‘I Felt Invisible’: A Kenyan Student’s Struggle With Loneliness in Australia

A Kenyan student studying in Adelaide narrowly avoided deportation after facing severe emotional and academic challenges during her time at an Australian university.

At 19, she left Nairobi for Adelaide with hopes of academic progress and personal growth. However, the transition was far more difficult than expected. Raised in a conservative, religious home where social interaction was limited to structured spaces like church and school, she was suddenly immersed in a culture shaped by individualism and informal social norms.

Her first months on campus were marked by loneliness. In lecture halls and cafeterias, the absence of other Black students deepened her sense of isolation. Even when she did see someone who resembled her, the fast pace of university life left little opportunity for meaningful connection. 

“Seeing someone who looked like me felt like a rare event,” she recalls.

Cultural differences went beyond race. In Kenya, she was used to a communal way of life where people looked out for each other. In Australia, she found that people tended to keep to themselves. 

This unfamiliar social environment, combined with assumptions about her language skills and background, made it difficult to form new relationships. She also lacked awareness about mental health. 

At the time, conversations around emotional wellbeing were limited, and she did not have the tools to understand or cope with her growing homesickness. As her mental health declined, so did her academic performance. She began missing classes and eventually withdrew from her studies, placing her visa status at risk.

Her situation changed when a stranger recognised the signs of distress and stepped in. That person not only offered support but also advocated on her behalf. Their actions helped prevent her deportation and allowed her to regain control over her future.

Now sharing her experience to support others, she highlights the need for stronger institutional and social support systems for international students. She plans to share more about the moment that turned everything around, and how a single act of compassion helped her rebuild her life in Australia.