How international students face ‘personal identity crisis’

At the talk show The SACE Journey – Unlock Gen Z episode 4, topic “Crisis of individual identity”, broadcast on VnExpress This April 12, the guests were British, American, and Australian international students, who shared a lot about their journey of self-discovery during their time studying abroad.

As an Australian international student, majoring in Chemical Engineering and Science, University of Adelaide, Thuy Duong said that while in Vietnam, she found herself unchanged. From high school, when she studied abroad in a new environment and met friends from many countries around the world, she felt like she had turned into a different person… When she returned to Vietnam, Duong found herself different. again. “There was a time when I often asked the question ‘people in Australia and Vietnam, where is me’,” said the international student.

Le Ngoc Thao Nguyen – PhD student in Public Diplomacy, University of Nottingham, UK; A lecturer in International Relations in Ho Chi Minh City also said that the two questions “Who am I” and “Why am I here” are not always asked to herself, but what she does revolves around her. around these two questions. “When I first entered university, I officially asked that question, but in contemplation, we are always like that, just not directly forming,” Thao Nguyen shared.

Overseas student Nguyen Huynh Nhat Tien, a dual student majoring in Communication and Computer Science, DePauw University, USA, has a different point of view. Tien believes that life is only lived once and one day you will die, so live it to the fullest and live the best you can. “Thinking like that, my personal identity will form strongly and help me live a better, more positive life,” Tien said. With that in mind, the version of Nhat Tien in Vietnam, in the US or in the UK is almost no different.

According to developmental psychologist Erik Erikson, Identity crisis, also known as identity crisis, is a state in which we do not fully understand ourselves – strengths, weaknesses, character… People can experience an identity crisis at any stage in life. However, this state is most common from puberty until entering adulthood at the age of 20 or 30. This is the age of transition between children and adults, when each individual experiences continuous changes in body, hormones, emotions and cognitive abilities. Each individual will have the first time in their life reflecting on their career, their role in society, and sometimes their gender identity.

He theorized that there are eight stages of psychological development in life. The “personal identity crisis” is stage 5, usually seen between the ages of 12 and 18. Erikson also shared on Psychology Today, there are many benefits to discovering personal identity during the teen years. Only when you seriously think about your inner conflicts and find ways to resolve them, will your path as an adult be the one you choose for yourself, instead of relying on other people’s standards and orientations. .

After a long time studying and working abroad, Thao Nguyen affirmed that the crisis of personal identity is an indispensable stage of the growing up process. With Thao Nguyen, from the traditional Vietnamese environment, to the open environment like in Europe, she has many new discoveries about herself, especially about sexual orientation. “If before in Vietnam, I always thought that I had only one of two choices: male or female, and I had to follow the image of modesty, wearing skirts, and wearing high heels. while studying abroad, I realized that my style of dress doesn’t have to conform to ‘social norms’ for one gender, and at the same time, I actively learn more about different sexual orientations and find consensus I feel the most about being bisexual,” shared Thao Nguyen.

She said that at first it was very difficult to accept her new identity, even deny herself… However, after a long period of crisis, letting herself “get lost”, Nguyen seriously thought about the problems. conflict inside, find a way to solve and gradually accept the real person.

Meanwhile, Thuy Duong has learned that the crisis of personal identity should be considered as a journey to learn about herself instead of thinking in a negative way. She first needs to identify herself in crisis and accept it, learn about her identity, then communicate with others to understand the problem.

“I am fortunate to study the Australian Baccalaureate – SACE program at Scotch College Adelaide. Here, the teachers are very concerned with the physical and mental health of their students. Even from grade 10 the school gave Students take personality and ability tests, or participate in extracurricular activities to know what they like and want, so it can be said that they have successfully overcome the identity crisis,” Thuy Duong shared.

To overcome the identity crisis, Nhat Tien chose a solution to communicate with the outside and inside. Outside is to find people with expertise and trust to share concerns and concerns. In internal communication, Tien often rethinks who he is, talks to himself about what he wants.

“I do this quite effectively when I talk in front of the mirror. Besides, I also keep a diary, in the process of taking notes I see my thoughts and concerns become clearer, from which they come out. effective solutions,” shared students in the US.

Nguyen Phuong