Mabior Ater
Current City: Toronto, Ontario
Year arrived in Canada: Born & Raised
School(s): University of Toronto
Academic program(s): Mathematics and Statistics
1. From your experience transitioning to Canadian life and culture, do you have any advice for new WUSC students?
Although I did not come through WUSC (I was born and raised in Canada), many of my friends have come through this program and it is admirable to hear their life stories/journeys. The work ethic many of these students have is impeccable! The best advice I can give to any newcomer is to come mentally prepared, and to prepare to do your best! Canada is an amazing place that is filled with opportunities and anyone can prosper. Your success is all up to you. With the right amount of work ethic, your goals will come to fruition.
2. Do you have any advice on choosing academic programs and careers for later success after school?
I think my best advice is to take your time and to trust your gut. The best way to know if a program/career is suitable for you is through research and seeing what aligns with your personality. The key feature with any program is making sure you enjoy the program. What also can be of huge aid is discussing your career plans with your professor or your peers who are in your program of interest/career and asking questions about how they are enjoying it, what they hope to get out of the program, and career aims etc.
3. From your experience, what does it take to succeed in Canada? (Measuring success in academic and professional terms).
I believe that to propel your academic/work success it all starts with believing in yourself and your capabilities. This country has a profound set of opportunities that anyone can capitalize on! I think the best way to start your path to success is jotting down both your short-term and long-term goals. With this, you will be driven by a purpose, and nothing is more powerful in life than having a purpose that is driven by desire.
4. What challenges do you think hinder new students from succeeding in Canada?
I think the biggest issue is financial commitments. Juggling work and extra-curricular activities while being a full-time student is a difficult balancing act that many students perform. Additionally, I find that adapting to a new environment has also been a problem. My best advice on this is to find your social circle, and to communicate with fellow South Sudanese living in the diaspora. This way, we can foster a dialogue on settling in Canada.
5. Seeing how credit scores are important in Canada, do you have any advice on managing money or building up a credit profile?
Keep tabs on your money, and track your spending closely. A good credit will pave way to low interest loans, buying a car and etc. My advice is to make sure you are constantly on top of your spending. Also, pay off your credit card minimum payments on time, and to make sure that you are not over your credit limit. It is important to keep your credit score “good” because it does help when taking out loans for a big investment like a house. Try to avoid late payments as much as possible. Also always borrow what you can payback easily.
6. 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 feel like if I was given re-do button, I would have pressed it a thousand times by now haha. But I feel like I have come from very far to where I am at the moment. I have worked very hard to get to where I am in life. I had a few failures, but I had a lot of achievements as well, and it is important to mold your failures and incorporate them into shaping a refined version of you. I am a firm believer in “everything in life happens for a reason”, so I wouldn’t change a thing from my past. Rather, I would create a new blueprint for what days, weeks, or years ahead will look like.
