Join this adventure where I reminiscent my journey as an international student at York University School of Continuing Studies. It is a ride of emotions that has seen waves of happiness, sadness, and hope. The journey reveals how I self-discovered myself after facing challenges and used the energy to grow both personally and professionally that can help me for my future endeavours.
As I stepped into the final stage of Digital and Content Marketing, it intrigued me, and my thought started to go back to my first day at York University School of Continuing studies and the days from then on. I came to study abroad from New Delhi, India and was brimming with enthusiasm and ready to learn the new age digital marketing. However, like any adventure my story also has the good, the bad and the ugly. This journey in a very short time has left both a good and a bad taste which has given me an everlasting experience and memories to take along and implement in my future ways of life.
Room No 113 – A classroom for Digital and Content Marketing
Reforming into a new masterpiece with each turn
I still remember it was a very cold morning and I was still figuring out my bus route direction, as I come from a country which follows opposite direction of roadways. To my amusement I was standing on the wrong bus stop and realised it when the bus came. I rushed to get on the bus by crossing the road and was so close to the bus, my immediate thoughts were now I know the reason black ice is so dreaded. I fell face first on the pavement immediately breaking my glasses and hurting my knees. The kind T.T.C bus driver waited for me. However, I was not able to get on the bus and instead found comfort in the corner seat of the small bus shed, where I started assessing both my physical and property damage. A broken frame and a deep cut on my knee. My next thought was should I turn back and head home or go to York University School of Continuing Studies for which I had woken up with all my enthusiasm. I decided to go to the university and not miss my first day which had already been building up with butterflies in my stomach. I was amazed that I still made it on time for the first class and received a first aid treatment also. This day has made me realise that life may come with many turns, and it is upon us how we navigate and utilize every opportunity and make it into a masterpiece.
My First Day to York University
Disappointments and Shattered Illusions
The class was filled with students eager to become achievers in their domain, and it suddenly became hauntingly quiet because in walked a charming figure who introduced himself as Mr. Heath Applebaum who was our professor. This story has two parts a booming of a friendship and a disappointment. First, I will tell you about a friendship which boomed with great promise. I met a girl in class who shared the same birthdate, and we hit it off instantly. It was like two like-minded individuals coming together. Our assignments were fun as we enjoyed discussing our plans on ways to improve our work and share our experiences of the new country we were in. I really cherished her existence and looked forward to attending my classes every day, and why not because we are thousands of miles away from our family and such friendship can fill in that gap. Our first module went past very quickly, and we were starting to get excited for our future. I still remember how the professor had taught us to always be positive and outsell ourselves. He was very friendly throughout the module, and we saw him as a mentor who had given us so much hope for the future throughout the weeks. It was the last day of his class, and I still strongly remember walking up to him to seek for a recommendation letter for my master’s program. I can never forget that gut punching feeling which brought so much disappointment and frustration from his response. He mentions that he strongly remembers my active participation in class and even loved how I did my assignments. However, he has been with this batch for a short duration of 1.5 months and vaguely remembered my name giving the excuse of the overwhelming number of students he teaches and politely declined giving me a letter of recommendation for my application of Master’s in Digital Media (MDM) to Toronto Metropolitan University, but still asked us to give him a positive review in LinkedIn. This made me start questioning everything. Is student’s success just a marketing slogan here? Do professors even care for individuals? This experience left a sour taste in my mouth, and I found out through the internet that there were cases, in which students have been disappointed by Mr. Applebaum’s during student-faculty interactions. However, as I said my time in the university had the good, the bad and the ugly. This was the bad, and next we shall dive into the good.
Celebration of Professor Heath Applebaum birthday and last day of his class.
Though the night is dark, the stars still twinkle
I started my next module with less enthusiasm and no butterfly in my stomach. However, they say expect the unexpected and Two professors Ms. Doris Montanera and Andrew Temes where the ray of hope and guiding light. They were the perfect example of good mentors who made be believe that a bad experience does not mean it will always be that way. I know we may think that just because a LOR was denied does not mean that we should feel that way, but it was never about the LOR it was about the zeal to invoke the learning and some of the best qualities the above-mentioned professors had. They gave real life experiences and set goals to achieve which they guided on ways to reach. They pushed boundaries to come out of one’s comfort zone and develop new skills. Their mentorship helped build a genuine relationship far beyond grades and GPA’s who ignited a passion for learning and guiding students towards academic and professional development.
Teamwork shattered the dream work
Now that my journey has exposed the good and the bad its time for the ugly. Do you remember the friendship that I had mentioned above. Yes, it has ended, and it was not a great feeling. I have learned a valuable lesson. Teamwork either makes you or breaks you and here with a minor disagreement it led to the end of a flourishing sisterhood. A sad ending indeed but with lots of good memories to take.
A group activity done in the classroom using Lego to facilitate a mind map.
As I reflect on this journey I am immensely filled with gratitude. I have learned that we cannot control the wind, but we have the power to adjust the sails. With this thought I have learnt that we should not be afraid to take initiative, voice our needs and seek out mentors who will inspire you. We all in the university should build a more student-faculty interaction. After all my York journey is a testament to the power of human connection and a reminder that through the vast academic rooms the dedication of a single professor can illuminate the path towards a brighter future.
The book of my life now has a beautifully painted YU Tale.
How has your journey at York University shaped the book of your life? Let me know in the comments below!