Resilience in a Year of Uncertainty: What International Students Taught Me

It's been a difficult year for educators and students alike. Policy swings, visa delays, deportation threats, rescinded offers, and economic instability have created a landscape where young people—especially international students—face unprecedented obstacles in the college-to-career transition.

And yet, amid the chaos, I've witnessed extraordinary moments of perseverance, resilience, and hope that inspired me as I shaped my new venture, LiftHER Career, through its first year. These moments reinforced the need to support overlooked graduates, including international students, seeking equitable access to professional opportunities.

Students Facing the Storm

I introduced LiftHER Career to the world the day after Election Day 2024—hardly an ideal moment to begin a venture aimed at helping diverse and global talent navigate U.S. hiring systems. Immediately, I encountered urgent student stories.

There was Lena, a New York University graduate whose job search was abruptly derailed by a misunderstanding about how long she could remain in the United States after graduation. In an instant, her carefully planned pathway collapsed.

There was Talia, an MBA student at Lehigh University with deep industry experience who struggled to secure a single internship—an increasingly common experience for international students navigating employer hesitation.

Employers repeatedly said: "We want to hire them—but we don't sponsor [visas]," and even asked me to help. Policy confusion only deepened the hesitation, including initial panic related to the new H-1B fee before the Trump administration clarified that the fee doesn't apply to students.

Domestic students seeking full-time roles also felt the instability, with U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts leading to rescinded offers. Yet, through it all, students demonstrated remarkable strength.

Perseverance: Lachie's Pivot

Lachie, a student at Tufts University, worked relentlessly from day one—joining professional clubs, visiting career services, and landing an investment-banking internship. But after realizing banking wasn't for him, he faced the daunting task of pivoting as an international student during a competitive recruiting cycle, all as the new administration pursued stricter policies.

He pushed forward anyway, navigating stressful interviews and not taking "no" for an answer. Lachie ultimately secured an offer from a top consulting firm. His story became a reminder that determination can still carve a path during uncertainty.

Resilience: Pooja's Determination

Pooja, from Nepal, earned her MBA in risk management and insurance at St. John's University after five years of experience in underwriting, actuarial work, credit analysis, and insurance operations back home. Despite strong qualifications, she was repeatedly passed over due to her visa status. Still, she kept networking, interviewing, and participating in LiftHER Career's Grad2Hire program while taking on an unpaid internship.

When asked if she regretted coming to the United States, Pooja said, "Not at all! I've met so many people and [have] had so many new experiences that I never would have had in Nepal."

Her optimism in facing systemic obstacles has stayed with me.

"India Will Always Be There": Sarthak's Drive

In light of the 17 percent decline in international student enrollment recorded in the latest Open Doors report, many have questioned whether a U.S. education is worth the struggle. Then there's Sarthak, an MBA graduate from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a Grad2Hire participant.

He has applied to more than 3,000 roles this year, reaching final rounds multiple times. Each time, the offer and his dream slipped away. Yet, he keeps going.

As Sarthak put it, "India will always be there, but this is my one shot at my dream. What is hard is knowing that it's all or nothing. In the current system, you are either close to a job that's going to pay you six figures or you'll be unemployed. There's very little in between."

Behind every statistic is someone fighting for their dream. The barriers are real, but so is the persistence students demonstrate while navigating them.

Jingyi and Justin's Pathways to Global Careers

Despite the tough U.S. hiring landscape, students are finding creative pathways into global careers—reflecting the multidirectional mobility international education enables.

Jingyi left China to pursue a master's at Northwestern University to gain global perspectives and explore new possibilities. After graduation, her U.S. job search was so stressful she described feeling genuine PTSD.

When she received an offer in Hong Kong, it gave her stability and renewed confidence. She eventually secured a role with the U.S. arm of a Chinese bank, which she describes as a familiar space that allows for professional growth in a global context.

Justin, inspired by his study abroad experience while at the University of Texas-Austin, doubled down on his goal to work internationally after being laid off due to DOGE cuts. He worked side jobs and saved money for a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa to the United Kingdom—a flexible, unsponsored pathway for graduates of top global universities. This allowed him to move to London and begin pursuing a global career as an entrepreneur in fashion and beauty.

These stories show that successful careers extend beyond U.S. borders.

Recommendations for International Educators

As global education continues to face uncertainty, educators can play a crucial role in supporting students by embracing the following strategies.

1. Broaden the definition of career success. Highlight global pathways—including HPI visas and the International Internship Scheme in the United Kingdom, Japan's J-Find visa, and Germany's Opportunity Card—so students see multiple ways forward. Partner with global career launchers like LiftHER Career to help students pursue opportunities in different markets.

2. Build cross-campus support systems. Collaborate intentionally between career services, international offices, faculty, and alumni development to ensure students are getting consistent guidance.

3. Connect with employers. Despite the challenges, some employers remain enthusiastic about hiring international students. Identify who those employers are and build direct relationships with them.

The Honor of This Work

Students are showing us daily that resilience and hope still thrive—often stronger than ever. We are privileged to help them pursue their dreams. In this turbulent year, their strength and courage inspired me to keep shaping and refining my work despite the ups and downs of my own entrepreneurial journey. •

Linda Liu is founder and CEO of LiftHER Career.