-Hsu Ya Wei, Okanagan College
My story may be different from most international students. When I came to Canada I had achieved a Bachelor’s degree from Taiwan, and I had not planned on pursuing a Master’s degree here. Instead, I enrolled at Okanagan College in Computer Information System Diploma and I will graduate in 2016. My goal is to become a programmer, and I’m proud of all the progress I have made. I would like to share my story with you about Canada, the place I found myself. This is for fellow students who might also like to make change in your life.
Fall colours on Okanagan College Campus
May 2013, my first time flying over Pacific Ocean, I came to Canada with my oversized luggage and a working holiday visa. I was nervous and uncertain; I didn’t know what I would explore in this foreign country. I came here just for one reason: I was lost in life; I wanted to find something new.
Park in Kelowna, BC
I was working in Taiwan but I was not happy, so I decided to have a trip. I chose Kelowna as my first stop, and I really like this small town. Kelowna is a beautiful city in British Columbia. I was surprised that 80% of the people who lived here were English speakers. I took ESL lessons at Okanagan College to improve my language skills. I also had a part-time job. I volunteered in Kelowna Museum, and joined several events to meet new people. After a few months of living here I got a job offer from Starbucks, which is what sparked this wonderful beginning of my adventure.
Barrels of wine on a winery tour in Kelowna
Working at Starbucks Canada, I found people to be very nice. They understood that I have a language barrier, and they accommodated their speaking speeds when talking with me. Whenever I got confused or needed help, they always stepped forward to give me a hand. I feel so glad to have met these people; they not only became my Barista colleagues, but also part of my family in Canada.
Christmas with friends at Okanagan College
After a few months, I got another offer from WTFast, an Internet gaming technology company founded in Kelowna. Being trilingual, WTFast saw me as an important addition to the company, doing business support and product testing. It has come to be the best job I have ever had. I never thought that I would be able to put my language skills and business degree to work in this environment. Working in a western technology company is a new and fulfilling experience. I get to work alongside an engineer who teaches me codes and their projects. I have become inspired to be a programmer, and have even set out to expand my knowledge to this subject. I have enrolled for programming courses with Okanagan College, and WTFast has offered me an Intern job during my school year, to support my in-classroom learning. Engineer colleagues never hesitated to answer my newbie questions, and they guide me with different ways in coding.
Okanagan College Centre for Learning
Finally, I’m grateful for Starbucks and WTFast, as they helped me out of the darkness and back to this lighted path. I have one more year to get my diploma, and then I will continue towards a computer science degree. Life may be painful at times, but it should never deter us to move forward. Life begins at the end of comfort zone, and I’m glad I came and found a new ME. I’m proud of the progress I have made and my journey so far, and look forward to what lays ahead.
Victoria BC waterfront
Kelowna, BC Fan Expo
The Northern Lights in Yellowknife