Matthew Bol Atem

Current City: Edmonton, Alberta

Year arrived in Canada: 2015

School: University of Prince Edward Island

Academic program: BBA, Finance

Current occupation: Boilermaker, Oil & Gas

1. What are the challenges you faced trying to get to where you are today, if any?

The main issue was getting confused about what program to undertake. The notion of “doing what I love” and the program that will make me marketable in the Canadian job market really posed a significant challenge.

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

I wish I had known about the Trades & apprenticeships before I enrolled at the University. I have no doubt I wouldn’t have registered for my bachelor’s degree if all the information about the Trades were available the moment I relocated to Canada.

3. If you can reflect on your journey, were your aspirations met?

What would you do differently if you were to start over again in Canada? I can’t say my aspirations were met but I am positive about the future. If I were to start over, I would enroll in trade school right away. It is only in trades that one can finish school with zero student loans and a few coins in one’s bank account. It may sound like a joke, but it is real.

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

Kindly, stop the notion of “do what you love.” You may finish a program that will make you undesirable in the job market. Make sure you research programs that will make you marketable here in Canada. It’s not rosy out here. Career choices have consequences, so you must be careful. I advise new students to consider joining trades.