Gai Thiak

●       Current City: Kelowna, British Columbia

●       Year arrived in Canada:  2019

●       School: University of British Columbia

●       Academic program:  Civil Engineering, minor in Management

1.What inspired you to pursue your studies in engineering of all the academic programs that were available to you?

Growing up, I had a keen interest in sustainability, engineering, and community engagement. The combination of these interests led me to choose engineering as my field of study. Specifically, I chose civil engineering because it addresses topics such as wastewater management, waste disposal, climate change, green construction, Urban planning, and the implementation of resilient infrastructure.

2. Do you have any advice to new students joining post-secondary institutions on choosing academic programs and careers for success after school?

There are so many programs here and choosing the right one for you is one of the hardest decisions that you will ever make. When I came to Canada, I wanted to do engineering and I was really surprised at how diverse engineering is. Even a field like civil engineering which I chose has a different specializations within itself. I’ve not yet decided on the right one for me. My basic rule for selecting the right program for you will be going for what you are most passionate about because at the end you will spend most of your life working in that field.

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

Choosing the right field while in Uni, balancing work with school to support families back home, loneliness, and time management. All these factors are decisions that we all have to make once we arrive here. To overcome them and succeed, you must reach out to those who came before you and ask for their advice. Also do not make rushed decisions, take your time and carefully consider the outcome of each decision. This will put you in a better position to succeed here.

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

I was the first WUSC student to be placed at UBC Okanagan Campus, it was lonely, and I coped easily with it by making friends. The best places to make friends on campus are in your classes, residents, libraries, and wusc local committee. I know it is now difficult with covid restrictions and online classes. All in all, talk to those strangers in your classes, residents, and libraries to choose the right friends to study and hangout with.

5. Do you have a mentor? If so, how have they helped you in your academic or professional career?

Yes, I have reached out to those who came before me and so far, their support is vital to my academic success.

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

I'm not successful yet but to succeed you must work hard and follow your dreams. To thrive in school, you need a study buddy or friends to study together and put in the hours. To avoid distractions, don't study on your own in your room and minimize your time on social media. If you like to study alone then go to the library.

7. Is your racial profile helping or hindering your professional growth? That is, if race is a factor at all.

Of course, we know that racial profile is a factor hindering professional growth of most black people in the west. To avoid it, you just have to be extremely good at what you study.

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

I was once told that here in Canada you’re competing against yourself. So, compete with yourself and follow your dreams. It might take you longer than most of your peers to get into your dream program but don’t let anyone's expectation ruin your journey.

9. Seeing how credit scores are important in Canada, do you have any tips on managing money or building a strong credit profile?

I’m not good at budgeting and managing money. To build a strong credit profile (credit score), use your credit card instead of debit and pay your bills on time. It’s very important to have a good credit score.

10. What do you know now that you wished you had known before you enrolled in your first year of university?

Being involved more on campus, making connections, and using all available resources on campus. Your network will be significantly critical when you're looking for jobs, co-ops or internships. Those small leadership and volunteer positions can make a huge difference in your resume.

11. 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?

Looking back, I felt most of my aspirations were met since I’m one academic year away from getting my degree. If I was to start over again, I would focus more on building my network, getting my name out there through internships/co-ops (in second year) and building my confidence.

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

Yes, it can be tough but trust me, it’s a matter of time and you’ll learn the culture here and thrive.