St. John’s University in New York has welcomed a diverse group of international students for the new academic year, with newcomers arriving from countries across South America, Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Among them is Giovanna Carolina Lipas from Brazil, who speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish. She expressed enthusiasm about living in New York City and being part of St. John’s community. “Economics is her passion, and she looks forward to getting involved in student clubs and organizations, meeting people from all backgrounds, and making the most of every opportunity to grow both academically and personally.”
Allon Benedict (Valent) Cruz Guevarra arrived from Singapore and is fluent in English, Tagalog, and Mandarin. He was surprised by the number of spaces available on campus for relaxation between classes. Valent also shared that he works as a professional Dungeon Master in Singapore and hopes to start a Dungeons & Dragons community at St. John’s Queens campus.
Arianna Bowen comes from Jamaica where English is the official language. She noted her appreciation for the campus environment at St. John’s as well as its many resources. Arianna discovered white pizza for the first time this semester and hopes to become an orientation leader.
Claudia Sofía Suárez Chacín is originally from Venezuela and speaks both English and Spanish fluently. She described St. John’s as a supportive environment: “St. John’s is a place where regardless of your situation, the community will ‘always be willing to help you out’ and motivate you to succeed.” Claudia looks forward to connecting with professors and building meaningful relationships.
Nikolett-Patricia Nagy hails from Romania with proficiency in Hungarian, Romanian, and English. Her first impressions were positive: “friendly, supportive, warm, and welcoming.” Nikolett-Patricia added: “I know that since I made it here, I can make it anywhere.”
Georgette Elora Isis Zarate Gonzales joined St. John’s from Peru speaking six languages including Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), German, French, and English. She aims to develop academically while exploring interests such as cricket and quantum physics.
Diana Valentina Silva Martinez comes from Ecuador speaking Spanish and English. She describes herself as a determined student who was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful the Queens campus is compared to online images.
Danicha María Vásquez Pacheco arrived from the Dominican Republic fluent in Spanish and English; she intends to take full advantage of academic resources at St. John’s while joining clubs on campus.
Juan Pablo Vargas Rodriguez holds Italian-Colombian heritage with fluency in Italian, Spanish, English, and French. As a new college student he remarked on experiencing school spirit at St. John’s: “Here it ‘feels like I am in a movie,’ he noted,” describing his days as filled with numerous experiences.
Khushi Murarkar traveled from India speaking several Indian languages including Gujarati and Hindi; she majors in biology at St. John’s University-New York with hopes of forming lasting friendships during her studies.
The arrival of these students reflects the university’s continued commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment drawing individuals globally.
