On Saturday, May 12th, 2018 the Study and StayTM cohort field-tripped to OnTree Park in Winsor for their academic year-end activity. This fun outdoor event on climbing walls, high rope courses and zip lines in the canopy around Martock was a fitting way for these brave students to celebrate the completion of their first year in Nova Scotia.
The group activities brought the cohort together and taught them important lessons about confidence, trust and determination – something they all have in droves. For many students, this was their first time participating in this type of activity. The opportunity opened their eyes and enhanced their Nova Scotian experience, helping them end their year off on a high note.
After a year in Nova Scotia, this is what two of the students had to say:
“Coming to Canada was a big step for me and my family. It’s nearly been a year without them, but with the experiences I have gone through and lessons I’ve learnt in my first year at Dal and in Canada, I know that I don’t regret leaving home. Growth is essential to becoming a better person than who you were before. From taking small steps by getting involved in my residence com munity to grabbing opportunities involving working at Dalhousie University’s Registrar’s Office, these are the experiences that inspire me to do better; to give back to my community and learnas much as possible from them. I wouldn’t have been able to take these steps without the encouragement and skills I’ve built from being in the Study and StayTM program, and for that, I will always be grateful.” – Mary Kayle Telen, B. Engineering, Dalhousie University
“When I first came to Nova Scotia, I was anxious about making new friends and being in a place where I did not know anyone. I had a pleasant welcome from EduNova and the international society of StFX at the airport, where I met a few of the other internationals from my university. Having lived here for almost a year now, I feel a lot has changed. I think a lot more positively about myself, I have overcome the anxiety, and am working on being more social. I was worried I wouldn’t make a lot of friends, and I didn’t until I actively tried. I found it very important to participate in social events and talk to more people. As I had quite a bit of free time and not too many friends, I decided to look for a part-time job to keep myself busy and have a source of income. I looked online and found a few positions. I finally ended up working at the Superstore. I learnt a lot about the everyday products that people use. It also helped me be less socially awkward as I spoke to a lot of people on a weekly basis. However, through events and activities with the Study and StayTM group, I learnt that a lot of the jobs are hidden, and it is essential to have a vast network of people to have an opportunity to access those jobs. Putting this into effect, I made contacts with professors and other students. This successfully got me my first full time summer job with the university, teaching school kids about coding and science. Overall, the Study and StayTM in Nova Scotia program has helped me build self-confidence and taught me the importance of making connections.” – Prahar Ijner, B. Computer Science, St. Francis Xavier University
We would like to congratulate all Study and StayTM in Nova Scotia students and we look forward to seeing them again in the fall.