My journey into a new phase of life began far from where I stand today. I arrived in Canada at a young age from East Africa, rooted in a rich cultural heritage, a culture grounded in resilience, faith, and community. Everything changed when my family and I moved to Canada. I still remember my first days of middle school and high school in Canada: walking into classrooms where I barely understood the language, navigating a culture that felt unfamiliar, and feeling the weight of starting over.
A typical day back then meant waking up early, rehearsing English phrases in my head, and pushing myself to speak even when I was afraid of getting it wrong. What kept me grounded was my family, my cultural identity, and the belief that this transition was opening doors I couldn’t yet see. The challenges were real, language barriers, loneliness, self-doubt, but so was the excitement of growth. Slowly, perseverance turned overwhelm into confidence. I learned English, strengthened my French, and began to feel at home in Canada’s diversity.
That transition shaped how I approach life today. As an Honours undergraduate student my days are filled with lectures, research meetings, volunteering, and community work. Whether I’m contributing to health equity research, supporting patients at a Hospital, mentoring peers, or advocating for sustainability and youth health, each experience reflects the same lesson I learned as a newcomer: thrive by serving, adapting, and showing up for others.
Moving to Canada wasn’t just a change in location, it was a transformation. It taught me resilience, empathy, and purpose. That foundation continues to guide me as I prepare for a future in healthcare, grounded in community, equity, and care.
Kids Help Phone (KHP) is honoured to share creative content submitted by youth from coast to coast to coast as they Feel Out Loud with us. We thank the Feel Out Loud Community Creator of this piece for their contribution to youth mental health and well-being in Canada. For more information on the Feel Out Loud Community Creator Space and / or how you can submit your own creative content for possible publication, you can visit the submission page.
