Students and staff gathered in the Anderson Student Center’s Hearth room to hear the St. Thomas community share their stories in celebration of International Women’s Day.

A collaboration with the Luann Dummer Center for Women and the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), the event provided a safe space for women to talk about their experiences living in the United States .

“At least once a year we should celebrate International Women’s Day and we should do more outside of International Women’s Day, to give voices to international students,” said Othman Zaimi, OISS Intercultural Programs Manager.

Many women shared that they were living a double life. They felt weird living in a different country, but felt like outsiders living in their home country. “I could relate to the feeling like you do not belong in either place, or like you do not fit in wherever you live… I really felt that,” said Linda Nzabamwita, a St. Thomas student.

Senior public health major Linda Nzabamwita is from Rwanda and found that it took her time to get used to the St Thomas community. “Through the Diversity Activities Board, the Office for International Student Services, I found people who were more accepting and who I have shared experiences with,” Nzabamwita said.

Nzabamwita said that she liked the event and she thought that it did a good job of recognizing women of all backgrounds.

The hour long conversation was a time for women to share their positive and negative experiences as women at St. Thomas.

“I’m really just proud of all the students and staff that wanted to share their stories, seeing them brave enough to share and being well-received by their peers was really nice to see,” said Amanda Hager, a graduate assistant who works for the Luann Dummer Center for Women.

Rae Beaner can be reached at rnbeaner696@stkate.edu.