Many international student-athletes choose to attend Pace University in pursuit of both academic and athletic opportunities, facing the challenge of adapting to a new country while balancing rigorous Division II sports and studies. Each year, these students arrive with strong backgrounds in their respective sports, but soon realize that adjusting to life off the field is equally demanding.
Ben Dunkerley, a men’s soccer defender from North Yorkshire, England, described his initial adjustment as more complex than expected. “You come here thinking the hardest part will be the soccer,” he said. “But it’s really everything around it that takes time—how classes work, how people communicate, even small things like daily routines.” He noted that living far from home required him to become independent quickly: “At 18, the hardest part was moving away from your parents. It’s a good seven-hour flight to get back home, and then you’re dealing with the time difference. When I’m free in the evening, it’s midnight back home, so communication becomes really difficult.” Dunkerley added that learning basic life skills and managing responsibilities accelerated his maturity.
Dunkerley also observed differences between American college athletics and those in England. “College sports aren’t really a thing back home in the same way,” he said. “Here, every game means so much because the season is shorter. You’re playing twice a week, training almost every day, and you really have to look after your body.” Over time he found support among teammates: “Once you settle in, you realize you’re not doing it alone. That’s when it really starts to feel like home.”
Feline Rook came from the Netherlands to play midfield on Pace’s field hockey team. She cited her motivation for coming to Pace as wanting to combine academics with athletics: “I came to Pace because here I have the opportunity to focus on both my academics and playing field hockey at the same time,” she said. Rook acknowledged that distance from family was her biggest challenge: “My biggest challenge here is living far away from my friends and family…the time difference makes staying in touch more challenging.” She also had to adjust academically: “At first, studying in a different language and a different country was hard and challenging for me,” she said.
Rook credited her teammates for helping her adapt: “The atmosphere here was great right away,” she said. Her achievements during her first season reinforced her growth: “Those achievements reflect all of the hard work I’ve put into adjusting to a new country, a new team, and a new level of competition,” she said.
Javier Cisternas-Gomez is a freshman swimmer from Santiago, Chile who highlighted time management as essential for balancing practices and studies: “Everything moves fast here…You learn quickly how important time management is.” He described leaving home as difficult but found comfort within his team: “Here, the vibe feels more like a family,” he said.
Cisternas-Gomez encouraged future international student-athletes not to be discouraged by challenges: “I know it’s scary, but it’s worth it,” he said.
Eugenia (Gigi) Morossi left Milan for Pace seeking an environment where she could pursue both elite swimming and higher education—something she felt wasn’t possible at home. Morossi described her transition as overwhelming at first despite having been independent before arriving in New York: “At the beginning you think ‘What do I do? Why am I here?’” She explained how being part of an American college team differed from European sports culture: “In Europe you’re always competing for yourself…Here I really learned what it means to be part of a team.”
As these athletes spend more time at Pace University they report feeling increasingly settled—finding comfort in routine classrooms and deepening friendships on campus. Their stories reflect personal growth beyond athletics; living independently has helped them develop confidence and perspective.
“Living far from home has changed me a lot as a person,” Rook stated. “I’ve become more independent, more mature, and more confident in my decisions.” Dunkerley echoed this sentiment by saying his experience made him stronger not just as an athlete but also personally.
International student-athletes contribute diverse perspectives throughout campus life at Pace University—in locker rooms or classrooms—and help foster connections among peers through shared experiences.
For its part,Pace Athletics provides support systems aimed at helping these students adjust socially while developing independence during their collegiate careers abroad.
