Current city of residence: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Year arrived in Canada: 2010

School(s): University of Winnipeg

Academic program(s): Economics & Finance, minor in Statistics

Occupation/profession: Officer, Canadian Revenue Agency, Government of Canada

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

Be you - I mean stick to your original goals with little flexibility. Canada is great but it can be dangerous if the options available to you are not well evaluated.

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

Be open-minded, make friends, it is your new home and it gets better with time especially when starts to understands common Canadian cultural practices and etiquette. Remember that most other first year students are also new to university or college, just like you. Many are from different backgrounds and may be learning and adjusting to life in their new environment as well.

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

For me, it is a work in progress, I am yet to even think that I have moved an inch toward success. It could be due to my high expectations on myself. For new students, listen to colleagues who came to Canada before you. Their experiences will give you everything. Learn through them, be it mistakes some of them made or successful steps they had taken. Learning from their stories will help you make better choices. Get excellent grades if possible, they will help you get bursaries and scholarships. Remember you might have to apply for most bursaries. Be mindful, some advises from non academic members of our community can be misleading at times, especially as it relates to the value of education and academic success. Most importantly, build your network. Trust is a big deal here and it can be bridged through building a network of friends or professionals. Remember your attitude is everything!

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

Too much expectations as to what Canada offers, there are so many opportunities yes, but one might have to work harder to get those opportunities. No free lunch; be a hustler!

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

Build better credit, it will come handy during rainy days. And it can be built through little things such as paying your phone bills on time etc.

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

We have all been victims of this issue or at least most of us have, and here is how: first, the expectation from our families is to complete school, period. Then when we get a few dollars here and there, boom we run to Amal or Dahabshiil and that is where false signals of having money gets sent to our families and friends. Just be honest with your family and friends. Do not stress yourself to finance projects from family members or friends that would still be completed without your help. Yes, help if you are able, but do not borrow money to send home. That is how the few lucky ones among us who get full scholarships still end up in debt. NB: our immediate families are quicker to understand our situations and would rather we don’t send money but to complete school first. That has been the case at least for most of us.

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

No! I was not expecting much and that has worked so well in my favor. Canada has exceeded my expectations and my aspirations are a work in progress….Lirpiou knows when I will accomplish them. What will I do differently? In 10 years, I would have been dreaming of being a millionaire or close to being one if I start over again and know what I know now. There is a lot of opportunities to make money in Canada but only for the hustlers. I will start hustling right away and by the time WUSC’s one-year scholarship is done, I will be better off. Remember your attitude is everything!