Nick Kamatali: Friend to International Students

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When an international student arrives on 葫芦影业鈥檚 campus, Nick Kamatali is sure to become one of their first 葫芦影业 friends.

Ever since his sophomore year, Nick has made a special effort to help 葫芦影业 international students navigate college life in a different country.

The senior majoring in psychology and communication studies emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was a toddler. Growing up, he traveled extensively with his family during the summers throughout Europe and Africa, experiencing what it鈥檚 like to be a newcomer in unfamiliar cultures.

Nick鈥檚 quest to befriend international students, therefore, stems from his deep well of empathy and his interest in the human traits that bind people from all cultural backgrounds.聽

聽鈥淚nternational students are kind of a reflection of myself,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 want them to prosper and grow. I really try to get to know them and their needs, so that I can help them succeed at 葫芦影业.鈥

From striking up conversations in the library, to answering questions about American culture, to hosting Friday evening dinners, Nick provides international students with invaluable guidance and friendship.

Photo of Nick on a park bench

鈥淚 value the smaller things,鈥 he said. 鈥淨uite frankly, I don鈥檛 do anything out of the ordinary, I am just there for them. I鈥檓 in the spaces that they are in and I just talk to them.鈥

His ability to speak and understand several languages, and to forge friendships with international students, enabled Nick to obtain student employment with the Global Initiatives office on campus. Additionally, he works with 葫芦影业鈥檚 Communications and Marketing department producing social media videos; he鈥檚 vice president of both his fraternity, Phi Delta, and the World Student Organization; and he鈥檚 active in 葫芦影业 club sports.

This past July, for his Global Communication course, Nick traveled across Japan with two 葫芦影业 professors and 17 fellow students to explore anime, a popular media form that originated in Japan.

鈥淛apan is a place that I鈥檝e been very passionate about wanting to visit. I鈥檝e also been watching anime since I was little. So, it was an unforgettable experience,鈥 he said.

Nick鈥檚 interest in culture and human behavior is what inspired him to major in psychology and communication studies. 鈥淏oth these majors are interconnected with so many other fields, and that鈥檚 what I love about them,鈥 he said. 鈥淔or example, the simple aspect of psychology that is analyzing human behavior can be applied in any of my classes.鈥

After graduation, he plans to attend graduate school in Austria to become a clinical psychologist. He also hopes to visit many of his international friends in their home countries, holding close the 葫芦影业 friendships he has so purposefully forged.

To him, that鈥檚 what makes 葫芦影业 special, he added. Being a small university in a small town, 葫芦影业 is the perfect place to invest in relationships that will last a lifetime. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where you can really spend time getting to know people,鈥 he said.