Student from India feels at home at MSU

Students from all over the world come to Morehead State seeking an education. One such student traveled from “the heart of India” to experience everything MSU has to offer. 

Suhana Ambol is a first-year student with a double major in computer science and mathematics. Originally from Madhya Pradesh, a state in Central India, Ambol has been in Morehead for seven months and just started her second semester as an Eagle. She’s a member of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) Crew, is a tutor and teacher’s assistant in the Department of Mathematics and serves as a mentor in MSU’s International Peer Mentoring program. The program allows international students to share their culture while learning about American culture.  

“I love to interact with different types of people that have different views and ideas,” she said, adding she plans to get involved with more campus organizations.  

Ambol said she first became interested in attending college in America during tenth grade when she learned about the American Field Service program, a scholarship-based program in which a student from India attends college in the U.S. and lives with an American host family. While Ambol was not selected to participate in the program, she said it was the catalyst for her coming to the states. 

“The research, the opportunities, internships and practical knowledge; it’s all in the U.S.,” she said. “There are a lot of professors here with the same research interests I have; that was the main reason I chose to come here.” Ambol added she also chose Morehead State because it is affordable and has a beautiful campus. 
 
Ambol recently learned she will be participating in an Undergraduate Research Fellowship with Dr. Sherif S. Rashad, professor of computer science. The two will research behavior-based security using machine learning.  
Obtaining an education as a woman in India can have many challenges. Issues such as poverty, distance to schools in rural areas and other socio-economic factors hinder educational opportunities for women in India. However, Ambol said she never had to deal with educational barriers because her parents worked hard to motivate her and stress the importance of education.  

“I lived in an urban area, so everything was modern and technologically advanced. So, I never faced the issue of poverty, distance of schools or anything,” she said, adding her parents were supportive of her decision to come to MSU. “My parents were really determined. My father was always saying, ‘Suhana, you need to broaden your horizons. You need to go out into the world and study.’” She added her father helped her through the process of applying to colleges in the states.  

Ambol said one of the things she likes about studying at MSU is the opportunity to learn outside the classroom. This summer, she attended the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Mathfest conference in Cincinnati, where she had the chance to network with and learn from mathematics professors from across the country. She added working as a tutor in the math lab has been an excellent experience for her, and she’s received a lot of support from her fellow students and faculty members.  

“I’ve had a really good experience working in the math lab. The tutors and faculty and everyone is really supportive. Whatever I am today, it’s all because of my professors, friends and the whole staff on campus.”  
Ambol said she didn’t experience a lot of culture shock when she came to America, even though it’s vastly different from where she grew up.  

“It’s completely different from Morehead, and the food is completely different. The people here, as soon as I came, I was always welcome. This is the best four years of my life that I will spend at MSU, and I’m really thankful to everyone on campus. Not only the campus but the community as well. Everyone is so nice and willing to help.”

For more information on international student admissions and services, visit www.moreheadstate.edu/international, email admissions@moreheadstate.edu or call 1-800-585-6781.