From new arrival to leader, from observer to participant, from quiet adjustment to intentional engagement, Rawan Alnakhil’s experience as an international student at UW–Madison reflects a gradual shift shaped by involvement, connection, and leadership.
That shift began through a scholarship program sponsored by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a Saudi Arabian industrial company that funds students’ education abroad and offers employment after graduation. Through the program, Alnakhil had the opportunity to study at a wide array of universities, but ultimately chose to study in the United States thanks to her father’s previous positive experience doing so. Experiencing the lakes and the “homey” feeling of Madison during a campus visit made her final decision easy.
As Alnakhil started her accounting and consulting studies at UW–Madison, she was also adjusting to independent living and the constant use of English in daily life.
“It was challenging at first to be confident in just speaking, but two months in, I would say, I was more comfortable just being myself,” she said.
Her first years in Madison were focused on adjusting to life and studies in a new culture and environment. But as she continued on her college journey, she began to take a more active role on campus.
That involvement grew through a series of roles that connected her more closely to the Global Badger community. She joined the International Student Services Advisory Board, contributing her student perspective while also learning how the office supports international students, before later becoming a Reach Ambassador representing Saudi Arabia on campus and in the community.
“Representing my country and sharing my experience as a Saudi Arabian, and proud citizen, has been a really rewarding experience,” Alnakhil said.
She expanded her involvement further with business-focused organizations like Women in Finance & Accounting. Alnakhil also joined Badger Consulting, starting as an analyst and later becoming director of marketing, taking on increased responsibility within the organization.
Looking back on her time at UW–Madison, she shared that studying abroad was about more than just education, it gave her the opportunity to discover herself on her own timeline.
Alnakhil also reflected on the role of her involvement in shaping her time in the U.S., noting that it “wouldn’t have happened the same if I wasn’t as active as I decided to be.”
Now, as graduation approaches, she is preparing to return to Saudi Arabia and begin her career with SABIC, carrying with her the academic, professional, and leadership experiences she built throughout her time at UW–Madison.