Set, Spike, Scholarship: A Student-Athlete's Journey

International Student Stories – Episode featuring LuisaIn this episode, we sit down with Luisa, a German international student who came to the US to play volleyball on scholarship at Madonna University — and ended up building a career as a television news reporter at Fox 47 in Lansing, Michigan.Luisa shares what it was really like to leave her hometown of Potsdam, Germany, navigate a new language and culture, and push herself out of her comfort zone at every turn — from working as a barista to producing a campus talk show. She opens up about the mental challenges of competing at the college level, the ups and downs of breaking into broadcast journalism with a strong accent, and why she believes international students should always say their dreams out loud.Whether you're an international student yourself, an athlete thinking about studying abroad, or someone who loves an honest story about grit and reinvention — this one's for you.Topics covered:Growing up in Potsdam, GermanyComing to the US on a volleyball scholarshipAdjusting to American culture and overcoming the language barrierStudying broadcast journalism at Madonna UniversityLanding a job as an on-air TV reporterTips for improving your English accentAdvice for international students chasing big dreams