Take the Risk and Fly

Take the Risk and Fly

TO be honest, studying abroad was never on my mind until I reached Senior High. However, when the school invited past alumni to talk about their experience, I wanted to take that risk as well. I applied in Canada and was accepted at the University of Toronto, a tri-campus university ranked number 1 within the country and 25th in the top universities of the world. When my parents heard the news, they gave me a crash course of all the things they taught me. From doing household chores to checking in at airport counters, they made sure I was able to take care of myself. This preparation helped me when I flew to Canada alone and I moved to the university’s residence.

I learned that the university referred to courses as “programs” and subjects as “courses.” Unlike in the Philippines, the university allows first year students to explore the different courses offered and have the option to choose their major by the end of first year or even in second year.

Students are also given the freedom to choose the electives they want to take. I knew I wanted to pursue a major in English, so I chose the classes that were required. That way, I did not have to worry too much about it in the succeeding years.

I used my student ID card to pay for my meals, books and laundry. It also gave access to the services such as the Pan-Am Sports Centre, which hosted the Invictus Games founded by Prince Harry.

Public transportation was reliable as I felt safe riding the bus at 9 p.m. I used Google Maps to know which bus number to get on and which bus stop to get off at. A tap card was used to keep track of the fares and which bus stops it was used. It’s convenient since the transportation fare is good for two hours.

I faced two big challenges.

First, I had difficulty in adjusting to the school system. High school to university is a big jump. Professors expect more from the student, though some take in consideration this transition. For my program, I had to analyze the stories that I read for class.

Though I did this for Senior High, I lacked practice so the grades I got back were lower than what I had set myself for.

Second, I experienced home sickness during the week of final exams. I did not have it during the first few months because I was too excited to do many things by myself. The home sickness came when many assignments were due, and I had to study for five final exams. I did not have any close family member to run to, so it got hard for me.

To overcome it, I found time to at least hang out with a friend for three hours and I felt recharged to continue my school work. My parents and I did a video chat every night, which helped lower the stress levels.

Studying abroad is scary, but the level of fright depends on how ready the person is. I usually like to stay in my safe space, but I took this risk to help me develop my talents and discover new skills.

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