Stepping out of your comfort zone is often the first and most daunting battle you face with yourself. Like many international students, my journey began when I arrived in Canada in 2022 and discovered York University. Eager to pursue a second course for my studies, I stumbled upon the York School of Continuing Studies or York SCS. I embarked on an in-depth exploration of the most suitable programs and ultimately chose Digital and Content Marketing. What drew me to this course was the glowing reviews I encountered, including a conversation with a current student who enthusiastically remarked, “Everything went so smoothly that I didn't even realize when August arrived after January.” Her words ignited a spark of motivation within me, yet I couldn’t help but ponder—why hadn’t my experience felt quite as seamless? As I navigate this new chapter, I find myself reflecting on the challenges and triumphs of my own journey.
So now I will share how my experience was different.
- Shift from 1 building to another:
Suppose I go back to my life in 2023 when I arrived in canada as an international student, I opted for a course in Seneca College at their York University campus, whose main entrance is at 70 Pond which is just opposite the building of York School of Continuing Studies, So every day when I travelled by bus to the college I catch a glimpse of my future college and a Kid you not. In that case, the building is gorgeous, I mean just look at it.
(building of York School of Continuing Studies in centre, some students around it)
I filled out my application to attend the SCS in January 2024, Winter semester.
Here is the course page by the way if you want to check
https://continue.yorku.ca/programs/digital-and-content-marketing/
- Adapting the change AGAIN :
I graduated from a media course in 2020 when I thought I would not go to any college again to study, but things happened and I landed in Canada, where the first course I did had only Six students, that's right, way fewer awkwardness and we had 2 actual Canadian students with us but if I go back to my first day at York SCS, it was more than 30 students from all parts of India the first thought I had was everyone took the first course they saw on the website, just kidding. Introductions are awkward but eventually, you get comfortable when you find a safe space and that's what York SCS provide you with. Finding Supportive teachers and more supporting friends is a must if you are living 7000 kilometres away from your home, as these faces become familiar, the more you feel comfortable and the more you adapt, the curriculum is balanced so we get time to analyse what we studied and then act upon it, assignments, deadline everything is planned to work it out itself, you just have to be passionate enough to learn.
(3D sculpture hanging down from the ceiling in the centre, very big covering most of the area at York University)
- Balancing IN’s and OUT’s :
Although we have 4 days of classes and the remaining 3 days are free in the week and if we count Reading weeks where we get more than 5 days off some students still feel we are going to college so many days, this happens when the students like me to get a part-time job somewhere after school, I know it is now a necessity to have a Job in order to survive in a city like Toronto but York University is also supporting students with their Food Banks (https://students.yorku.ca/food) to fulfil some of the basic needs so at least you can get pressurised with your job and focus more in the studies, take it from me, these jobs are so temporary no matter how much tempting the money looks but there is very less growth in some of the part-time job roles, the skill advancement we are getting from the course are surely gonna help us create a brand of our own. But these times you need a sturdy mindset to avoid these distractions and focus on yourself.
(giant stone on the left on which York U logo is imprinted, green field on the right and trees behind)
- Take a Bite :
For international students studying in canada is an experience, and If anybody is looking to make their experience good they need to enrol in a good and reputed institute where learning is taken seriously with discipline York School of Continuing Studies has this quality and I am sure that the seed they saw inside of me will surely give the fruit in future. All the practical lessons and interaction with industry experts will surely give me a perspective on what I will be facing after stepping out. The knowledge and skills I learned here also came in handy in some interviews that I did for suitable Job roles. Research is the first step towards taking this decision, So first take a breath, wrap your head around the thought and get through it, the more you learn the more you grow.