Arslan Kalandarov is a second year International Studies and Human Development and Family Science student at Kent State University. He is a first-generation student from Turkmenistan.
Studying as an International Student at Kent State
Arslan is from Turkmenistan and learned English while volunteering at Dashoguz American Corner. The American Corner is free to students and community members who want to learn more about the United States through presentations, activities, sessions, books and other resources. A big part of Arslan’s volunteer experience was interacting with American people from the U.S. Embassy and U.S. universities. These contacts helped inform him of opportunities at universities in the U.S. Arslan was also inspired by his friends who were studying at U.S. universities.
Arslan is also an alumni of the Undergraduate Cohort Advising program in Dashoguz, Turkmenistan, a U.S college preparatory program that prepares high school students for U.S universities. This helped Arslan learn about the U.S education system and how to apply to universities in the United States. Arslan ended up applying to over twenty universities, but chose Kent State because it best aligned with his education and financial goals. Arslan was especially excited about double majoring in the U.S. since it is not as common in his home country. Arslan also found that being surrounded by other international students helped with his major in International Studies because he could interact and connect with students from other parts of the world.
When Arslan first came to Kent State he was nervous because none of his family had ever been to the U.S. before. Thankfully his advisor from the UCA program and one of his friends both helped Arslan with the transition. In his second semester his best friend started at Kent, leading the two to become roommates later on. When he got his first on campus job, Arslan was very excited at the prospect of being able to support himself financially. Independence, especially financial independence, is important to him as he does not want to put more strain on his family back home.
Arslan has found Kent State to be a welcoming environment and has made friends with international and American students alike. He is very involved on campus with three different campus jobs, including working at the Recreation and Wellness Center on campus, working at the Flash Activities Board as an event staff member, and recently getting a job at the Office of Global Education as a student partnership and engagement employee. Arslan is also participating in a mentorship program at the Honors College where he mentors freshman students. He is also a part of the International Student Council as well as a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, a first year honors society. Arslan also serves as Communication Chair of Undergradaute Student Government's International Students Committee. Most recently, Arslan has joined a choir on campus because of his passion for singing. He loves how beautiful the Kent State campus is, especially during the summertime, and how safe Kent feels. Despite his busy schedule with extracurriculars and his on-campus jobs, Arslan wants to participate in volunteer opportunities like the on-campus food pantry because he is passionate about helping others. Arslan has found his professors and mentors at Kent State to be very knowledgeable and helpful throughout his academics.
In 2024 Arslan participated in an International Youth Innovation Summit in Japan, where he represented Turkmenistan. The goal of the program was to solve sustainable development goals. At the summit he represented his program Empowerher, which offered free online education for women and girls with the help of volunteers. He wanted to open his own program because of the limited education for women in other countries.
Arslan has traveled around the greater Ohio area, visiting Cleveland and Columbus. He has also visited Ravenna, Akron, and Cuyahoga Falls. Recently he traveled to South Carolina for spring break where he visited Charleston and Spartanburg. Arslan loves nature and enjoyed getting to explore new parts of the U.S. His favorite thing about studying at Kent State has been all the different organizations he is involved in. Meeting students from all sorts of different backgrounds has made him feel more confident about his future. He also appreciates all the different opportunities and resources on campus for students like the CARES Center and Counseling and Psychological Services, as well as academic support and tutoring.
When asked what resources Arslan recommended to other international students, he urged students to use the resources provided on campus. When he first arrived in Kent, learning about the different resources that were available to him helped ease his anxieties. He found that if he needed information about something on campus or with his classes he was unsure of, there was a resource that could help him out. He found the International Student Council especially helpful because of their weekly meetings where he could meet other international students like him. It helped him make new friends and feel more at ease on campus.
Learn more about studying at Kent State University.
Arslan’s Advice For International Students
Arslan’s biggest piece of advice for international students is to not be afraid to ask questions. There are resources and people all around Kent State to help students out. The resources are meant to be used by students, and Arslan said that students should be more active in utilizing the different resources on campus. He also suggests international students should apply for a leadership position on campus if there is something they want to change on campus. Through his leadership positions, Arslan has participated in different cultural events like Cultural Cafe to represent his home country.
Arslan will graduate in spring of 2028 and plans to do OPT, the optional practical training program. He aims to work at an international organization with a focus on global education like UNICEF or UNDP. After his OPT he plans to go to graduate school for a master’s degree related to international studies. Arslan wants to travel while getting his master’s so he can learn more about other cultures and meet new people. Arslan has found that his time studying at Kent State has prepared him for his future career, as well as helping him develop confidence and leadership skills.
