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When Xuchen “Lili” Li arrived at Lehigh University in spring 2023, she knew English. What she didn’t know was how different it would feel to use that English in an American graduate-level environment.

This fall, Li will begin a master’s degree in Computational Biology and Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. She credits Lehigh’s StepUp Intensive English Program with helping her develop the academic skills and community that made that next step possible.

Offered through the International Center for Academic and Professional English (ICAPE), StepUp prepares multilingual students for graduate study in the United States through intensive instruction in academic English. Beyond reading, writing, speaking, and listening, the program encourages students to engage with the Lehigh community and develop the confidence to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

For Li, that support came at exactly the right time.

“I have learned English since primary school, but I never knew how to write an essay or follow APA style,” she said. “I really couldn’t paraphrase well.”

Like many international students, Li found that conversational English did not fully prepare her for the expectations of an American classroom. Daily journal writing, detailed feedback from instructors, and classroom discussions helped her become a stronger, more confident writer.

“I was not a confident person,” Li said. “StepUp was my first experience with American education. They encouraged me a lot.” Ashley Murphy, assistant director of ICAPE, remembers Li as someone who approached every opportunity with curiosity.

“Over the course of my career, I have worked with thousands of international students, yet Lili remains particularly memorable due to her creativity and commitment to learning beyond the classroom,” Murphy said.

Murphy said one of the qualities that distinguished Lili was her willingness to step outside familiar spaces. Rather than limiting herself to friendships with students who shared her language, she actively sought conversations with people from different backgrounds, attended campus events, and looked for opportunities to practice English in everyday settings.

That openness, Murphy said, accelerated Lili’s English development.

Outside the classroom, Li also found another way to connect with the campus community. Her artwork was selected as the cover of the 2023 edition of Voices, Lehigh University’s literary magazine.

“Art is pretty much a universal language,” she said. “People know when they are impressed by my art, which makes it easy to make friends in a new country.”

Just as meaningful were the relationships she built through StepUp.

“StepUp has always been my second home,” Li said. “I know if I need help, they will definitely help me, and I will help anyone from StepUp too. We are a big family.”

One memory in particular has stayed with her. During a classroom discussion about a TED Talk featuring a North Korean refugee, students reflected on questions of family, belonging, and identity.

Hearing classmates from different countries share their perspectives expanded her understanding of both American culture and the experiences of those around her.

Murphy believes those conversations are part of what makes StepUp distinctive.

“We are proud of the diversity of students’ backgrounds in StepUp,” she said. “Students like Lili provide a refreshing perspective on a number of classroom topics.”

Mark Ouellette, Director of ICAPE, believes stories like Li’s demonstrate the impact of StepUp beyond language instruction.

“It builds a supportive community on and off campus,” Ouellette said, “By sharpening their communication skills and cultural understanding, students gain the confidence and connections to unlock real-world opportunities, whether that’s landing a job, winning a scholarship, or achieving their personal, academic, and professional goals.”

Li’s next goal is to pursue a Ph.D. She hopes to contribute to medical research while teaching future students.

As she prepares to begin graduate school, she hopes other international students will be patient with themselves as they adjust to a new environment.

“Don’t underestimate yourself,” she said. “If you feel stuck in your environment, find a new place. Don’t stay in the same place to doubt yourself.”

StepUp was the beginning of graduate school preparation for Li. It was also where she found the confidence to participate in a new academic culture and the friendships that made Lehigh feel like home.