A PhD student in civil environmental and geodetic engineering in the College of Engineering from Türkiye, Seyhmus Tunc shares his “Your America in 250 Words” essay.
"When I arrived in Columbus from Türkiye in August 2025, America was mostly an idea to me. I knew I was coming to Ohio State for my PhD, but I did not really know what my life here would look like.
A year later, my America is much more personal. It is spending long days working on geotechnical earthquake engineering research, trying to understand how earthquakes affect the ground beneath us. It is also standing in a classroom or laboratory and helping undergraduate students understand something that I once had to learn myself. Sometimes, it is simply walking across campus after a long day and realizing that a place that once felt completely foreign now feels familiar.
What has surprised me most is how many different lives I have encountered here. I have met people from different states, countries, cultures, and backgrounds, each with their own version of America. Living here has made me realize that there is no single American experience.
I came to the United States thinking mostly about what I could learn academically. I am learning how to teach, collaborate, communicate, and build a life far from where I grew up.
Most importantly, somewhere along the way, Columbus stopped feeling like just the city where I study. I can now call this place home, and I am grateful for the people, opportunities, and experiences that made that possible.
My America is still a work in progress. Maybe that is what makes it meaningful."
The Office of International Affairs invites Ohio State’s international students to participate in the “Your America in 250 Words” essay and photo contest, a unique opportunity to share personal perspectives and experiences while studying and traveling in the United States.