In an increasingly divided world, the boundaries that separate us are only becoming stronger -- yet within the realm of education these barriers are dissipating. The desire to learn rises above perceived human divisions, with Western’s diverse community serving as a testament to this notion; 23% of Western’s student population is composed of international students. The average student at Western University lives within the province of Ontario, which could be a drive home anywhere between a mere half hour to many hours on the road. For the average international student, home is approximately 10,032 kilometres away, which is a plane ride anywhere between 13-24 hours-- making the transition into university a much harder task for an international student. A whole new world, new culture, new norms, and perhaps even a new language are obstacles for international students to navigate. Every student's experience is unique and no struggle is greater than another -- but what differentiates an international AEO student from a local AEO student? What better way to get the answer than directly from the source—an international AEO1 student herself, Jenny Jiang from Shanghai, China.
Jenny’s home is 11,415 km away from London, Ontario and yet, the allure of the Ivey School of Business managed to overcome this distance. With exceptional post-secondary institutions all over the world, what made Ivey appealing to Jenny?
To find the answer to this question, first we must understand the risks that come with accepting an AEO offer from Ivey. It is common knowledge that all AEO students must maintain an 80% cumulative average by the end of their first two years at Western. That is quite the pressure on any student’s shoulders, but truth be told the guilt of underperforming as a local student is incomparable to that of an international student. Local students have a privilege of being at most a few hours away from home when they are feeling homesick and struggling, but they are still home, in Canada. The air in London still carries that familiar mildewy, yet crispy scent of your hometown and at each corner of every Canadian road shines a brightly lit Tim Horton’s sign. For Jenny, everywhere around her is a reminder that she’s simply a student in a foreign land. There’s no familiarity with home and no escape from student life. This sense of isolation led Jenny to second-guess her decisions, as thoughts of regret start to consume her; “Was it worth it spending all this money to be here?”
With a rigorous midterm season among us, these thoughts began to intensify. The outcome of the first midterm is often viewed as a make-or-break moment since it sets the tone for the rest of the semester. Unfortunately, this pressure led Jenny to underperform in her first midterm. After sulking in sorrow, she decided something needed to change; her mindset. Jenny’s thought process shifted from “I must do well”, to “I want to do well”. She transformed the pressure into motivation. Motivation to do better, to be better. To find a home, away from home.
Now despite the hardships and demanding academic environment of university, we are still left to question: “What made Ivey so appealing?” To many, Ivey is the place where their dreams can turn into a reality. It is where ambitions are nurtured, and self-confidence is cultivated. From an objective viewpoint Ivey is one of the top business schools in the country, a quality that Jenny and many alike are enchanted by. It gives students the opportunity to make a name for themselves regardless of their background -- just one look at the stellar alumni record and it reinforces the narrative that anyone can succeed with Ivey by their side. Jenny is confident that with an Ivey degree, she can break into the corporate world of consulting and finance and succeed in the Canadian workforce. At Ivey, there is a journey beyond just the guarantee of success. Jenny chose Ivey for its tangible value but stays for its intangible experience and memories. In business acumen, choosing to be an AEO student is high-risk—but offers a high-reward.