Current city: Ottawa, Ontario

Year arrived in Canada: 2011

School(s): University of Toronto (BSc, MSc), University of Ottawa (PhD).

Academic program(s): Pharmacology (BSc), Pharmacology & Toxicology (MSc), Molecular Neuroscience (PhD)

Occupation: Graduate Student

1. From your experience transitioning to Canadian life and culture, do you have any advice for new WUSC students?

Find joy in what you do & stay motivated throughout the transition and beyond.

2.   Do you have any advice on choosing academic programs and careers for later success after school?

It depends on your career interests but ideally you should choose an academic program that has job market prospects and also one you excel in academically.

3.   How can new students cope with loneliness and feeling out of place when they first arrive in Canada?

Look out for your friends, local committee members, and past students for advice and other opportunities to hang out socially.

4. From your experience, what does it take to succeed in Canada? (Measuring success in academic and professional terms).  

You’re going to experience challenges and one of the most effective ways to overcome this and to succeed is not to self-sabotage and/or give up. Stay motivated, ask for help, if you don’t ask for it, no one knows you need it.

5.   What challenges do you think hinder new students from succeeding in Canada?

A myriad of challenges: family pressure and personal expectations, the unfortunate reality of being an equity-seeking group (i.e. visible minority) the moment you are in Canada. etc.

6. Seeing how credit scores are important in Canada, do you have any advice on managing money or building up a credit profile?

Speak to your Financial Advisor at your respective bank, they have that title for a reason.

7.  Do you have any ideas on how new students can manage expectations from friends and family back home? ­­

Have a candid discussion with your family and friends and set expectations, and priorities

8. If you can reflect on your personal journey, were your aspirations met? What would you do differently if you were to start over again in Canada?

I held a work-study position at the University of Toronto, as Library Assistant for 6 years. Even though this role gave me monies, it wasn’t the wisest decision I made, because I had no interest in working in a library environment post-graduation. But I had accumulated work-experience in this space, including learning specific information management system that wasn’t going to easily transfer to other jobs. My advice: don’t settle for any job because it has the mullah, find something that has potential to make you progress in your career.