Starting School in a New Country: The Journey of Refugee and Immigrant Students

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This blog was written in collaboration with Children & Youth Services Manager, Cyndi Fusek

For any child, starting at a new school can feel overwhelming. New classrooms, unfamiliar teachers, and the challenge of making friends bring a mix of nerves and excitement. But for newly arrived refugee and immigrant students, these feelings are multiplied many times over. They’re not just walking into a new school building, they’re stepping into a completely new world.

The First Day: Fear and Hope

Fear is the most common emotion students carry with them on their first day. Fear of not speaking the language. Fear of making a social mistake. Fear of being bullied. Fear of standing out or falling behind academically. Yet, hidden beneath all those fears is something else: hope. Hope for safety, for belonging, and for the chance at a brighter future.

Parents share in these emotions. On the surface, they may worry about bullying, language barriers, coed education, or whether their children will be given food that fits within their religious traditions. But deeper still is the fear of losing their children to a new culture and way of life. At the same time, most parents also express gratitude, anticipation, and relief. For them, school represents a long-awaited dream: the promise of education for their children.

The Challenges of Adjustment

Language is, without question, the greatest hurdle for new students. It affects everything, understanding classroom rules, learning new material, and even making friends. Cultural differences also play a role. Younger students may struggle with the structure of sitting in class for long stretches, while older students may find American coed dynamics completely unfamiliar.

Academically, students often face gaps caused by interrupted schooling. Some arrive as teenagers but read and write at an elementary level. Others may have nearly completed school back home but find that their transcripts don’t transfer to the U.S. system. Imagine being almost ready to graduate and then being told you must start over in ninth grade, that’s the reality for some refugee students.

Strengths and Resilience

Yet, what’s most remarkable isn’t the struggle but the resilience. Despite everything, these students adapt at a speed that is nothing short of inspiring. Many arrive speaking two or more languages. They bring with them deep family commitment, determination, and a willingness to work hard for their education. When given the opportunity, they often eagerly share their own cultures and experiences, enriching the classroom for everyone.

Peers, teachers, and communities play a critical role in this process. Fellow immigrant students often serve as the first lifeline. A compassionate teacher who is both patient and firm can transform fear into confidence. And the broader community, through tutoring, mentoring, and after-school programs, provides the safe spaces where confidence and learning can flourish.

Walking Alongside Families

At World Relief, we walk alongside students and parents through every step of this transition. From enrollment support and orientations to after-school programs, tutoring, and parent workshops, our goal is to ensure families feel equipped and supported. Our staff serve as liaisons between schools and families, helping parents navigate everything from parent-teacher conferences to graduation requirements.

For students, the most impactful supports are often the simplest: a consistent tutor, a welcoming after-school program, or a summer activity where they can learn and belong. For parents, ongoing education and advocacy make the U.S. school system less intimidating and more accessible.

Beyond the Classroom

What many people don’t realize is that refugee and immigrant students are not just adjusting to a new school, they’re adjusting to an entirely new way of living. In many of their home countries, family roles and choices are clear and communal. In the U.S., students suddenly face a world of choices they’ve never had before, each carrying consequences they may not fully understand. And often, they’re navigating this while still carrying the trauma of war, hunger, or displacement.

And yet, the outcomes speak for themselves. In Illinois, the average graduation rate is 87.3%. But among refugee and immigrant students we’ve worked with over the last decade, that rate is closer to 95%. Many go on to college, earn scholarships, or pursue graduate degrees. Their determination to seize the gift of education is extraordinary.

Hope for the Future

Every school year, there are moments of hope that shine through: a student lighting up with understanding, a parent celebrating their child’s progress, a young person realizing that education truly can open doors to a brighter future. These children know firsthand what it means to grow up without access to schooling, safety, or opportunity, and because of that, they do not take a single chance for granted.

For those who wonder where optimism can be found in uncertain times, the answer may be closer than you think: in the determination, resilience, and joy of refugee and immigrant students stepping into classrooms across our communities.