Name: Julia Salas
Major: Manufacturing engineering
Classification: Graduate student
Graduation date: Spring 2025
Home country: Talca, Chile
Extracurricular activities: “I go to the gym, but besides that, no.”
What are the differences between your home country and the United States? “Everything. … The main difference that I noticed here is that nobody walks. Everyone uses cars. Like, over there, it’s very common to see people on the street or using public transportation, more than … their own vehicles. Like, I had my first car when I was, like, 23. Not like here. Everyone has a car since they are, like, 18.”
What is on your bucket list? “I would like to travel more in the United States. To see more places like … New York or Los Angeles. That would be on my bucket list.”
Who is your role model? “I would say my parents are my role model. … My dad came here to study his Ph.D. when I was 3, and they left, like, all their family behind. Then we went back to Chile, but they inspired me to know that the world is bigger than Chile, where I used to live.”
Why did you choose the major you are in? “Well, honestly, I’ve always liked engineering, like, it inspires me. And I think that’s … how I want to change the world, like … to have more, like, a more environmentally friendly, like, ecosystem or, like, products that we can implement to improve in everything. I think we need to take care of the planet.”
What movies or shows do you like? “Right now, I’m watching ‘The Last of Us’ on HBO Max, but my comfort shows are always ‘Modern Family’ or ‘Friends’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’”
What advice would you give other international students? “Just hang in there. It’s hard. It’s very hard, like, moving out of your country with nobody. Like, you don’t have a support system. But you’ll find people that are going to help you. … Always ask for help. People are just really nice here. … They are very open to help international students, especially … faculty. They know the struggle that we have. It’s not only, ‘Oh, I have to study.’ It’s I have to pay rent, I have to feed myself. I have to come to study and work. The majority of us work. … It’s hard, but you can do it. You need to find a support system here and just keep going.”
