From Being to Becoming: An International Student’s Journey at Becoming an International Education Scholar

Abstract

Framed as an autoethnography, this study builds upon my personal and academic journey from ‘being’ an international student in the United States to ‘becoming’ a scholar who studies issues of international student mobility. Through a comprehensive dataset comprised of self-reflection, personal communications, published and unpublished scholarly works, and presentations, I show how being the Other and observing or experiencing issues of discrimination against international students can transform one’s personal and scholarly identity. Findings from this study contribute to the literature on international students’ development.