 Today, I reflect on my fourth anniversary since arriving in the UK on the 10th of October 2020, and I’m filled with a deep sense of gratitude and introspection. Four years ago, I embarked on a journey that has not only expanded my worldview but also challenged me in ways I never expected. Coming from a different cultural and academic background, I found myself navigating a system that often held unspoken rules about identity, belonging, and expectations—some of which have been difficult to reconcile. My academic journey to the UK started with securing the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship @commschols to study at @CityUniLondon. That moment kickstarted a massive transition and transformation into the global education landscape, but at the same time exposes me to the surface of the challenges many international students are experiencing. For instance, I went from having to write the TOEFL exam twice to being told that my essays were "too grammatically correct for an international student" in addition to being frequently asked, “Where did you learn to speak and write English so well?” These experiences revealed underlying assumptions that follow many international students. Even more telling was encountering the institutional challenges that highlight the persistent degree-awarding gap between home and international students as well as post-study opportunities. To celebrate this anniversary, I’m honored to be presenting a paper at the upcoming @sheffhallamuni @HallamBTE Decolonising Management Studies and Research Symposium for Doctoral Students. My paper, titled “Navigating identity and belonging in the UK’s educational setting”, will delve into the lived experiences of international students as we traverse the landscape of globalised higher education. It will explore themes of identity, belonging, and how international students often find themselves in a state of ambiguity and flux as they negotiate academic and social spaces. As I stand at the intersection of these discussions, I am filled with optimism, knowing that my work and the work of so many others can and will continue to shape how we think about the future of academia from a lens of decolonisation. Here’s to four years of growth, resilience, and pushing boundaries, and to many more years of challenging the status quo. #DecolonisingEducation #InternationalStudents #PhDJourney #HigherEducation #DiversityInAcademia #IdentityAndBelonging