Dreams coming true are closer than they appear

Being a post-secondary student in my mid 30s isn’t something I had thought I was going to be. The urge to learn and become better just hit me. I gave up a well-paying job to come to Canada and to pursue the urge of knowledge. I wasn’t disappointed.

In terms of learning, I found some great role models, teachers, who have opened so many new ideas and pathways.

Today I look back on my achievements made so far, and I must say I’m more than proud of myself. I made the Dean’s honour list, I write for the student newspaper, and I feel I’ve achieved more than my teachers back in school would have believed in I could do.

Post-secondary education in Canada is different from Europe. Even though it is a bit too busy at times with all my assignments it’s more accurate in reflecting in what one can achieve than just hammering in some facts for a final exam. I really hope this concept finds its way over the Atlantic, too. The only thing that this takes away is a lot of time, it is quite hard to find new friends, because everybody is so busy with their assignments that there is just not enough time to socialize and make friends off campus. This might be a more “mature” student problem, but I’m working on it.

Before I came to study in BC I thought I’d gain more knowledge in what I was doing before, but now, all these pathways have opened and I have the confidence to pursue my goals even more.

 

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Why we should never stop learning

I always loved the saying that an end is just the beginning of something new. My student journey in Canada has made me a different person. Information is power and I surely got empowered. Sometimes it feels overwhelming thinking of all the opportunities that are out there, and I think I simply struggle the most with deciding what is the right path for me to be the most successful.

As a global citizen I feel like I belong here, but I also belong to the places I have been already and maybe even to the places I will go. To connect with others feels like the most natural thing to me and what better way to do it than with words and communication.

Canada is home now, and I feel as much Canadian as I feel European. Who knows what the future has to offer, I guess I will find out soon enough. The path is not written yet. And that is what excites me most. I could be working for the UN and be a real global citizen by just being somewhere where my words are needed. Not only have I been given all those tools now to be an excellent communicator on all levels, but my studies also gave me the chance to evolve and have an open mindedness about my future.

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Being part of global community

Indeed, time flies so fast! It feels like I was submitting our study permit applications just yesterday! Now I am graduating in just two months. These two years were very exciting! So many places have been explored, many friends have been made, many life-long lessons have been learnt. The experience gained in Canada is truly priceless.

Every international student would agree that moving to a new country is not easy. But they would also be grateful for the lessons and experiences that made them who they are now. In the beginning, my brother and I were often impressed by how things work here. Some of them are unspoken laws people follow, some are the results of deep thinking and consideration for the common good. Thanking a bus driver, holding a door, enhanced garbage recycling system, ramps and door buttons on every entrance, traffic lights with sound, washrooms in camping areas, needle disposals in public places, emergency blue buttons on campus, uncompromised yielding to police/ambulance/firetrucks and etc. These all show that people care for each other and the environment.

Sometimes it feels like Canada is a hub of the world where many different nationalities, cultures and people were brought together to live and work in peace and harmony for the greatness of the community. I think the global citizen concept is what allows people to prosper. Being an open-minded, respectful and active member of the community are the key values of global citizenship. It’s not a state of mind but a constant work on yourself. Today many people are self-centered and focused only on benefiting themselves. Very often, it comes with a sacrifice of the common good. However, this does not work in the long term. The world is facing many global challenges now, and global citizenship is the tool to “fix” them.

The way I see the world has truly changed in these two years. My mind is now always open to new ideas and perspectives. I see a huge value and meaning in active community engagement. Recently we just finished our Grocery Shuttle bus project on campus to help students with food insecurity. Many people found the service very helpful. It feels great helping people through meaningful work. Therefore, moving towards the end of my studies, I am going to use my experience gained in Canada to continue contributing to the well being of the global community.

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Key takeaways from my experience studying in Canada

Since I applied to study in Canada, school was always the main priority. My goal for the last two years was to earn a diploma and become a knowledgeable and skilled specialist ready to start working. Now I am in the last term, and things have been going well.

I learned a lot about Telecommunication technologies, worked on various equipment and machines, designed interesting projects and connected with great people from the industry. Yes, from time to time, courses can get challenging, and you may not score up to your expectations, but studying here feels very interesting and engaging. Even online.

Speaking about it, my first term was fully online, which was the most challenging time during my two years of studying. I was back home at that time with 13 hours time difference studying from 9 pm to 3 am. My initial ideas and expectations about school life in Canada were different, but sometimes odd things in life happen, so we have to adjust. 

These are two main things that helped me along the way to overcome difficulties:

  1. Friends and people: Canadians are very friendly and always willing to help. Being an international student away from home, I never felt lonely or homesick. I have great friends, teachers, roommates, colleagues and my brother who always supports me and brings happiness, growth and unforgettable memories in my life.
  2. Support system for international students: many Canadian institutions have international student centers, Student Associations, Student Life departments that focus on helping students to thrive during their time in school and providing support in different challenging situations. Make sure you connect with them and learn about all available resources and services they are offering. Make the most out of your time in school.

One thing you should always be aware of is finances. Studying in Canada is exciting, promising and very interesting but also requires lots of dedication and discipline to manage school life with other responsibilities. The hardest part is to be able to successfully manage your expenses like tuition fees, housing and all other living expenses. Keeping weekly spending limits is a good idea, and just generally being aware of where you can buy inexpensive stuff always helped me a lot.

But in my opinion, financial stress is worth it because it strengthens the character and prepares one to face the real world. I am graduating from a well known polytechnic institute, where I would have gotten work experience and developed a good network. I am confident that the skills and knowledge I learned here will pay back in the nearest future.

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The power of community

The word “community” means people who work together and engage with each other for the common good. Active involvement in community life was always an integral part of my life. It shaped who I am today. At a very young age, I learned to be involved in my community, take action and collaborate with people to get things done.

There were always many life transitions, from moving to cities and changing schools to going abroad and studying in a new country. I learned that understanding and incorporating new values, perspectives, and ways of living come quickly through active community engagement.

In 2020, I came to Canada from Kazakhstan. It was not easy. I was feeling isolated: a new language, different culture and a global pandemic. But I wanted to belong, to be part of this community just like when I was in Kazakhstan. So, I realized that if I want to adapt to a new environment and incorporate its values, I need to start interacting with the community.

Therefore, I decided to live on campus. It allowed me to connect with local people from many different cities in British Columbia and outside. Student Housing at BCIT is well known for its solid sense of community. My roommates became my friends. These people became the first community that helped me to sense Canadian culture.

Reflecting on my experience, being a student helped a lot. The student community is unique because it allows you to meet with people who have the same goals, concerns, and interests as you. Especially with a diverse student body, there is always a chance to learn and grow. Therefore, I got a job on campus and became part of the Student Association, which helped to expand my social connections, raised cultural knowledge, and improved my leadership skills. This community engagement created a fulfilling and impactful experience that significantly influenced my way of seeing life.

Community engagement is very high in Canada. Canadians always look for ways of improving life and solving problems. They genuinely care for the beautiful environment they live in. The realization that the community’s well-being depends on each member gave me an understanding that respect, kindness and sharing are the central values in Canadian culture. Only work and close interaction allowed me to see these.

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