Baptiste Peyre-Bourdette

As an international student from France, I found moving to the United States a big challenge. At first, speaking English every day and adapting to the new culture were not easy. Rio gave me the opportunity to practice my English through classes, presentations, and conversations with other students, while never feeling judged, only supported. I have the opportunity to play soccer, meet new people, build friendships, and become more comfortable in a new country.  

My experience at Rio has helped me grow both personally and academically. I have become more independent, confident, and responsible while learning how to balance classes, studying, soccer, and my personal life.  

One of the things I noticed right away was that what makes Rio special is its people. Professors, coaches, teammates, and other students are friendly and willing to help. As an international student, having a supportive community around me has made a significant difference. The small campus environment makes it easier to get to know people and build meaningful relationships.  

My professors have helped push me to learn and expand my knowledge of Business Management while also caring about me as a person. Each one of my professors knows me by name and is interested in my life outside of the classroom. As a student-athlete, I have found that those relationships have played a tremendous role in my success on the field and in the classroom.  

Over time, Rio became less of a place far from home and more like a second home. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow, experience a new culture, and pursue my goals while doing what I love and feeling supported through it all.