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What is the true cost of pursuing a dream? For Zahra M. Aghajan, moving from Iran to the US for her love of science meant navigating a path of profound challenges, heart-breaking choices, and deep self-discovery.

In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, Zahra shares her story with incredible courage and honesty. She details the complex motivations for leaving her home, including the specific hurdles for women in her field and the "unbelievably hard" F1-visa process that is a unique challenge for Iranian students.

Her journey is one of inspiring resilience. She gets candid about the waves of loneliness, the cultural shocks of arriving at UCLA (plus some hilarious misunderstandings), and the devastating, personal impact the Muslim ban had on her and her family.

Zahra also speaks openly about:

How grad school "breaks you down emotionally" and how therapy became an essential tool for her to heal and grow.
How she built a new "family" in LA through friends who made her feel at home.
The joys and beautiful similarities of marrying into a different culture.
Her hopes and dreams for raising a bicultural daughter in America.

Throughout the episode, she and host Harshrajsinh Gohil have a compassionate and insightful discussion comparing the cultures of Iran, India, and the USA. This is a story you won't want to miss.

Have a story to share? Email us at yourstory.oie@gmail.com

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro
04:59 Life at Home in Tehran
20:21 Choosing UCLA
22:54 Experiencing cultural shock when returning home, Iran and India
25:40 Cultural shocks in Los Angeles
28:46 US Student Visa challenges
34:54 Muslim Ban and it's Impact
44:50 Life at UCLA
01:03:44 Marrying in a different culture and raising children in the US
01:11:32 What would you borrow from American culture and Iranian culture

About Outsiders Insiders Experience:

Welcome to International Student Experience, the essential podcast for international students navigating life, study, and careers in the USA. We share authentic stories and practical advice to help you thrive. Each episode provides a guide to the biggest challenges of studying in America, with expert advice on everything from the F-1 visa, OPT, and H-1B to overcoming culture shock and building your community.

SUBSCRIBE to International Student Experience for more stories and guides! https://www.youtube.com/@UCixFl0MqYWyoAjtF4QPx-pQ

Apple Podcast Channel - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-student-experience/id1848975904
Spotify Channel - https://open.spotify.com/show/5yV9JNNRRF4fBvKw5QETNC?si=e6aec8e007664df8
iHeartRadio Channel -
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-international-student-exp-302843551/

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Chance Lim grew up in Seoul being told to put her head down, stop asking questions, and become someone she wasn't.
She didn't.
Instead, she left Korea alone — no family abroad, no roadmap — took a blind leap, and built a life and a following in America.
But when she went back to show her success? Nobody even reacted. That's when she realized: who was she proving wrong all along?
In this episode, Chance and I talk about what really happens when you live between two cultures — the identity pressure, the "you're not Korean enough" comments from her own followers, the loneliness of not fully belonging anywhere, and why that in-between space might actually be the most honest place to live.
I share my own story too — from a small village in India to Los Angeles, choosing love over tradition, and learning to accept what I take and leave from both cultures.
You are not the prime minister of your country. You don't have to represent anyone. Just be yourself.

Have a story to share? Email us at yourstory.oie@gmail.com

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:00 Why Chance didn't fit into Korean culture growing up
03:30 The pressure of becoming who you're not
04:26 Korea's education system and suppressing individuality
07:10 Taking a blind leap — leaving Korea with no roadmap
09:00 Looking back on Korea with more compassion
12:00 She proved everyone wrong — then realized no one cared
13:30 Hersh's journey from a small village in India to LA
16:00 Accepting and rejecting parts of your culture
18:00 You don't have to represent your country
19:45 Chance's favorite childhood memory

Have a story to share? Email us at yourstory.oie@gmail.com
🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5yV9JNNRRF4fBvKw5QETNC
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-student-experience-podcast/id1848975904
🎙️ iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-international-student-exp-302843551/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InternationalStudentExperiece

#InternationalStudent #KoreanAmerican #IdentityCrisis #NotKoreanEnough #ThirdCultureKid #StudentLifeUSA #KoreanInfluencer #ChanceLim #StudyInUSA #CulturalIdentity #BelonginG #InternationalStudentExperience #F1Visa #ImmigrantStory #DiasporaIdentity

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Chance Lim, an international student in the U.S., shares her full journey — from getting a campus job (which many students struggle with), to earning scholarships, and landing multiple internships and job offers in a competitive market.

More importantly, she talks about something most people ignore:

how to avoid burnout
how to not obsess over outcomes
how to grow as a person while chasing success

This is an honest, unfiltered conversation with Harshrajsinh Gohil about what it really takes to succeed as an international student.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro
02:21 First Month in the USA and Cultural shocks
07:23 Advice for on what to do before and right after moving to the USA
13:18 How to get a campus job as an International Student
19:00 Understanding immigration laws for International students
21:10 How to get scholarship as an International Student
24:05 Why she is so disciplined and hard working
27:09 What to learn from mistakes of International Student
29:34 How to take care of your mental health as an International Student
33:44 Why you should not be too hard on yourself as an International Student
36:28 How to get paid internship as an International Student
45:13 Things to do in internship that can lead you to get a job offer
48:57 How to get Job as an International Student
51:50 Plans after Student Visa and why not take any pressure of H1B Visa
56:10 Her Online community for International Students resources
57:53 TikTok Video focused on International Students

Resources & Links

🌎 Crossworld (International Student Community):
https://www.notion.so/cross-world/CROSSWORLD-2c0537c65dbc8040b009c3d4eb4c9e72?source=copy_link

📊 Crossworld Database (as shown in video):
(Screenshots included in this episode)

📱 Chance Lim on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@doachacha

Special thanks to Chance Lim for sharing her experience and allowing us to feature her content and insights.

Crossworld platform screenshots are used for educational and informational purposes.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This content is based on personal experiences and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, immigration, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Have a story to share? Email us at yourstory.oie@gmail.com

About International Student Experience:

Welcome to International Student Experience, the essential podcast for international students navigating life, study, and careers in the USA. We share authentic stories and practical advice to help you thrive. Each episode provides a guide to the biggest challenges of studying in America, with expert advice on everything from the F-1 visa, OPT, and H-1B to overcoming culture shock and building your community.

SUBSCRIBE to International Student Experience for more stories and guides! https://www.youtube.com/@UCixFl0MqYWyoAjtF4QPx-pQ

Apple Podcast Channel - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-student-experience/id1848975904

Spotify Channel - https://open.spotify.com/show/5yV9JNNRRF4fBvKw5QETNC?si=e6aec8e007664df8

iHeartRadio Channel -
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1333-international-student-exp-302843551/

#InternationalStudent #F1Visa #StudentLifeUSA #internships #JobSearchUSA #CPT #OPT #StudyInUSA #CareerAdvice #InternationalStudents #h1bvisa #jobtips #studyabroad

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