Nyahoth Loang Bipean

Profile info:

Current City: Calgary, Alberta

Year arrived in Canada: 2016

School: University of Calgary

Academic program(s): BSc. Chemical Engineering

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

Do not lose yourself trying to fit in. Have boundaries and respect them. Take care of yourself, not everyone you will meet has good intentions.

2. Do you have any advice on choosing academic programs and careers for later success after school?

I think it entirely depends on what you want to achieve first, money or your passion. I would say choose a program that you are interested in and you enjoy doing. However, if you want a career that will give you money instantly then go for it. You can always come back later and study what you are passionate about.

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

Join African Student Clubs at your school. You will find a lot of students with the same struggles as you. Exchange contacts with people you connect well with and make sure you keep in touch. They will be your besties by the end of your program. At the very least, you wouldn’t just be going to school to attend classes but to also meet friends.

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

I have not succeeded yet, but it takes so much self discipline to achieve anything in this country. Unlike Kenya where we competed and were pushed to succeed, this country is the total opposite. Everything is up to you. If you don’t do your assignments, that’s your problem, not one will yell at you. You will need to set goals that will remind you why you are in school in the first place. If you lack a firm conviction, a good reason reason to succeed at school, then you will easily find yourself dropping out. The easiest way to drop out is by taking a year off hopping to solve a thing or two before coming back. If you’re not careful, you might not return to school. One thing leads to another and the objectives you set out to complete within a year may still be there by the time your year off elapses. Life in Canada can be an hamster wheel, an unending loop. I can’t speak about this from a professional level because I am still a student.

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

A lot of students rush to graduate before getting professional work experience. Make sure you secure an internship before graduating, this will enhance your chances of getting a job immediately after you graduate. Most students also don’t participate in co-curriculum activities like volunteering and attending leadership workshops. These activities are very important as they boost your resume when applying to entry level jobs.

6. Seeing how credit scores are important in Canada, do you have any advice on managing money or building up a credit profile?

I don’t know much about credit cards but I know having a good credit is very important in this country. You might need to buy a car or a house, your credit history will be used in these cases. Have a credit card but make sure you spend wisely. And yes, save for rainy days.

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

Be honest. Tell them exactly how being a student in Canada is more difficult than back home. Your family and friends need to know that it is not all milk and honey here like we thought it was. Remember that your main goal here is school. Go to school first and graduate. You will be putting yourself in a better position to help them substantially later. You can’t work and study and expect to succeed doing both. You will always be exhausted after work and therefore unable to complete your assignments and readings. Besides, money will become sweeter so you will find yourself opting to work full time. To avoid such a scenario, prioritize your studies first.

8. 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 would get more involved socially. I am a very conservative person, I find it hard to socialize with people with different principles and lifestyles. I do realize diversity is important, so I try everyday to expose myself to different experiences.