Global Skills Opportunities Travel Grant Recipients at Laurier Share Their Experiences

Erin Chin - Akita International University - Fall 2023

My study abroad in Akita, Japan so far has helped me see what a life away from home could look like. Living and traveling independently in a country that speaks another language has been a challenge that has made me better understand what someone moving to a new country might feel like. It’s intimidating and isolating when you aren’t used to the culture or the language. I’m genuinely glad that I’m able to broaden my perspective a bit more and step outside of my comfort zone. The funding provided by the Global Skills Opportunities Program was able to fully cover my rent for these four months and has allowed me to focus on my studies, improve my Japanese, and explore what this country has to offer. I’ve been privileged enough to be able to experience the culture of Akita, try regional foods, and meet new people. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to meet wonderful friends from all over the world, and to experience this study abroad.

Justin Andress - Universidad de Deusto - Fall 2023

My study abroad experience thus far has been one that I am going to cherish for the rest of my life. Adapting to the education, diverse cultures, and lifestyles has been a gradual but enriching journey, a process that has been quite fulfilling. Coming from a single culture and educational system, there's a tendency to assume that the entire world functions in the same manner, something far from accurate. My study abroad experience has allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone, meet people from all different areas of the world and most importantly overcome some of the scariest moments in my life. The learning and diversified knowledge that I have gained are skills that cannot be taught by an individual but rather something that needs to be experienced. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to attend a study abroad semester and the many lessons that I have learned along the way.

Brian Duong - Seoul National University - Fall 2023

So far on my term abroad, the area of greatest development for me was on a more personal level. The main driver for this personal growth was being forced to step out of my comfort zone. One of the most prominent hurdles that I was forced to conquer was the language barrier. Being in South Korea without being able to read, speak, or understand the Korean language was a major challenge for me, but something that forced me to grow. I've also had the opportunity to meet and become familiar with other exchange students from countries all across the globe. Through these interactions, I've had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, giving me a much wider perspective on the world. These interactions have also made me realize how fortunate I am to live in Canada and go to Wilfrid Laurier University where the population is so diverse. Another big area of development was becoming a more independent person. Doing things alone, such as going out to restaurants or travelling is something I have become comfortable with during this term abroad. The funding I've been granted by this program has enabled me to experience so much of what South Korea has to offer, and to do so with less stress about how it will affect me financially in the future. This funding has helped me travel to other parts of the country besides Seoul, which has enabled me to experience areas of both historical and current Korean culture.

Holly Prince - Oslo Metropolitan University - Fall 2023

During the Fall 2023 semester, I had the opportunity to go on an international exchange to Oslo, Norway. This exchange has contributed to multiple different areas of growth, particularly in the areas of personal and educational development. During my exchange, I have faced many challenges and experienced new obstacles that have led to tremendous personal growth. I have been able to become more confident in myself and my problem-solving skills, as well as become more comfortable with myself as a person. In terms of educational development, my experiences here have introduced me to new ideas about social work and society in general. I feel that these learnings have given me a new perspective as a social worker and have encouraged me to continue to develop my professional skills. The GSO funding has provided me the opportunity to get the most out of my exchange semester by allowing me to engage in additional opportunities that would not have been possible without the funds. Without the added stress that finances can bring, I feel that the GSO funds have allowed me to enjoy my exchange to the fullest.

Yasmeen Manji - Nova School of Business and Economics - Fall 2023

Hello, my name is Yasmeen and I am completing my study abroad term at the Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon, Portugal. Already, I feel that studying in Europe has allowed me to gain a greater perspective on different topics such as global events and political news. It has also challenged me to better my communication skills and overcome language barriers that I face with students and others regularly. Placing yourself in a completely new environment helps you learn how to adapt, be resourceful, and make connections with others who are in the same boat. One of the greatest parts of studying abroad is travelling to other nearby countries. With the help of the GSO funding, I have been able to immerse myself in the culture, food, and language which is an experience I never would have had without my study abroad term. It has allowed me to see many great sights, but also to experience what daily life is like in other places. I am looking forward to continuing travelling and hope to explore more of Europe by the time I am done exchange!

Nikola Lukezic - Philipps-Universität Marburg - Fall 2023

In my time abroad in Germany, I have learned a lot about myself and grown significantly as a person. Figuring out day-to-day life, understanding the different transportation systems, and learning a new language and culture has forced me to get out of my comfort zone. On top of this, I have grown a lot as a student. Learning through a different cultural lens has also improved my quality of learning and will help me throughout the rest of my academic career. While studying here in Germany, balancing my studies, travels, and adapting to a new environment has improved my time management skills drastically. Studying with people from other countries has helped me understand the world better. Befriending and assisting people from around the world will help me with my future career as a teacher. Knowing about experiences from all around the world is important while teaching students from many different cultures and backgrounds. I can now say I am more confident as a person, student, and teacher. I would recommend this experience to anyone considering studying abroad. I have seen the most growth in myself these past 3 months and look forward to coming back to Canada with these experiences.

John Fitzgerald - International Co-op - Fall 2023

My time abroad in Germany has been very opportunistic regarding my career and personal growth. Being able to work a similar job in a new economic environment has taught me so much about the European world of business and allowed me to leverage my knowledge of Canadian companies. I am grateful that ATS Corporation provided me with an opportunity to work abroad through Laurier International. This experience has developed a unique skill set that will be beneficial for future positions in global corporations. The proximity to so many countries in Europe has been overwhelming, but with the funding from the Global Skills Opportunities grant I’ve been able to venture out and explore the region as much as possible. I have ascended mountains in the Tyrol region of the Austrian Alps (pictured), rollerbladed the Berlin Marathon, seen more historic castles than I can count, visited my homeland of Ireland, and become engaged with many local sports communities. Pursuing these lively opportunities with the help of the GSO has helped me become more responsible and independent, all while immersing myself in the culture of my four-month home. While the culture is very different from my home in Southwestern Ontario, my newfound knowledge of Europe will be advantageous in my future in business and day-to-day life thanks to the GSO and Laurier International.

Kayla Pyke - Nova School of Business and Economics - Fall 2023

Studying abroad in Portugal has been an amazing overall experience for me. The blend of academics and real-world experiences has broadened my horizons and deepened my understanding of international perspectives, allowing me to grasp concepts beyond the confines of the traditional classroom setting. On a personal level, engaging with locals, savoring diverse cuisines, and navigating different places and languages have sharpened my interpersonal skills and cultural intelligence. Educationally, my coursework at Nova School of Business and Economics has provided a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. From a career readiness perspective, the skills acquired during my time abroad are invaluable. The ability to adapt, communicate effectively across cultural boundaries, and approach challenges with a creative mindset are qualities that employers highly value in today's globalized world. The funding I received for this exchange program has been the key to allowing me to access these opportunities. It has alleviated financial burdens, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the experience without the constant worry about expenses. This support has enabled my personal and academic growth, enabling me to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Miraal Kabir - Enactus Laurier - Fall 2023

Thanks to the GSO program, I was able to have an experience of a lifetime - travelling to six different countries in the span of six weeks to share the work my team and I at Safi (www.safi.world) been doing to create the worlds first off the grid pasteurization unit!! We started our journey in Uganda where we attended and presented the Safi device at the African Dairy Conference to over 700 stakeholders in the dairy industry. Most exciting of all, we were personally invited by the Ugandan Minister of Agriculture to scale to Uganda. We then went to Rwanda where we worked with the Rwandan National Dairy Platform to do the very first pilot test of the Safi device with milk sellers. We started by working with three milk sellers and our team in Rwanda is now piloting with an additional six milk sellers, all with incredible feedback! Our third stop in East Africa was Kenya. We ran product demonstrations with over 100 farmers and also began pilot testing our device. We also gave a workshop to university students from four universities about social entrepreneurship and were able to apply our learnings from school to help others! Between Kenya and Germany, we did a quick stop in Canada where our team went straight from the airport to the Enactus Showcase of Champions where we represented Enactus Laurier. We were welcomed by Desjardins, Hazelview Properties, Alterna Savings and HSBC and received incredible support from their staff in preparation for the Enactus World Cup! We then went to a social entrepreneurship conference in Germany and met many inspiring people making an impact across the world and are very excited to collaborate with their social enterprises to continue to empower farmers in East Africa. The last stop on our whirlwind tour was our trip to the Netherlands for the Enactus World Cup! We represented Team Canada and competed against national champions from 32 countries around the world. We are so proud to have made it to the Top four and to have presented Safi and Kuponya Innovations on the global stage! These travels and the support of the GSO program have been invaluable in my growth personally, my education as well as career preparedness. I grew so much personally travelling away from home for so long and learning from different cultures that I was immersed in. I was able to see learnings from my business classes applied in real life and am in a much better place to take my career forward as working full time for Safi.