Apoorva Tripathi travelled to Canada to pursue her Health Care Administration and Service Management programme at Conestoga College in Kitchener City in the Ontario province of Canada. Hailing from Delhi, she went to Canada to build a successful career in the healthcare sector. After an initial struggle, Apoorva managed to get a job in Canada, which has been her home for the last two years now.
“I had a dream to study abroad and was excited about experiencing a multicultural environment with less discrimination. Experiencing a new educational process laced with practical experience was a welcome change. To pursue my dream, I started preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination from YouTube and other online platforms, I did not opt for any coaching centre. Based on my IELTS score I received admission in Conestoga College in 2021.” The visa process was relatively smooth for me, but getting adjusted to the Canadian way of life was indeed a challenge.
Talking about the expenses and increasing value of dollars, Apoorva took a student education loan. “I took a part-time job to cover my other expenses, Canadian government has permitted students to work 20 hours per week, which was helpful.” Apoorva’s stay in her college residence was a pleasant one, however, the struggle started when she started to look for an affordable residence in Ontario. “Finding affordable housing is a challenge for international students as rising rental has taken a toll in Ontario. However, I will suggest students planning to come to Canada, also explore other provinces of the country,”
She also warns the students to be careful of scams that take place due to a lack of awareness among foreign students. “Sometimes due to less knowledge about lease and other paperwork, students fall prey to scams and later struggle to find a place to live.” Therefore, always attend scam-related workshops organised in colleges, she adds.
There has been some price hike observed in Canada after COVID, “Everything from grocery to housing has become expensive. Even suicidal cases came to light when students were unable to deposit their college fee due to lack of part-time employment opportunities. ” says Apoorva. Students must come prepared to handle the homesickness and cultural shock that come as one steps into a foreign land.
Having a successful career is what students focus on while leaving India to study, “There are plenty of opportunities available for students in the medical field. Students need to make more effort to work smart. Constantly explore job portals to find a job and keep dropping resumes,” she adds. There is a huge significance of resumes and cover letters as the job market is competitive and meritocratic.
Dealing with initial challenges and differences in the curriculum in Canada, she says, “While making project reports or writing the exams, students are required to cite sources from books or websites. Workshops are organised to help students develop their writing skills, and there are rigid rules in place to uphold academic integrity, with consequences, including dismissal, says Apoorva. While Colleges offer guidance and support, students need to indulge in proactive job searches.
Indian students must come prepared to fight climate change as winter lasts for over 6 months, “Weather is extremely harsh in Canada during winters initially, adaptability grows with time but in the beginning, it needs to be tackled with patience,” says Apoorva. Cherishing her all good and not-so-good experiences as a foreign student in Canada, Apoorva says, “I would suggest every student to just hope for the best and stay positive while they struggle in a foreign country and aim at their dream for which they have taken all this pain.”