Fortunately, I’ve completed more than a year as an international student in Canada, and I know there’s so much more to look forward to.
If you’re reading this, you’re most likely an international student or planning to be one (thank you, for reading).
News flash: “Nothing works the way you want it to” But, it works the way it is supposed to and in the end, it usually works in your favour. As time passes, you’ll realize that you wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Storytime!
When I first started studying at York University School of Continuing Studies I met a lot of newcomers. Most of them had the same question-“How do I get a job?” and since that is extremely important, I felt a wave of emotion shooting out in wanting to advise them not just about job-hunting but also about finding balance in their new life here.
In the rush to build a life in a new country, international students often work too hard and forget to notice the small silver linings. (I’ll admit, I am guilty of that too.)
Luckily, I have family and found friends who helped me recognize this and pushed me to show up for myself every day, irrespective of the issue. They never fail to remind me that I would figure it out.
Also, whoever said long distance doesn’t work hasn’t met my friends.
Coming to the international experience
You have to keep hustling no matter what happens. Wake up when you don’t feel like it, push through when you only have 10% energy left and consistently work on yourself in hopes of improvement because no one else is going to do it for you. (I don’t like adulting either).
As the days went by, I learned how to stand up for myself here and began to outgrow people who weren’t on the same wavelength as me. This is a normal part of life, but I also found myself feeling a little self-critical. Sometimes, I’d question if I was working too hard or if I was missing out on living the “international student life” everyone talks about.
For many of us, life here revolves around work and budgeting because things are expensive. Some people understood this, while others didn’t.
One turning point for me was when I became a Brand Ambassador for PRofessionals and Coffee at Newcomer’s Collision 2.0. I noticed that every speaker at the event shared a similar message: “Don’t just think about what you want to do, start doing it.”
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned as an international student is that not everyone will understand you, and not everyone will be there for you. You truly are on your own. But the moment you stop seeing that as a negative thing and instead act on it, you’ll start appreciating how you think and feel about yourself.
The moral of the article
It’s easy to read these words and hear this advice from me or someone else. But practicing it is 100 times harder. Trust me, I’m working on it too. No one has it all figured out. We’ll make mistakes, and fail miserably sometimes, but we’ll come out stronger.
If not you, then who?
So don’t stop now, you’ve come this far. Your future self is counting on you, and I’m cheering you on too!
