Being an international student - whether you're in the UK, USA or Europe - is daunting and many can find themselves in a sticky situation with unscrupulous landlords or dodgy visa companies. Even seemingly simple tasks like setting up a mobile phone or a bank account can suddenly become very confusing.

I was born to a single mother in Oakland, California, now I live and work in London as a journalist, a field which is financially precarious and notoriously difficult to break in to. People are often curious as to how this happened. The answer is: I broke a few laws, here and there.

I wouldn't want any of this to dissuade Jewish students from being involved in the movement nor of coming to future demonstrations by any means, in fact it is examples such as these which I would use to encourage students from any minority background to get involved and to strive to challenge bigoted views in society - from the student movement up to the highest echelons of business and government.

As students it should be our prerogative to gain an education in both academic and practical terms, simultaneously if at all possible, feng-sui'ing your time like one is expected to, and the rewards will pay off as you find yourself a head higher and job titles further than your fellow graduates.

Every year droves of British teenagers go off in search of relaxation and adventure before settling down to university life. With the whole world to...