Interview: 'Mojo' Ariunaa, president of GTCC's International Student Association
- mlhines1
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
By William "Liam" Hinson, staff writer
Photos by Charmaine Johnson, photography editor
Munkhtsetseg “Mojo” Ariunaa has been studying in the United States for nearly two years, having been enrolled at Guilford Technical Community College since the fall of 2023, and is majoring computer science. She is originally from Mongolia, a large, predominantly rural country located in eastern Asia bordering China and Russia.
How did you end up in Greensboro, North Carolina, as a student from Mongolia? What made you decide to come to GTCC out of all the colleges and universities here in the United States?
“I was looking at the classes and I was able to take cybersecurity classes that I would not be able to take if I was at a four-year regular university,” Ariunaa said. She added that had she taken her courses at a traditional four-year university she would have to wait further into her program before she could begin to take the courses that she wanted to take.
How would you describe life in Mongolia and how does it compare to life in the United States? Did anything particularly strike you about living in the United States?
Ariunaa said that one of the biggest differences she noticed about life in Greensboro compared to Mongolia was the lack of walkability. Ariunaa noted that in Mongolia, sidewalks are much more common, and it is much easier to move around from place to place by foot. She also noted that she is from Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, which she described as being much busier than Greensboro. She said that over half of the entire Mongolian population resides in Ulaanbaatar and that outside the capital city, the country is quite sparsely populated and has a varying climate, with temperatures plunging to -40°F in some parts of the country while soaring to 100°F in other places.
Ariunaa also commented about how different the people in the United States were compared to Mongolians and made the point that the United States is much more racially and ethnically diverse than Mongolia, where almost everyone is of ethnic Mongolian descent. Ariunaa described being in the United States as being a very immersive experience, saying, “I’ve really gotten to experience things from different continents despite just being in America.” She also said that she was interested to see how people interacted with one another here in the United States. When questioned further, she said, “For example, in my country, if you accidentally step on someone’s foot, you have to like, shake their hands and say you’re sorry, but here, you don’t do that.”
Do you believe that as an international student at GTCC, you are treated fairly by your fellow peers and that you are able to learn in a safe environment? What is the most difficult challenge that you have had to overcome since moving to the United States?
Ariunaa responded by saying that she does feel safe and that she had not encountered any racism or discrimination during her time at GTCC. She did say that sometimes people would wrongly assume her nationality as being Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. “But then I get to explain that I’m from Mongolia, so they will learn about it,” she said. When it came to challenges, Ariunaa said, “It was hard to get used to living here and then speaking in another language every second of your life. Like I have to speak English at home as well, so it felt like no one really understood me because of the language difference.” Ariunaa also said that there were job opportunities and scholarships that she was ineligible for due to her status as an international student.
Do you have any plans for your future once you graduate from GTCC?
Ariunaa responded to this question by saying, “So for now, I want to finish my education here, so I’ll transfer to a four-year university, preferably Chapel Hill. I’m really hoping for Duke as well, but maybe N.C. State, so I’ll get my bachelor’s here, and if I get a job offer, I will stay here. If not, I’ll probably go somewhere else.” Ariunaa added that she may want to travel to Europe after she graduates. When asked where in Europe she would like to visit, she responded by saying, “Maybe Italy. Yeah, just maybe.”
As an international student, do you believe that GTCC has created an environment for you to be successful?
“Yeah,” she said. “Even though I’m international, I had an opportunity to be involved in a lot of things. For example, they sponsored me to participate in the National Cyber League game, which is like a cybersecurity competition.” Ariunaa also added that as president of the International Student Association, she was able to meet lots of people from other countries and that as a student at GTCC, she felt welcomed and had a sense of belonging.
What is the purpose of the International Student Association in your own words?
Ariunaa said that she likes to view the International Student Association as a “global” organization. She added that she views the organization this way “because everyone here lives on the same earth. So, I try to make everyone feel welcome, even if they’re not international students. So, I try to make everyone feel welcome and learn about different countries and cultures and just meet people.”
How long have you been involved with the International Student Association as a member and what was your rationale behind deciding to join?
Ariunaa responded by describing a meeting that she had with all the international students upon arriving in the United States in which Carmen, the advisor, discussed having a club for international students. “So, I became interested in that,” Ariunaa said. “And then I became involved when I first started here, so all of 2023, and I became the vice president. I’ve been in that position for three semesters, and I became the president this semester.” She added that the main reason she joined the club was that she wanted to be more involved in extracurricular activities on campus.
What is your favorite thing about being a member of the International Student Association here at GTCC?
Ariunaa said that her favorite thing about being a member of the International Student Association is being able to learn new things about other cultures and people. She also added that she has made lots of friends through the international student association. However, she has also been able to make lots of friends outside the club as well, adding that she still retains contact with the friends she made that have transferred or graduated. Ariunaa described the environment of the organization as being “warm,” making the point that the club is structured in a way that is neither overly serious nor casual.
Who is the International Student Association open to?
Ariunaa responded to this question by saying, “It’s open to everyone. If you want to learn new things and meet new people, you’re welcome.” She added that the International Student Association is open to both American and international students who are interested in learning about different cultures.
What does the future hold for the International Student Association?
“So, the International Night is coming up on April 23. And it is from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.," Ariunaa said, adding that, “You’ll be able to eat foods from different cultures, like international cuisine. We’re collaborating with the culinary classes of GTCC, and we already reached out to our companies that are collaborating with us.” She also said there would be a fashion show for international students to show off the various outfits and traditional dances from their respective countries, as well as booths being set up around the venue for visitors to learn about each country.
What is your vision for the International Student Association as President?
Ariunaa responded by saying, “I would like to get more people involved. Not just at major events but in the meetings. And I am trying to make every meeting as interesting as possible so that people can actually engage in activities. And I’m trying to get more engagement with social media as well.” Ariunaa added that her core values as president were “to make everyone feel welcome and heard” as well as to promote an inclusive and welcoming environment.
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