International Students Quotes

“The invisible threads that connect us across cultures are stronger than any walls that divide us. It's in those threads that we find our true selves.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“A memoir in which the author shares his impressive journey of emigrating to the United States to escape a difficult life in an impoverished Nigerian village.
Born into an extremely poor family in Nigeria, ‘Deji Ayoade had early memories of wanting to come to America to do better for himself. For years, he dreamed about having a bright future in the United States. At seven, he promised his mother that one day he would be a doctor in America and take her and his siblings away from their dangerous and impoverished existence. By the age of thirty-three, ‘Deji had been in the United States for five years and was living his dream. He had earned a master’s degree, married and had a child, been recruited into the Navy, and become a US citizen. He makes good on the promise to his mother and brings her, his sister, and his sister’s baby to the United States.

UNDERGROUND: A Memoir of Hope, Faith, and the American Dream is a well-structured, compelling memoir written by a determined man with big dreams, ambitious goals, and the strength to never lose sight of where he is headed. Commitment, intelligence, and drive contribute to his fulfilling what he deems to be his purpose in life. His accomplishments in the armed services are nothing short of admirable. Ayoade draws readers into the 1980s culture of the poorer regions of Nigeria with vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, and smells of areas in which they lived. His credible recreation of scenes reveals insight into the civilization that had considerable influence on him. Family dynamics also play a significant role in Ayoade’s life. His recollection of his father’s contradictory behaviors both confuse and enlighten him. His fond memories of his grandmother—the family member he trusted the most—are heartfelt and touching.

While coming to the United States offers many positive experiences for Ayoade, it doesn’t come without problems, and one that the author talks about with deep emotion and candidness is racism. Thoughtful in the way he acknowledges possible differences of perspectives, he describes how it feels to be looked at differently. One scene in particular demonstrates just how prejudiced and insensitive people can be when it comes to racial biases. Ayoade writes from the heart with emotion and honesty that demonstrate his passion for what he does in life. His ability to weave together a cohesive story from so many disparate fragments is remarkable. His religious faith and commitment to never-ending improvement for himself are inspiring and a basis for being a role model for others.

UNDERGROUND: A Memoir of Hope, Faith, and the American Dream–author ‘Deji Ayoade’s reflections on overcoming enormous obstacles and emigrating from Nigeria to the United States–is candid, heartwarming, and inspirational.”
― IndieReader

“No man is an island entire of itself; we are all a piece of the continent, connected by the stories we share and the bridges we build between cultures.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“Belonging isn't about where you're from; it's about where you're understood, and sometimes, that place doesn't exist on a map.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“They say you die twice: once when you stop breathing, and again when your story is forgotten. But in sharing our stories, we live on in the hearts of others.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“In a world obsessed with borders, I found my home not in places, but in the spaces between them, where cultures converge and identities blur.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“The greatest tragedy of being a Third Culture Adult is not being misunderstood, but never being seen at all.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“Humanity is not defined by the languages we speak or the flags we fly, but by the connections we forge through empathy and understanding.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“Sometimes, the loneliest place is not being far from home, but being surrounded by people who can't see beyond their own borders.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“In the silence between cultures, I found my voice—not as one or the other, but as both and neither, a bridge between worlds.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult

“To belong everywhere and nowhere at once is both a blessing and a burden, but it is also a reminder that identity is fluid, ever-changing with each new experience.”
― Camellia Yang, The Invisible Third Culture Adult