Bryce Scott (right) in his native South Africa.

By Bryce Scott

Contributor

Name: Bryce Scott

Age: 20

Country of origin: South Africa

Major: Associate in Engineering

I was born and raised in South Africa and lived there for 18 years before moving over to the US. I moved here in July 2019 to start school at GTCC in Fall 2019. I chose to attend GTCC as my sister had come here before me. It was much easier to ease into the American schooling system by attending a community college first as I had no previous credits or SAT scores.

I had decided on engineering before getting to the US. I had made my mind up a few years prior. I want to be an Aerospace Engineer and help design or build spaceships. The market for space travel has never been higher in the US, so that was an added bonus too. My role model is Elon Musk. Fun fact: he is also South African. My dream is to work for SpaceX or NASA.

The college system in South Africa is not great. There are only about six colleges in the entire country, and none of them offer a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering. The job market is also nothing to write home about. Most skilled jobs are being traded in for unskilled labor, such as the manufacturing industry. So, moving to the US was a clear choice, for myself and for my future family.

Since arriving in the US, I have learnt more than I can imagine. Being at GTCC has opened many doors for me and given me numerous opportunities. I am the current president of the International Student Association (ISA), and I am working hard to get the club where it should be. There are many more students just like me who have fun and exciting stories to tell. Being an international student is not always easy. There are many hurdles to clear and so much red tape you would think it was a crime scene.

With the help of advisors and peers, I have learned how to navigate the waters and how to get the most out of being an international student.

Students interested in joining the ISA can contact Bryce at brscott1@gtcc.edu