Nyakim Kueth
Current city: Calgary, Alberta
Year arrived in Canada: 2016
School: Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Academic program: Broadcast News
Industry: Digital Marketing
LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyakim-kueth-737b6b191/
1. What inspired you to pursue your studies in News Broadcasting of all the academic programs that were available to you?
Being a News anchor was always my dream, but I never thought I would have the chance to pursue it. When I moved here and realized I had a chance, I just went for it without hesitation. Also, in this Country no one really cares about you or what you do, so if you don’t follow your heart and do what you love it will be your lose.
2. Do you have any advice to new students joining post-secondary institutions on choosing academic programs and careers for success after school?
I would say, consider choosing a career that you love. Always think, about 20 years from today will you still do the same thing? Or will you get bored and reinvent yourself all over again? You can choose to pursue what pays more money now, BUT if the work itself or the industry doesn’t resonate with your interests and passions, you will suffer later.
3. Do you have a mentor? If so, how have they helped you in your academic or professional career so far?
A mentor to me is not about who is in the field that I want to be in, or a successful celebrity. To me, my mentor is my mom; although she never went to school the thought of her and the life I want her to live is what made me want to succeed. I always think about her before making my decisions. It may sound strange to some people, but she is my biggest inspiration.
4. From your experience transitioning to Canadian life and culture, do you have any advice for new students?
I would say do not try to fit into this western culture too much. If you have one or two friends and you trust them, that is enough. Having too many friends will only increase your problems. I can’t emphasize this enough, remember ‘character counts’. Never do anything you might regret later.
5. From your experience so far, what does it take to succeed in Canada? (Measuring success in academic and professional terms).
Sacrifices. That is my short answer. Work hard. Do your best. Minimize how much you want to go out for fun and focus on your studies.
6. Do you have any ideas on how new students can manage expectations from friends and family back home?
Just tell them the truth. You are a student, and you don’t have much disposal income. Our people back home only assume we are affluent based on the pictures we post on social media, if you look good, they think you have a lot of money. Also, don’t commit to taking responsibility for the whole family. That alone can add too much stress to your already busy life. Your mental health is more important than the praise people will give you for sending them money.
7. What do you know now that you wished you had known in high school?
I did half of my high school here. High schools here are different from high schools in Kenya. Here, you choose your courses according to your desired career path. Money is important, but if you want to succeed and be happy, it is better to forget about making money in the short term. When I first came here, I thought I could do everything all together. I had a full time job, a part time job and full time school. After a few months I dropped 3 courses. I couldn’t handle it.
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 will do almost everything differently. I would do more volunteer work. Make connections. And of course, I will do things my own way instead of trying to fit into a lifestyle that wasn’t mine. I couldn’t meet all my aspirations; I pushed myself too hard and ended up breaking down. If I were given a chance to start over again, I would put my health first before everything else.
