Friendship Within and Across Borders

Abstract

Establishing social networks can be extremely challenging when international students, particularly those of Color, move to a new academic and social environment. We examined first-year international students of Color perceptions of their social networks and how these networks affect their experiences at a predominantly White institution (PWI). This study illuminated participants' relationships with U.S. domestic students and the power of language, culture, and shared experiences through a longitudinal narrative inquiry. Implications for practice and recommendations for future research are described in-depth for practitioners.