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Prof. Sahana H. Balasubramanya
Languages speaking: English, Hindi, German, and Kannada
Bio: I am an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. I have lived in India, the USA and Germany, and thus speak many languages. Besides enjoying writing mathematical proofs, I have always been fascinated by the creative writing process, and pen down the undidactic musings of my brain in my spare time. I also enjoy dancing, archery, reading and lego blocks!
Pelin Cetin ’25
Languages speaking: Turkish, English, & Spanis
Bio: My name is Pelin, and I am an international junior from Turkey studying Economics at Lafayette.
My thoughts often feel scattered, incomplete, and grammatically off. Sometimes, I fear not using the fancy English vocabulary, not expressing myself well enough, and being terrified of failure. Fear. The only emotion that is always there at the back of my head. Every morning I wake up 10,205 kilometers (6,341 miles for you) away from my own country, speak a language I started learning a few years ago, and stare at my roommate in confusion when she says, something-Fahrenheit about the weather. I put on make-up with joy, but underneath it, I’m still struggling to feel comfortable in my skin. Some days I ask myself, what am I even doing here? Then I remember.
The way I learned English was somewhat unconventional. I was born and raised in Turkey, learning and speaking no other language than Turkish. However, in 2015, my perfect high school entrance exam got me a full scholarship from one of the most well-funded and selective private schools in Istanbul. The language of instruction was English, a language I could not speak. So I enrolled in the English preparation track of my school and found myself in the same classroom with Turkey’s wealthiest families’ kids, like the one whose father owns multiple planes who told me, “If you don’t do well in school, you can only end up as a PE teacher.” My father is a PE teacher. His idea of failure was my reality. He could not handle the workload and left the school. He moved to Switzerland; I learned English.
During my high school years, I started to keep a diary in English -a language no one in my family reads or speaks. I chose English over my native language because that was when I realized I was not the way I was “supposed to be,” and I wasn’t ready for that battle. So it felt safer to write in English, a language where they couldn’t understand what was written between the lines, like how the love stories have heroines instead of heroes.
Even years after, I am still no stranger to the words of Janice M. Gould’s mom: “…real women cannot love other women, real women want a man..” (325). I heard these words too many times from my mom, friends, teachers, doctors, therapists, strangers, me, and my various selves. On countless mornings I woke up and thought, “I’m wrong, and I need to be fixed.” Numerous times, I tried to “fix” myself for being gay. So I don’t always like my thoughts but writing them down, editing them, and curating them lets me have some control over them. It allows me to choose which story I tell or, at least, to organize my
private thoughts. I can disguise myself or expose myself, but, ultimately, when I write, I feel in control for the first time.
Writing was and still is the exploration of realities I couldn’t say out loud, things I am not even ready to think about yet. Yet, even years after, I still write my story every day, hoping that someday it will act as a testimonial against the heteropatriarchy that chooses our narratives for us.
I only have limited Spanish proficiency, but it significantly contributed to my international and multilingual experience. In the summer of 2019, driven by the urge to learn Spanish, I used my savings to rent a shared student apartment in Malaga, Spain, for a month, where I enrolled in the summer intensive Spanish course at the University of Malaga. Although my grammar exam placed me in A1 at first, the professors decided I could speak enough Spanish to transfer from A1 to A2 on day one. After completing the course and the final exams at the University of Malaga, I received the “Diploma de Curso Intensivo de Español,” issued in September 2019, for A2 level Spanish competency. In 2020, I enrolled as a full-time student at Lafayette College, where I virtually took two semesters of Spanish -Intermediate Spanish I and Intermediate Spanish II my first year. During my sophomore year, I worked as a student advisor for a Spanish professor.
Armaghan Ejaz ’25
Languages speaking: Urdu & English
Bio: I’m an International student from Pakistan double majoring in Computer Science and Economics.
Ben Gu ’24
Languages speaking: Chinese, English, & Japanese
Bio: Hi everyone, I am Ben Gu from the Class of 2024. I am from Shanghai, China. My mother language is Mandarin, and this is my first year studying abroad so learning English is a tough way to go through. Glad to have this opportunity to post my work and show it to all of you. If you are interested in knowing Chinese culture, please do contact me, I will be glad to help.
Yiqi Guo ’26
Languages speaking: Chinese and English
Bio: I am a student from China, majoring in Economics. This is my first year studying in the United States, so I have encountered many challenges, including cultural differences. But fortunately, I made foreign friends here, and his appearance gave me more opportunities to practice English. I believe that during my time at American universities, I not only gained academic advancement but more importantly, broadened my horizons and exercised my thinking.
Socheata Huot ’25
Languages speaking: Cambodian & English
Bio: My name is Socheata Huot. I am an International student From Cambodia. I belong to the class of 2025, majoring in Civil Engineering. I grew up speaking and learning Khmer as the official language in Cambodia. I first started to learn English when I was 7 years old. It was challenging for a child to start learning an entirely different language. However, there were fun and educational experiences in studying a new language. For instance, when I was able to read storybooks in English before bedtime. It was one of my proud moments when I was excited to show my parents that I could understand what they were saying in the Cartoon show.
In Middle school, I started to learn more about grammar and writing. That was when I started to get interested in western entertainment such as movies, songs, and cultures. Learning languages brought me a fascination with culture, books, and travel. It also boosted my confidence in communication to be able to understand people from different cultures and continents.
Jenifer Katim ’25
Languages speaking: Swahili & English
Bio: My name is Jenifer Katim currently a junior. My major is Mathematics and economics. I am from Mombasa, Kenya. I speak three languages and that is: Swahili, English and my local dialect called Dholuo. Kenya has forty-two tribes and dholuo people can be found mostly around Lake Victoria. My multi-language writing experience was not that hard because English and Swahili are taught in schools so I was very familiar with these two languages. Even though I doubt it might be a bit tough to write.
Prem Kumar ’26
Languages speaking: Hindi, English, and Bhojpuri
Bio:My name is Prem Kumar, and I come from Bihar, India, where I grew up with a deep passion for writing and languages. Currently, I am an international student pursuing a double major in International Affairs and Environmental Studies.
From a young age, I was drawn to the world of words, expressing myself through poetry and short stories. In fact, my journey as a writer began early when, in grade 5, I authored my very first book, “The Miracle of Education.” Regrettably, it never saw the light of day due to unforeseen circumstances, but it marked the beginning of my literary aspirations.
In addition to my love for writing, I have a strong affection for languages. I am proficient in five of them: Hindi, English, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magadhi. This linguistic diversity has not only been a source of pride but has also enriched my writing, allowing me to explore different facets of expression and storytelling.
Beyond my academic pursuits, I am an avid reader and enjoy immersing myself in novels. It’s a passion that has consistently fueled my creative endeavors. Equally, I find immense joy in engaging in physical activities, particularly basketball and badminton. These sports serve as a balance to the cerebral world of writing, providing me with a much-needed outlet for physical energy and camaraderie.
Throughout my life, I’ve actively participated in various essay and poetry writing competitions, which have contributed significantly to the refinement of my writing skills. This involvement has nurtured my interest in crafting poems and short stories, and I continue to approach this passion with unwavering enthusiasm.
Overall, I am Kumar, an international student hailing from Bihar, India, with a deep-rooted love for writing, languages, and a well-rounded approach to life through both literature and sports. My journey as a writer began in childhood and continues to thrive as I pursue my academic interests and explore the world of words with a zest for creativity and self-expression.
Wenjia Li ’25
Languages speaking: Chinese & English
Bio: Hey. My name is Wenjia Li. I’m a student of 2025 at Lafayette. I’m an international student from China. My major is Integrative Engineering. My first language is Chinese. English is my second language.
Liangyu Pang ’26
Languages speaking: Chinese and English
Bio: I’m a first-year student from China and Mandarin is my first language. I’ve only learned English as a secondary language, which I began studying in middle school.
Landy Rakotoarison ’26
Languages speaking: Malagasy, French, & English
Bio: I’m Landy. I am from Antananarivo, Madagascar and I speak Malagasy, French and English. But I am also learning Spanish and Korean slowly along the way! I am currently a rising sophomore, majoring in computer science.
Julie Schramm ’24
Languages speaking: English & French
Bio: I’m a senior majoring in neuroscience with a minor in mathematics. I love to travel, read translated international works of fiction, and study languages. I studied French extensively in secondary school and part of college, and took a Japanese language course last semester while studying abroad in Tokyo!
Luo Yi ’26
Languages speaking: Chinese & English
Bio: Student of 2026, Math, China
Hengyue Zhou ’24
Languages speaking: Chinese & English
Bio: I’m Hengyue Zhou. I’m from Beijing, China. I am a senior at Lafayette College. I mainly speak Chinese, but I learned English when I was young.