Grace lived with her family in the Philippines while they worked for Mennonite Central Committee, Eastern Mennonite Missions and local agencies. For Grace and her parents, returning to the United States as a “third culture kid,” also known as a "missionary kid," and searching for a college was overwhelming at times.

What is a Third Culture Kid or Missionary Kid?

"Third culture kids" are those who spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own. They are children whose parents work in the mission field, for the government, in international business, for the military, etc.

Third culture kids deal with a variety of issues as they reach young adulthood. For many, there is significant loss and grief to process. "Where do I belong?" "Where is 'home?'" "What is my culture?" "How do I put together my experiences internationally with a life in the United States?" These are just some of the questions third culture kids often process.

Similar to their peers who have never lived in a culture other than their own, third culture kids also process the question, "Where do I go to college?" But third culture kids need to consider an additional layer in their college search. "How do I find a college environment that will be sensitive to my unique 'third culture' situation?"

The Challenge

How do third culture kids put what they learned and experienced overseas together with life in North America? How do they find direction – a vocational path – and opportunities to mesh faith, academics and the realities of life in other countries? It’s a difficult process, but EMU provides a place for third culture kids to pray, discern, and find answers.

At EMU Grace found an informal network of other third culture kids, opportunities to explore her sense of call to mission work, and lots of international students to befriend. Perhaps most importantly, she found professors who had lived overseas themselves and who understood many of the difficult questions she was struggling with.

At EMU Third Culture Kids Find

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• Faculty who have lived and served overseas, uniquely equipped to mentor.
• A cross-cultural curriculum where you can study internationally with peers or earn credit for past international experience.
• Classrooms in which various perspectives are encouraged and valued.
• Opportunities to pray and discern God’s calling for your career path. About 40 religious groups are represented on campus. (Mennonite students account for about 50 percent of enrollment.)
• A diverse student body! In 2006-07, 18% are multicultural students and 4% are international students.
• Friendly student life professionals with the health center, international student services, career services, multicultural services, academic support center, and more.
• A support network of other TCKs

So Contact Us!

We love to talk with potential students – and parents – who have lived overseas. Let us connect you with a current TCK student who can tell you what is helpful in the transition to U.S. culture and in sorting out your future. Let us help you find a home for the next stage of your life! Contact for more information or apply to EMU online.