Meet Asadbek:
Introducing Asadbek Masharipov, originally from Turkmenistan. He made the move to Kent State University, and is now a sophomore
with a double major in international studies and communication studies. An active student of the Kent State community, he is involved in the Honors College, a member of the International Student Council, the Flash Activities Board and the PEPSI Leadership Center. While completing his degree, he is already developing goals and plans to work with embassies and international organizations across the globe.
Transition to a New Home:
Making the journey to the U.S. from another country can be intimidating and stressful, but Asadbek knew it was an option he was willing to explore. After representatives from Kent State made a visit to his hometown in Turkmenistan, the choice to apply to Kent State was clear.
When discussing the decision, he describes, “I learned about Kent State University and after a year, I decided to apply. After getting accepted to Kent State University, I chose it because of the strong international community and welcoming environment. As an international student, it was very important for me to feel supported and included in the university.” Both the positive impression of Kent’s international community and the beautiful campus made the school easy to transition to.
Honors College Experience:
The Honors College aims to find students who strive to make a difference in the world around them. Asadbek is a perfect example of how working to connect others can make an impactful difference.
Based on his first two academic years in the College, he explains, “My experience with the Honors College has definitely influenced my future ideas. It has encouraged me to think more critically and more deeply about the world around me. Through my classes and experiences, I started to connect academic knowledge with real issues, especially in areas like international studies and communication studies. This made me more confident in my goal of working in international environments, such as global organizations, where I can contribute to meaningful change.”
He further describes how the Honors College has been impacting his academic life through his Freshman Honors Colloquium (FHC)—the foundational course for an initial honors experience at Kent State. Asadbek explained that the goal of his colloquium class is to explore a wide range of topics and issues, and he especially appreciates learning about subjects like the history of May 4, 1970 at Kent State, which his class is currently studying. While discussing the course experience, he describes, “The class is also energetic, like professors are always always helpful about assignments and always doing the assignments in a creative way.”
A New Learning Environment at Kent State:
The academic experience at Kent State prioritizes an inclusive community where a collective commitment to learning sparks transformative thinking. This mindset provides students with the opportunity to create diverse and unique ideas that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.
Overall, a change in mindset can be not only different but also a little overwhelming. For Asadbek, he explains, “The classroom experience here is very different from my home country. It is more interactive at the student center and students are encouraged to share their opinions. Asking questions to the other students and the professor and then participating in discussions. At first, I was so nervous because my perspective was a little different from the other students and I was always a little bit shy to share my opinions. But after a while, I started getting into my class discussions.”
United Nations and Beyond:
After his time at Kent State, Asadbek plans to continue his work with international organizations and embassies and will also continue to strive to make a difference. By working with other global organizations, he will be a part of a movement that connects others from around the world.
“Within these two majors, my future plan is working at embassies and international organizations because in my experience back home, I was volunteering at the American Center and I was closely working with the U.S. Embassy like diplomats and stuff. I met with them and I got motivated to study International Studies and my future plan is working in the United Nations and the U.S. embassies.”
About the Honors College:
The Kent State University Honors College is part of a long tradition of promoting academically talented students with a unique academic experience. The Kent State University Honors College is an institutional member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Mid-East Honors Association. To learn more about the Honors College, visit the Honors College website.
HEADER PHOTO CAPTION: Asadbek Masharipov sitting at a table outside on the Kent State campus.
Media Contact: Stephanie Moskal, smoskal@kent.edu, 330-672-2312