I thought my childhood dreams were out of reach. Then I came to study in Canada

This First Person column is written by Chidinma Favour Anosike, who lives in Regina, and is part of a Canada Day series exploring what Canada means to people across this country. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ.

When I arrived in Canada in the spring of 2023, I was awestruck to see so many bare trees. I had just come from Nigeria where trees stayed green year-round due to the tropical climate. Bare trees were a rare sight, and only meant one thing — that the trees were dead.

"Why do they keep trees that don't bear leaves?" I asked the friend who picked me up from the airport.

He replied, smirking, "You're here now; why don't you find out yourself?"

A week later, I woke up to green leaves sprouting from the tree stems. Every day, they kept growing. I found the process especially fascinating and would take pictures of them every morning.

My journey to Canada as an international student has been equally eye-opening. This is a country where students like me can dream big. 

As a young adult in Nigeria, there seemed little chance for me to break through and have a good career. The economy was bad and corruption was rife, with people getting positions based on their connections rather than their skills or education.

My parents wanted better opportunities, improved living conditions and political security for me. They encouraged me to study abroad. Although I'd never left home in 18 years, I felt excited.

The day I departed, my mom called me to her room. She prayed for me, blessed me and hugged me tightly. She cried so much. I'd never seen that before, and I cried along.

When I thought about leaving to study in Canada, I was determined and said to myself, "Either I make it or make it." Failure was not an option.

During my layover at the airport in Toronto, I bonded with some other Nigerian students also heading to the University of Regina. All of us were full of hope and excited to begin this adventure.

Within three months of arriving and beginning my studies in business administration, it dawned on me that my new life wasn't as easy as I had fantasized. Some students lost the will to continue and left.

Being a student is taxing, but I believe it's triply taxing for international students who deal with isolation and who struggle to adapt to a new culture. 

The struggle between time zones and expensive flight prices to travel back during study breaks, especially in the -30°C winters, was torturous. That's when it hit me — I was really alone in this new country.

I knew isolating myself wasn't an option. To attain the promise and dream given to me by Canada, I had to show up for myself. I began by getting involved, from joining campus clubs to volunteering with my local Jewish community, forming close relationships and bonding with other international students trying to make a life for themselves here. 

I started an initiative called Chidinma & Friends Regina to bridge the gap between international students and the wider community in the city. My goal was to provide new students with the information and resources they needed to thrive as students in a new country. 

Getting a job at the Saskatchewan legislature as a page helped me envision a career trajectory for myself. There, I was inspired by the members of legislative assembly, including immigrants like me who were lawyers and visionary leaders. I was impressed by their eloquence.

As a child, I had wanted to become a lawyer and make a difference, but my ambitions had wavered. They didn't disappear, but they felt buried under the weight of the reality in Nigeria.

Luckily, I was no longer in Nigeria.

I called my mom and broke the news that I had decided to pursue a legal career. She asked what made me certain because in the past, I'd changed my mind often. 

"I just see the future is bright and I can do it here in Canada. It'll take me years, but I think I can do it." I said. 

She was excited for me and gave her blessings. I'm lucky to have my parents believe in me. They believe that I can take on whatever challenge that comes my way. 

So I'm chasing my dreams for them and every international student who left home for life here. To show them their dreams are valid.

It's been two years since my arrival to Canada, and I have no regrets. I've experienced the four seasons —spring, summer, fall and winter — and realized my newfound love for nature, appreciating its beauty each season.

Strangers have opened their homes and now call me family; classmates, mentors, and instructors have become lifelong friends.

I feel that I'm fulfilling the promise of the Canadian dream. I'm flying high and chasing my dreams without limitations.

Like those trees I first saw when I arrived in Regina, I'm putting out my leaves, knowing I will come to full bloom here in Canada, my second home. What could be more fulfilling?

 Do you have a compelling personal story that can bring understanding or help others? We want to hear from you. Here's more info on how to pitch to us.