-Jéssica Madinabeitia
As a mature international student from Mexico studying at Okanagan College (45 years old when I started my Business Administration Post-Diploma Certificate with a Hospitality & Tourism specialty at Okanagan College in Kelowna, B.C.) I faced some challenges, not just because I was from another country and English wasn’t my first language but, because the majority of my classmates were in their 20s and 30s and believe it or not, I experienced a generational and technological shock!
I still remember my “what are you talking about?” face, when we needed to work in teams and they were asking me about my Facebook account to create a group online to discuss the project and/or set meetings; and what about Dropbox or Google Docs for files exchange? And Prezi instead of using my “old” Power Point program for presentations? Uff! A lot of things to be aware off!
So, I decided not to panic and start doing something about it, in order to get the best of my experience and to integrate as quickly as I could.
Here is my action plan on how to be a mature student abroad and survive a generational and technological leap:
- Ask for help. Do not be afraid to pose questions, even if that makes you feel that you are not as smart as you know you are. Canadians are very nice and helpful people, just be respectful with their time-they are struggling also with the same or worse academic schedule as you are while at school.
- Do your own research online. There are many tutorials to help with different programs, here are some of the ones I used: https://prezi.com/support/, https://www.dropbox.com/ and https://www.google.com/intl/en/docs/about/.
- Find yourself a Tutor. They are a great face to face resource and sometimes they can even become your friends! You can find them at your own school Learning Center or your local Public Library.
- Get involved with your classmates. When I say get involved, I mean not just when you need to work in teams. Talk with them, connect, be friendly and open, show real interest in them, make them feel comfortable with you. After all, making friends is part of the experience of studying abroad. Network as much as possible.
- Learn more about Canada. Do research on the education system, Canadian customs and history, Canada’s wide range of sports and community programs. Going a step further to joining a club or become a volunteer can give you a different perspective and culture sensitivity that you will never regret.
- Work hard and give your best when working on teams, be proactive and never give up!
Here are some photos of my time at Okanagan:
