Episode 2 - Isabella Vergara

Isabella Vergara is an international student from Columbia. She is currently in her second year of the Public Relations Degree Program at Humber College and a member of the Humber Public Relations Committee. Isabella shares her experience navigating her way as an international student and exploring new connections. Isabella opens about how she had to step out of her comfort zone and how her current position of being the Events and Promotions Assistant at IGNITE allows her to connect with other students on campus.

Thank you everyone and stay tuned!

Transcript

Transcript

00:00:07 Speaker 1

Welcome everyone, back to the Students Life series. So today on our second episode, we have special guest Isabella Vergara, and she's going to share her journey about her experience here at Humber College while still studying here. So everyone.

00:00:24 Speaker 1

Give me a warm welcome and welcome Isabella.

00:00:28 Speaker 1

Hi, Isabella, how are you?

00:00:29 Speaker 2

Doing hi, Karen. Thank you so much for having.

00:00:32 Speaker 1

Me today. No problem. Thank you for coming on.

00:00:35 Speaker 1

So just for our listeners, explain a little bit about yourself, your background, how you found Humber College and decided to go and enroll into the program that you're.

00:00:44 Speaker 2

In OK. I mean I'm going to introduce myself.

00:00:48 Speaker 2

I mean, the Bachelor of Public Relations you May 2nd year.

00:00:51 Speaker 2

I'm I'm an international student from Columbia. I came here uhm one year ago to follow my studies in public relations, because I really wanted to follow this career. But we didn't have this program back home. So I found and it is an interesting.

00:01:12 Speaker 2

Place to visit, and Homburg as a good college. And it had really good reviews, so I was interested in coming, yeah.

00:01:20 Speaker 1

So did you have anyone like any family members or like close friends that you knew that went to Humber College before you made the leap to moving to Canada?

00:01:28 Speaker 2

No, I really didn't know anyone from Hamburg. I did apply to several colleges to the same program, but I really liked from Hamburg that they welcome me even.

00:01:40 Speaker 2

When I didn't had accepted my my my invitation card so.

00:01:47 Speaker 2

I really like that sense of belongingness and that they were always, like constantly checking how how was my process going and that helped me to make that decision of coming here and just home for my studies, yeah.

00:02:04 Speaker 1

Yeah, I know sometimes for international students, it can be difficult.

00:02:09 Speaker 1

So when you first arrived here, did you find any, any challenges, like, did you feel like there was any culture shock or like some things you noticed are really different, that was your normal in Colombia, but when you came over here like, it's completely different? Yeah. Many things. First of all, I came by myself so.

00:02:27 Speaker 1

Koodle to you.

00:02:28 Speaker 2

It was really.

00:02:29 Speaker 2

Yeah. So it was really hard in the beginning because I missed my family, of course. So yeah. And also English was not my first language.

00:02:37 Speaker 2

So I wasn't ready. Like I I noticed I I wasn't ready to start school yet. Also, many new things for me, living by myself, learning like essential things like transportation to the city, cooking, like doing everything by myself. When I was used to.

00:02:58 Speaker 2

Have my family support, so it was really challenging in the beginning, but then I started to get used to things and I really.

00:03:07 Speaker 2

UM, learn many things and this help me to get experiences and to improve in everything in general, yeah.

00:03:15 Speaker 1

And so then how did you find it being in your program? Do you find it easy to make friends?

00:03:20 Speaker 1

Did you find it a little bit challenging? Did you find like the language barrier or like the culture was a little bit different?

00:03:25 Speaker 1

For you well.

00:03:27 Speaker 2

In my program we don't have many students. It was really easy to connect with my classmates since we were a small group, yeah.

00:03:36 Speaker 2

So my professors, everyone was so nice with us, like international international students, it's very easy to start this process and they will constantly check in on us how we were doing.

00:03:50 Speaker 2

If everything was fine the first year was like that transition year and I really felt supported by everyone.

00:03:58 Speaker 1

Yeah, that's. I think one of the challenges many newcomers face.

00:04:01 Speaker 1

Like, do you have any social connections? And I think because your program is really small, you're able to develop that with everyone, right?

00:04:08 Speaker 1

Yeah. So how do you find? Because I'm a I know you're working right now. So how do you find the work and school balance while being in school while managing, you know, coming to a new country experiencing winter?

00:04:21 Speaker 1

How did you find out that?

00:04:22 Speaker 2

Well, it was.

00:04:23 Speaker 2

Hard in the beginning because like, of course, I wanted to find a job for different reasons, for to get experience. Also to support my parents with.

00:04:36 Speaker 2

Money and to be more involved in campus life. So I applied for this job in the student union and I was first really confused about everything. But then with the time I started to learn how to differentiate my spaces also.

00:04:56 Speaker 2

To have some time for myself, to for my social life, to find that balance between my classes, my school work. So.

00:05:05 Speaker 2

I had to plan very good for my days. Do this list with everything I had to do to find that balance and to keep myself organized. Yeah. So did you find like prioritizing and planning ahead was better for you in managing?

00:05:25 Speaker 1

Like the works and school balance.

00:05:28 Speaker 2

Yeah, of course, because since I had so many things to do and so many things to take care doing, a list was really good for me.

00:05:38 Speaker 2

To keep things organized and to not forget anything that I had to do, and also I use like the different tools of my phone to.

00:05:48 Speaker 2

Manage my time, for example on social media, and to have these reminders of the things I had to do. So I found that really useful. There are different websites too that help with your time management.

00:06:02 Speaker 2

So all these things help me to find that balance and to use my time as wisely as possible. Yeah.

00:06:09 Speaker 1

So did you find like some of the websites? Like if you don't mind which ones did you use just so some of our listeners, they can get an idea. Well, I like this headspace app that's mainly for focusing and relaxing.

00:06:22 Speaker 2

Retaining a little bit so this headspace up actually got a true Humber and this helped me to find this meditation times where I was able.

00:06:34 Speaker 2

To relax and stop for a second and that really helped me to calm down and and think about it.

00:06:42 Speaker 2

That like just.

00:06:44 Speaker 2

Focusing and like continue with my my things.

00:06:49 Speaker 2

So yeah also.

00:06:50 Speaker 2

The different tools from my phone, like the setting up alarms and these kind of things.

00:06:55 Speaker 2

To keep myself organized and to plan everything.

00:06:59 Speaker 1

I know you mentioned.

00:07:01 Speaker 1

The Headspace app, which is available to all members.

00:07:04 Speaker 1

Students through ignite. So.

00:07:08 Speaker 1

I guess think that's one of the strategies. You found a way to, you know, relieve stress. What other strategies did you find or learn to use whenever you found yourself in stressful situations?

00:07:18 Speaker 1

Because I know obviously when it's near midterms near exams, it can be really stressful for students.

00:07:25 Speaker 2

Yeah. So for for this season when?

00:07:29 Speaker 2

Everything is coming like exams and assignments. I really like to when I get home.

00:07:36 Speaker 2

Just take a.

00:07:37 Speaker 2

Shower come down for a second. Play some music. Just disconnect. And I also like.

00:07:44 Speaker 2

UM to workout. I feel that's really good. It's just really very because you're focusing and something else and it's also good for your body.

00:07:53 Speaker 2

So I think that going to the gym help me even if I was busy, I will always try to find some space at least to do a short walk or if I had more time.

00:08:04 Speaker 2

To do a whole workout, but I feel that focusing on my physical part.

00:08:12 Speaker 2

Will help me to to have that balance and everything.

00:08:16 Speaker 1

Yeah, that's really good. I think just getting some form of exercise, sometimes it just puts a pause on your mind from thinking all the time.

00:08:23 Speaker 1

Yeah. Yeah. So then like, obviously you mentioned your international student. So did you feel connecting with international students, especially with your like in your line of work or even in your program, did you feel?

00:08:36 Speaker 1

That you were more at home or did you feel any kind of homesickness? Obviously when you first came to the country?

00:08:43 Speaker 2

Not really. I think I was so busy.

00:08:46

But I didn't.

00:08:47 Speaker 2

Have time to think about all my family.

00:08:50 Speaker 2

And fortunately, I've been able to travel back home several times to meet my family and also my my parents and and my sister have come here to to visit me. So I feel I've always been supportive. I'm so grateful with technology because.

00:09:10 Speaker 2

I can hold them every day and talk to them.

00:09:14 Speaker 2

So it's I feel that that helps to.

00:09:18 Speaker 2

Get connected through the technology, but yeah, overall I think that I've met so good people here that have become my family. So that helps in that emotional part, you know.

00:09:30 Speaker 1

Yeah, I think just having somebody going through the same thing, you're going through, it just makes it a lot easier that.

00:09:37 Speaker 1

You're not in it all.

00:09:39 Speaker 1

So then I know you mentioned you were going to.

00:09:41 Speaker 1

The gym, you.

00:09:41 Speaker 1

Use headspace. Were there any other tool, tools or resources you used on campus that you found very helpful or like, do you have any other resources you cumulated while coming to campus or on campus that you felt are very helpful for other students that might they might.

00:09:56 Speaker 1

Be able to use.

00:09:58 Speaker 2

I will encourage people to use these different study rooms.

00:10:02

We have.

00:10:04 Speaker 2

Because sometimes, like the study areas like the student centre or the cafeterias, can be very busy. So finding the student rooms and booking them, it's good because you can like, have that space privately for yourself or like your classmates.

00:10:23 Speaker 2

And that helps to get focused on what you need to do and don't get distracted with everything going around.

00:10:29 Speaker 2

So I think that's a good resource we have here. Yeah, I think that also the different labs and if you ever need like.

00:10:41 Speaker 2

To access through the different programs through the through the laptops or the school computers, that helps too. I feel we have many resources here that are positive for students.

00:10:54 Speaker 1

And did you find it challenging like first getting to know where everything is like, how did you find? Because I know even when I was in the program.

00:11:01 Speaker 1

Sometimes some things I was like, oh, I wish I knew this earlier. Like, how do you feel? Because I'm.

00:11:06 Speaker 1

I'm I was. I'm a domestic student, so I'm thinking for international student, how did you even find ways or how did he hear?

00:11:12 Speaker 1

About it, because I know the campus is so.

00:11:15 Speaker 1

Big, especially Lakeshore.

00:11:15 Speaker 2

Yeah. Yeah, no, I feel that I'm. I'm very curious. So I like to be constantly checking Humber website or or Instagram profile this kind of.

00:11:30 Speaker 2

Strategies they have to share information, so I usually like to go to the website. I see what's new when I when I first came, I remember I printed the campus map.

00:11:42 Speaker 2

To see where.

00:11:43 Speaker 2

Everything was also my work at Ignite helped because I was a brand ambassador, so that help.

00:11:49 Speaker 2

Me to know more places and like, discover new tricks that I can also share with other students. And sometimes I feel that many students don't know about all the resources and.

00:12:02 Speaker 2

All the things.

00:12:02 Speaker 1

I'm one of them.

00:12:03 Speaker 2

Yeah, even the events or the different things Humber has.

00:12:09 Speaker 2

Some people don't don't know about him and.

00:12:12 Speaker 2

They are really helpful.

00:12:14 Speaker 2

So I will encourage people to check for for the Instagram accounts all the Instagram accounts Homer has or go to the website.

00:12:23 Speaker 2

Even the poster boards are on, like the information is there, it's just.

00:12:27 Speaker 2

We need to.

00:12:27 Speaker 1

Find the have to search for it actively. Physically you have to still do the work. Yeah, I think social media.

00:12:33 Speaker 1

It's probably the easiest way now, especially you can follow on Facebook, Instagram does.

00:12:38 Speaker 1

Some perhaps TikTok.

00:12:40

Oh wow.

00:12:40 Speaker 2

Yeah, they have TikTok too.

00:12:42 Speaker 1

So then I guess follow on tic Tac, yeah.

00:12:45 Speaker 1

So then how do you feel like after some of the resources you used, especially you said you're very like outgoing, you're very curious.

00:12:53 Speaker 1

So how did you find that helped you after you used using all these resources? How did you feel?

00:12:58 Speaker 2

Well, I think.

00:13:00 Speaker 2

I love spending time on campus like I feel most of my work. I'm on campus. I come here to work in the morning and usually leave at night. It's like I can use all the resources and I feel comfortable staying here.

00:13:16 Speaker 2

So now that I know more things like about the the different facilities we have, that's easier for me to use them and I feel that I get more focused staying here than going home because I have so many distractions there. Yeah. So yeah, I love spending time on campus going to the different.

00:13:35 Speaker 2

Areas looking for for meeting new people too. That's a great way to meet people. So yeah, I'm I'm grateful for for having all these opportunities here.

00:13:47 Speaker 1

So I yeah, you mentioned you were a brand ambassador. So I'm guessing being a brand ambassador you probably.

00:13:52 Speaker 1

Walked everywhere around this campus. You've probably talked to so many people. How did you feel? Like speaking to so many people?

00:14:00 Speaker 1

Like, did you feel more at home? Do you feel more connected?

00:14:02 Speaker 2

To them. Yeah, yeah, my my worry definitely has helped me to get connected with more people since now, people kind of recognize me.

00:14:13 Speaker 2

That I work at Ignite and I can also meet people get some connections if I need for people from different faculties like I I know some people already.

00:14:24 Speaker 2

So I feel that for an international student is good to find an on campus job because that will help you to build your connections to spend like more, more time on on campus. And that helps to discover new things and to get connected with more people.

00:14:44 Speaker 1

Anything you know for your program you mentioned you were in PR. So did you feel like?

00:14:49 Speaker 1

That part of the job aspect just going up to people, getting them involved in the activity, some people may be shy.

00:14:55 Speaker 2

Did you feel like that helped you in your program as well? Yeah, of course, because even many things that I, I I see ignite. I studied those things in my courses so. So I can see everything applied there.

00:15:09 Speaker 2

And also UMI used to be a very shy person, especially because I didn't know the language perfectly. So it was challenging for me to talk to people in the in the beginning because I I I was not confident like of talking and expressing but.

00:15:29 Speaker 2

Where kinetic might help me?

00:15:31 Speaker 2

To be brave and talk to more people. And of course this is required for for PR practitioners since you need to be like the the phase of any company.

00:15:43 Speaker 2

Yeah. So yeah, I think all my skills, apart from learning them on class also my work. Help me with that.

00:15:52 Speaker 1

And you're in your second year.

00:15:54 Speaker 2

Yeah, I'm in my second year now.

00:15:54 Speaker 1

How do you feel compared to your first to your second? How do you feel?

00:15:59 Speaker 2

Well, the first year everything was new for me, so it was kind of hard because I had to find out how professors like their assignments and how to do different things, how to use new tools that they didn't know. But I also feel that because we were in the first year.

00:16:20 Speaker 2

Professors and everyone in general was like more flexible because it was like we were adapting to this new world. But now, in my second year, I I feel that.

00:16:32 Speaker 2

That everything is more challenging. Like I've got more responsibilities, but it's.

00:16:37 Speaker 2

Still, that's good because.

00:16:39 Speaker 2

We are supposed to be growing up.

00:16:41 Speaker 2

In this process.

00:16:42 Speaker 2

And then in the future when?

00:16:44 Speaker 2

We go to.

00:16:45 Speaker 2

Our to the professional field like we will get more responsibilities and I think that's that's that's what live is.

00:16:53 Speaker 2

Just to get more responsibilities and to improving everything and to learn everything.

00:16:57 Speaker 1

Yeah, like, have a different out.

00:16:59 Speaker 1

Yeah. You know, Isabella, when I met you, I would have never guessed you were international student. Today was the day I found out you were in your second year.

00:17:08 Speaker 1

This whole time I thought you're in like your third or fourth.

00:17:10 Speaker 1

Year. So I would have never guessed like because you were so confident I when I met you at ignite, you're very confident.

00:17:16 Speaker 1

You were very secure. You knew where to go. You know, you knew what to say to other students.

00:17:21 Speaker 1

So you did a.

00:17:22 Speaker 2

Great job. Thank you so much. Yeah, I feel.

00:17:24 Speaker 2

Said coming to another country changed me even sometimes. Like the times I have been back home, my family are like Oh my God, you change. You are so different now. Like, where did that shy girl go like right now?

00:17:45 Speaker 2

I think it's the process of getting mature and like playing older. Exactly. That helped me too. But yeah, thank you.

00:17:53 Speaker 1

For that, yeah, and.

00:17:54 Speaker 1

One more like how did you?

00:17:56 Speaker 1

Feel during up to now. How did he feel your mental health was like, did he feel there was any difference?

00:18:03 Speaker 1

Did you feel anything when coming to school regarding your mental health? Cause I know sometimes some students will find it very, very stressful, very, very challenging and they feel their mental health is effective. So how did you feel?

00:18:16 Speaker 2

Yeah, I've had many times where I feel like I have so many things.

00:18:22 Speaker 2

To do that, I just want to like get rid of anything, just I just want to stop and and I feel that in those moments, sometimes I get sick.

00:18:34 Speaker 2

So it's like everything is connected if if your mind is not working good, then your body is not going to work good. So I discovered that.

00:18:42 Speaker 2

The first thing should be my health, so I try to whenever I'm busy or I'm getting a.

00:18:50 Speaker 2

Rest I tried to take a moment. Breathe done. I need to take care of myself. I I try to remember that going to the gym, spending time with my friends and family. Like everything is not just work and study so.

00:19:11 Speaker 2

I feel it's good to have.

00:19:12 Speaker 2

That balance there and not to know that sometimes things are not going.

00:19:16 Speaker 2

To go the.

00:19:17 Speaker 2

Way you want to and something some.

00:19:20 Speaker 2

Times many things will be coming at the same time, but after that stressful moment, everything will be fine. Like everything will will get over at some point.

00:19:30 Speaker 2

So I feel like I will advise everyone too. Try to find that balance and and think about your health first.

00:19:40 Speaker 1

And Justice, one key take away for the viewers what is the one thing you would recommend them about using on Humber College? If you could give them one piece of advice, what do you recommend?

00:19:51 Speaker 2

Well, I would advise them to get involved with all the on campus activities. It's unbelievable the number of opportunities that Humber has through their events, webinars, through even their social media contests.

00:20:11 Speaker 2

There are many things. There's scholarships. Like many things the students don't know, and sometimes.

00:20:17 Speaker 2

They don't take advantage of these opportunities, so I will encourage everyone to get involved, to see what's happening around, to talk to people, don't be afraid to talk to other students, get those connections, talk to professors, to staff. It's good to know everyone, and then you will, you will.

00:20:38 Speaker 2

Find that many things that you didn't know before are good for you and that.

00:20:44 Speaker 1

You can take advantage of those opportunities too perfect. So thank you so much, Isabella, for joining me on the 2nd episode of the podcast and Me, including all our listeners, we wish you good luck and your second year. Thank you, Karen. I really enjoyed this time here. Thank you so much. Take care. Bye bye.

00:21:01 Speaker 2

Bye everyone.