{"id":225399,"date":"2025-01-13T09:53:25","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T14:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=225399"},"modified":"2025-05-09T10:34:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T14:34:35","slug":"international-student-flips-language-barrier-into-benefit-finds-voice-at-montclair-state-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2025\/01\/13\/international-student-flips-language-barrier-into-benefit-finds-voice-at-montclair-state-university\/","title":{"rendered":"International Student Flips Language Barrier into Benefit, Finds Voice at Montclair State University"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is one of several stories highlighting <\/em>Winter Commencement 2025<\/a> graduates pursuing the American Dream and who have<\/em> found a quality education and sense of belonging at Montclair State University.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Andrea Uguna-Solano, an international student from Ecuador, vividly remembers the challenges of her first semester at Montclair State University. Struggling with English, homesickness, and seasonal depression, she was ready to quit. \u201cI felt like an outsider, struggling with language barriers and wondering if I could ever find my place,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\n

At her husband\u2019s urging, Uguna-Solano decided to stick it out for just one semester. That decision proved life-altering in multiple ways.<\/p>\n

Recalling Albert Einstein\u2019s famous quote, \u201cInsanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,\u201d Uguna-Solano decided it was time to change things up and take action. \u201cI started to ask questions, joined student organizations, took extra courses, and, most importantly, volunteered, which slowly helped me to find my voice,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Today, Uguna-Solano celebrates her persistence and accomplishments as a graduate of Montclair\u2019s College for Community Health<\/a>, receiving a Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Science<\/a> at Winter Commencement 2025<\/a> at Prudential Center.<\/p>\n

Overcoming Early Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Uguna-Solano\u2019s journey to Montclair began when she moved to the United States to join her husband, who was pursuing a master\u2019s degree in structural engineering at Manhattan College. She volunteered to translate for Spanish-speaking patients at a hospital to improve her English. After a couple of years, she felt ready to tackle graduate school in the U.S.<\/p>\n

She applied and was accepted to several but ultimately chose Montclair because she felt welcomed as an international student and people were willing to answer her many questions. Back in Ecuador, Uguna-Solano had earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the State University of Cuenca. But despite her academic background, the transition to graduate school was far from seamless. She soon discovered that \u201cspeaking English is not the same as taking a class in English,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Additionally, not all of her credits transferred and she had to retake courses she had already completed in Ecuador to complete her Certification of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. <\/span> She also found herself in a daunting research class that she believed was unrelated to her career goals. \u201cIt didn\u2019t make any sense to me at that moment,\u201d Uguna-Solano recalls. However, her willingness to volunteer with professors soon revealed the importance of that research class and her own potential. Leveraging her Spanish fluency, Uguna-Solano contributed to projects on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC, and lactation programs in New Jersey, reigniting her passion for academic research.<\/p>\n

\"Andrea
Andrea Uguna-Solano has eyes set on her future after completing her Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Science. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Academic and Professional Growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Uguna-Solano\u2019s perseverance paid off. She is a member of Alpha Epsilon Lambda Honor Society<\/a>. She co-authored several research papers with Montclair Nutrition and Food Studies professors and presented findings at conferences, including one in Minneapolis and another in Galway, Ireland, where she presented part of an abstract she co-authored with professors Yeon Bai and Soyoung Lee. She also collaborated with Professor Lauren Dinour on a food insecurity report focused on Montclair students. In addition, she analyzed data relating to lactation research.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These opportunities not only allowed Uguna-Solano to showcase her expertise but also deepened her sense of belonging. Ultimately, she became a research assistant to both professors. \u201cAt Montclair, I discovered a family,\u201d she says. \u201cThe Red Hawks community surrounded me with friends, professors, mentors, and classmates who made me feel that I belonged. I found my inner voice here, the strength to stand confidently, and the courage to pursue meaningful goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her accomplishments were recognized when she won several scholarships and awards, including the Katharine B. Hall Family & Child Studies Scholarship<\/a> from Montclair State University, from the American Society for Nutrition <\/span>and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo<\/a> (FNCE) for the second consecutive year. At the Minneapolis FNCE conference, she publicly thanked her mentors, professors Bai and Dinour.<\/p>\n

Even Montclair\u2019s signature red, a color she once disliked, became symbolic of her transformation. She now embraces it as representative of empowerment, she says. \u201cIt was as if the University ignited a power in me that had been waiting to be seen, encouraging me to step up and be part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Supportive Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Uguna-Solano credits Montclair\u2019s supportive environment for much of her success, particularly during that first semester. From faculty and staff to student organizations and the Office of Global Engagement<\/a>, she felt embraced by the campus community. During International Student Orientation<\/a>, CAPS<\/a> staff reassured her and other students that feelings of homesickness and sadness were to be expected, and University Police<\/a>\u2019s assurances of student safety provided her peace of mind.<\/p>\n

Uguna-Solano recalls: \u201cA lot of people in my country want to come to the U.S. to have opportunities, including myself. However, after arriving,<\/span> I was not happy at that moment,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI was completely sad. I missed my country and my family. Thankfully, d<\/span>uring orientation, I connected with other people who share similar histories, and we were told that <\/span>this was common.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead: Goals Rooted in Service<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Uguna-Solano is ready to embark on the next chapter of her career. This summer, she will complete a dietetic internship and exam to become a registered dietitian. She also plans to stay in the U.S. for at least a couple more years and pursue certification as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant.<\/p>\n

Her ultimate goal is to open her own lactation practice and help people to fight hunger<\/span>. \u201cMontclair has changed my life, uncovered strengths and given me the final puzzle piece,\u201d she says. \u201cI feel ready to start a new chapter with infinite possibilities on the horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Story by Staff Writer<\/em> Sylvia A. Martinez<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Are you a\u2026\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prospective Student or Parent? <\/strong>Learn more about Nutrition and Food Science<\/a> or other programs in the College for Community Health<\/a> or plan a visit to our campus<\/a> and take the first step in applying to become a Red Hawk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Journalist? <\/strong>Contact the Media Relations team<\/a> for assets or to schedule an interview with a graduating student.<\/p>\n