{"id":1921,"date":"2025-11-04T14:30:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T19:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/globalprograms\/?page_id=1921"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:34:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T20:34:56","slug":"rashida-saherwala","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/globalprograms\/initiatives-outreach\/international-student-newsletter\/november-2025\/rashida-saherwala\/","title":{"rendered":"Rashida Saherwala"},"content":{"rendered":"
Question:<\/span> Hey Rashida! Tell us a little bit about who you are and your journey to BU.<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>Hey! I\u2019m Rashida, and I\u2019m an international student studying Advertising and Film at BU. I was born in India, but I\u2019ve lived in Bahrain my whole life. Coming to BU was a big step for me. Bahrain is a really small island\u2013 about 1.5 million people, so everyone knows everyone. Growing up somewhere small, you tend to dream big. You\u2019re always watching media that makes college life look like this big adventure \u2014 full of friends, travel, and self-discovery. I came in expecting all of that, probably too much of it. I told myself that since I came from so far away, I had to make the most of every opportunity. So I got involved in a bunch of random clubs\u2013 Fashion Retail Association, Badminton Club, Table Tennis Club, just to try everything. But the one that really stuck with me was AdClub. I actually came in as a Media Science major, and it was AdClub that made me realise I wanted to switch to Advertising. Everything I know about the field started there, and now I\u2019m the Executive Vice President of the club. It\u2019s been a defining part of my BU experience\u2013 not necessarily because I met all my friends there, but because it helped me understand the industry and the kind of people I want to work with.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> How did BU support you through that transition? Were there any resources or communities that helped?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>Honestly, one of my biggest support systems came from finding my on-campus job in BU\u2019s Marketing & Communications Department. It might sound funny, but that job gave me structure and a community. My team became mentors for me. They were older, professional, and really encouraging. It helped take me out of that freshman-year uncertainty and gave me something meaningful to put my energy into. That experience also helped me realise I want to be a producer. Seeing how my mentors worked inspired me to think about leadership and creativity in a new way.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> Do you feel like you\u2019ve found a sense of home at BU?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>That\u2019s a good question. I used to think home was a fixed, physical place, but BU taught me that it\u2019s much more transient. It changes with the people you meet and the environments you\u2019re in. So in a way, I\u2019ve found home here by changing how I define it. I feel more okay with uncertainty and finding comfort in people rather than places. Finding your people in a community that big can be hard. My first year wasn\u2019t easy, and I don\u2019t think it is for anyone. But looking back, I needed that adjustment period to grow into who I am now. At the time, I wasn\u2019t prepared for what college life or living in a big city would actually feel like. But in hindsight, that challenge was essential. It pushed me to become more independent and self-aware.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> How did you find your people?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>Honestly, a bit of luck. I\u2019d love to say BU clubs and organisations directly helped me, and in some ways they did, but I think it came down to being open. I stopped judging people based on first impressions and started letting things happen naturally. You can\u2019t really force friendships; sometimes, you just meet the right people at the right time.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> You\u2019ve had a number of internships already. Can you tell us a bit about those experiences?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>Yeah, I\u2019ve been lucky to have a few different ones. After freshman year, I did BU\u2019s Paris Internship Program, which was my first hands-on experience in advertising. It was a tiny agency\u2013 just me and two bosses\u2013 and it was amazing. After that, I interned in India with Netflix and The Viral Fever, both on the film side. Netflix was production-heavy, so I got to be on set and really see how everything comes together. The Viral Fever was more development-focused, where I read scripts, gave feedback, and learned what makes a story commercially viable. Then I spent a summer interning in L.A., again in development, and now I\u2019m working with NBCUniversal in Boston on the marketing team. BU\u2019s study abroad program really opened these doors for me. I even did an internship in London through BU. Those experiences have all been major in helping me figure out what I want to do.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> What was the process of getting internships as an international student?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>It\u2019s tough, honestly. You have to work twice as hard to get noticed. Networking can be intimidating, especially if you\u2019re introverted like me, but it\u2019s crucial. I learned early on to reach out to everyone \u2014 upperclassmen, alumni, anyone who could offer insight. And I said yes to any opportunity, even if it was small or unpaid. It\u2019s about gaining experience and staying active. The visa process can be frustrating, and it\u2019s easy to take rejections personally, but it\u2019s important to remember it\u2019s not you, it\u2019s the system. And the U.S. isn\u2019t the only option; BU\u2019s study abroad programs helped me explore opportunities in other countries, too. There\u2019s a whole world out there.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> What advice would you give to international students trying to find a sense of belonging at BU?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>I think it starts with embracing your identity. For me, the more I connected with my culture, my Indian side, the more I felt like I belonged here. When you appreciate what makes you unique, you bring something new to BU\u2019s community. Finding belonging isn\u2019t just about joining clubs; it\u2019s about understanding yourself and then finding spaces that reflect that. Once I did that, everything else started falling into place.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> What advice would you give to your freshman-year self?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>I\u2019d tell her that she\u2019s doing okay. I put a lot of pressure on myself that first year to have everything figured out, to make everything perfect. I\u2019d remind myself that it\u2019s fine not to have all the answers. You\u2019ll be okay, you\u2019ll be happy, and you\u2019ll find your way.<\/div><\/p>
Question:<\/span> Finally, what would you say to international students who feel uncertain about their future?<\/div><\/p>

Answer:<\/span>Do what you can, make the most of the opportunities BU gives you, and don\u2019t let fear hold you back. Remember that your worth isn\u2019t tied to one country. There are so many paths and places where you can thrive.<\/div>
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