Luka Igali

Jul 16

Written By Meja Madol

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

Get involved with your WUSC local committee on campus and off campus.
Make friends with classmates in your class who can help you transition to life inside and outside your classrooms.

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

Keeping in contact with family back home by talking to them often.
Going out with friends on the weekends. But be responsible on how often you go out; choosing the right friends and places to hangout in

3. From your experience, what does it take to succeed in Canada?

Focus, dedication and hard work both at school and at work, and even in life outside school
Asking for help from local committee, friends, academic advisors, and professors about classwork, marketable career paths, hot to find jobs and other services
Be humble in your expectations about life in Canada and be ready to adapt and seek ways to make it work better for you

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

Culture shock and withdrawal and not being able to express oneself in class, outside class and when looking for work (help: try to learn about the culture by hanging out with people from within, watching movies etc)
Language/accent barrier when listening to professors, group discussions (help: try to learn the accent through practice from movies, friends)
Right career and job (help: Talk to former students, career services in your school, going to job fairs)
Weather (help: Get the right clothes to keep warm and try to eat right and exercise often)

5. Seeing how credit scores are important, do you have any advice on managing money or a credit profile?

Have a part time job to get some money to meet your miscellaneous expenses
Eating less outside because it is expensive and unsustainable. Cooking for yourself is cheaper
Use your credit can sparingly. If you cannot pay it off in a month or two, do not use it.

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

Your education comes first, you should focus on completing your studies first instead of making money
Communicate to your family that you are still a student and cannot afford to get them everything they want now

7. Were your aspirations met? What would you do differently if you were to start over again in Canada?

Yes/No
Have more connections and links to opportunities
Focus on only one desired program and spend the required amount of time on career development
Being realistic when meeting family and friends’ expectations

Samuel Thiak