Membership in any organization affords rights and privileges. The need to belong, pushes an internationalist to quickly adjust to situations and patterns in a strange land in spite of circumstances where they are repeatedly questioned about where they are from simply because they "sound different, look different" and may also dress "different". The internationalist wonders why the attention considering that in their homeland, where they were most likely among the majority, labels were seldom used to classify anyone. Confusion and frustration become a norm. However, the strong urge and need to belong forces the internationalist to adopt and acquire behavior patterns to secure certain rights and privileges which are used to achieve long sought after needs.
The situation of the internationalist is similar to that which women and minorities encounter. The need to achieve goes beyond borders, ethnicity and gender. The inherent need to be accepted penetrates deep. Persistent and determined individuals will never go away. They never accept no. They remain focused and resilient. The rules may change, the bar may be raised and in spite of being encouraged to be patient while others around appear to be moving ahead, persistent internationalist, minorities and women, who have rights and privileges, must use every available tool to achieve long sought after needs without sacrificing or compromising their dignity.
ADSA and ASAS can be the vehicle where all members with identical rights and privileges believe, and experience situations, and get clear signals to indicate that they belong. If internationalist, minorities and women, get a signal that they do not belong, or their needs are not being met, they will simply look elsewhere for the right opportunity. High achievers desire opportunities, not sympathy.
To fit in a different environment internationalist, minorities and women must put together a road map of where they want to go and what they want to achieve. They need to focus on what they are good at, and not necessarily what makes them comfortable. They need to focus on their circle of influence instead of their circle of concern, tolerate the labels, be impatient and learn to break the rules. They must work their plan.
The challenge is to use inherent needs to create must win situation. To accomplish and satisfy these needs, particularly in an environment where changes come slowly, the challenge is to be disciplined in working (the plan) and never be afraid to change when you are confronted with different realities.