Crossing continents & cultures, Watkins finds his place at RCU

By Eli Hullinger

Cyrus Watkins

When Cyrus Watkins came to the United States, he was following a dream. A senior international studies major and student body president, Watkins left Rome at age 17 to pursue college basketball and higher education.

Watkins, a member of the men’s basketball team, is one of 42 international students representing 20 countries at RCU. Half Australian and half Thai, Watkins spent his early childhood in Melbourne, Australia, before moving to Rome, Italy, at age 11. After graduating from the American Overseas School of Rome, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, for a prep year designed to help athletes find collegiate opportunities.

“It was during COVID, so offers were limited,” Watkins said. “I didn’t have too many options, but I felt like the coaches here cared. Coach [Quin] Rice seemed more invested, and the school felt different in a good way.”

Coming from Rome to the U.S. brought lifestyle and cultural differences. “Rome is ancient with all this old infrastructure. You walk outside and see an 11th-century Catholic church. It was history in real life. Rome also isn’t super developed because they’re building around ancient ruins.”

When Watkins arrived in Rochester, he noticed how much more modern the area felt, with access to numerous stores and restaurants. In Rome, life was shaped by historic buildings, walkable streets and public transportation.

Here, daily living is more dispersed and heavily reliant on automobiles. “In Rome, I could walk to get anywhere. Here, you need a car because everything is spread out. Rochester has become home, but it can feel like a bubble because it’s harder to see the world outside campus without transportation.”

He also noted differences in consumer culture between the places he has lived. “America is very capitalistic. It’s so easy to shop here. My dad is really into books and tools, so he orders

stuff to send to me in the U.S. and then I bring it back for him. If you want something, you

can get it.”

One challenge for international students can be feeling like outsiders. “There are people within American culture who are ‘America first,’ who believe that America is superior. It can be antagonistic — like it pushes non-Americans out in a bit of a way. It makes it a bit unwelcoming of other cultures.” 

However, Watkins said RCU’s environment has helped him find a sense of community and

belonging. “There are a lot of really good people here, rooted in Christian values, who are naturally welcoming of others who aren’t in the general demographic. That hospitality

has helped me feel at home because it’s rooted in values that see beyond skin or color or nationality. It’s in something higher — a higher power. I’ve really come to appreciate that about this school. Even if you aren’t Christian, you can appreciate good, open-minded

people.”