South African students, who make up over 48% of the 121 African students at Wayne State College, have a difficult task in leaving family behind to come get an education, but are still able to find reasons to stay.
Michelle Botha, a sophomore student from Johannesburg spent two years in the U.S. as an au pair in Iowa and Florida, before making the decision to either go back home or to stay in the U.S. to get an education.
Botha decided to stay in the U.S., and has not returned home in three and a half years. Botha also mentioned how the community at Wayne State stood out and is one of the big reasons why she decided to stay here.
“I get to meet new people and just talk about our experiences, and I feel like that just brings a very diverse community together,” Botha said. “And you feel like you belong.”
Senior Luke Buchner, a rugby player from, also from Johannesburg, was recruited by agency which brings student-athletes to the U.S.
Buchner received offers from Wayne State and several other schools. Buchner chose Wayne State after many meetings with the rugby coach. WSC also brought the value of being a relatively affordable 4-year school.
During Buchner’s time on the rugby team he has had a ton of success including a National Championship win last year. Even though there has been a lot of success Buchner recognizes the community and relationships as the best part of playing rugby at Wayne State.
“I think I’ve developed really, really good connections with a lot of the guys on the team and I’ve developed really good friendships,” Buchner said.
Community is key for international students, and so are the opportunities. Nicola Joseph, the president of the International Club, also mentioned the community at Wayne State but also talked about opportunities. As a student who wanted to study biology for pre-medicine, Joseph was told by other schools to change and study nursing, but WSC led with support.
“Wayne was super into me studying what I wanted to study,” Joseph said.
Being pulled to Wayne State and going to school in the U.S. is a difficult thing for international students especially when they cannot go home every weekend like the other students from state surrounding Wayne. Not going home and not seeing family causes a great deal of homesickness.
“So, I think homesickness is definitely, like the big aspect and just, I guess a lot of it is just, you know, having to do things yourself,” Joseph said. “I do think we are, relatively independent people, but you come, and your entire life is in two 50-pound suitcases and the closest thing you have to support system is like 9,000 miles away and with a seven-hour time difference, it’s just like you have to almost like reinvent the entire person you are just to sort of survive.”
Homesickness is seen a lot in the freshman international students, but The Office of International and Cultural Programs and other international students who have gone through the same thing and even still facing it are there to help.
Robynne McMaster talks about being “blessed” to have an international community like she does here at Wayne State. The Office of International and Cultural Programs and the Multicultural Lounge is open to everyone as a way to learn more about different cultures and connect with international peers. It’s a welcoming space for everyone to explore global perspectives and build community.
“The opportunity to reach out to somebody that you don’t know and gain the support that you can’t really find if you don’t have that strong connection point, it’s wonderful,” McMaster said.
Name corrections made 9-17-25.
