Ruby* remembers the moment her plane touched down at Chicago O’Hare back in August of 2025. The cabin filled with applause, something she hadn’t known people did.
“It was as if they were clapping for me,” Ruby said. “It was so special.”
The welcome felt like a sign. What followed was harder.
Navigating the huge airport alone was a struggle; she got stuck in an elevator, spent the night at the terminal, and arrived on campus still without a US bank account. The challenges kept coming– unfamiliar technology, difficulty finding halal** food, and a roommate who was rarely around.
“It was very stressful and scary,” Ruby remembered. “So many things were thrown at me. I didn’t even come out of my room for the first days because I was scared.”
She met Nick, IFI Chicago Ministry Leader, almost by accident, walking around campus one afternoon when they struck up a conversation. He was warm and genuinely curious, and when he learned she was from South Asia, he arranged for her to meet other South Asian students nearby.
“I had heard a lot about [Nick] from other international students,” Ruby said. “He’s very friendly and wanted to understand what was going on in my life through deep conversations. He was even keen on introducing me to others from my home country. I finally spoke in my native language, almost five months after not speaking it. I got so emotional!”
From there, IFI became a steady presence in a lonely first year. Things like shared meals, flowers during finals week, and late-evening events after long days in the lab refreshed Ruby and gave her a family to lean on.
Ruby appreciates how IFI volunteers and staff have communicated with her even though her faith background is different, saying:
“Despite our differences, we can still resonate with each other. Spending time with IFI also gives you a perspective that you’re not the only one struggling.”
*Student name and photo changed to protect privacy
** Halal is an Arabic word that means “lawful” or “permissible”.