We’re all aware that choosing which university to attend is a deeply scary part of any adolescent’s life. Compile that stress with moving across the globe away from loved ones and it goes without saying that the transition to university is terrifying, particularly for international students. But before you know it, you’ll triumphantly wheel your suitcases onto the campus of what is now your new home for the next few years, breathing in the fresh air of the Forest City, and everything will fall into place.
For further insight on the transition between high school and university, I interviewed Celine Wong, who is an AEO1 student from Hong Kong currently studying BMOS. There were quite a few factors that led to Celine’s decision to attend a school far from home. Firstly, the social norms surrounding academia and work-life balance are far more demanding in Hong Kong than they are in Canada, so Celine was eager to attend Western for the vibrant student life and supportive education experience. Additionally, Ivey was Celine’s top choice because of the leadership culture, as she wants to participate in leadership roles due to the heavy emphasis placed on leadership at her high school in Hong Kong, Participation in extracurricular activities is mandated as an AEO to fulfil progression requirements, so Celine hopes to utilize these opportunities to become a stronger leader throughout her university career and beyond.
After receiving AEO status, there is the challenge of maintaining the status for 2 years, which becomes even more difficult when learning to adjust to the changes between life in Canada versus life in Hong Kong. Celine details that she was extremely worried about keeping her AEO status and had heard multiple anecdotes about students who were unable to do so. These fears were compounded when Celine started classes - she found it difficult to navigate the heavy course load and feared that she would be unable to keep up. Furthermore, Celine experienced a cultural shock as becoming accustomed to the high cost of living and extremely social lifestyles within London were challenges she faced. This academic stress in conjunction with her challenging adjustment to living in Ontario was, understandably, quite a strenuous time throughout the first weeks of university.
Now, halfway into the semester and having successfully survived her first wave of midterms, Celine feels far less stressed about maintaining her AEO status, balancing her academic responsibilities and has grown accustomed to the lifestyle in London. She stated that “as the semester continues, I figured out ways to study and to make friends in my courses that were helpful in revising for midterms and quizzes.” Overall, she has adjusted well to life at Western and is thriving with the help of strong study habits, friends and the newfound favourite of Tim Horton’s coffee.
Although I cannot imagine the difficulties that come with moving across the globe, I surely can see the reasons why Celine is so happy she did. Of course, there are always days where she misses family or is not a fan of Ontario’s wildly unpredictable weather, but she has overall grown to love life at Western. While navigating a new lifestyle and academic setting – not to mention an entirely new country, Celine has reframed what many would see as a period of severe difficulty into an example of personal growth. If you’re still choosing whether to apply, we both urge you to explore your options because this inspiring story of overcoming challenges to become a stronger student isn’t just Celine’s, but could be yours, too!