Advice from an International Student Studying in Canada

Nina Petinglay from the Philippines finds her home away from home at MRU.

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, full of new challenges and opportunities for personal growth. That’s exactly what Nina Petinglay, an international student from the Philippines, discovered while studying in Calgary, Canada at Mount Royal University.

In her second year of MRU’s Bachelor of Business Management — Accounting, Nina is currently completing a work term with Deloitte (one of the Big Four accounting firms) as part of the co-operative education program. We spoke with Nina to learn more about her time at Mount Royal and to hear her advice for future international students.

Why did you choose to study at Mount Royal?

My aunt studied nursing at MRU. She mentioned the class sizes are small, so you actually get to know your peers and your professors. That was a big draw because we also have small classroom sizes in the Philippines. I really like it because I don’t have to feel anxious when asking questions.

MRU also has organizations such as the International Student Support Centre (ISSC) where I met a lot of my close friends. As someone who hadn’t been to Canada before, having that support was very important to me.

How did the ISSC help with your move to Canada?

I received emails from the ISSC team before I flew to Canada. They shared important resources, offered to help with my VISA, and invited me to come by the ISSC space when I arrived. They host a lot of events so you can connect with other international students, which helps build a network in a really fun way. There’s also a peer support program where they match you with someone that can tour you around and answer questions.

Were there any tough times you had to overcome after arriving in Canada? How did you overcome those harder moments?

The biggest one would be feeling homesick. Calling my parents every now and then was a huge help. Meeting people and making close-knit friends who I could open up to was also a good foundation to have. It all just takes a little time and that’s okay.

Also, I would sometimes beat myself up if I felt like I could have done better on an assignment or test, but I had to remind myself that you can always bounce back and it’s the effort that matters. A quote I really like is, “Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid of not trying.”

What’s your favourite part about living in Calgary?

Living close to the mountains! My friends and I like to go hiking in Kananaskis Country which is an easy one-hour drive away. The accessibility to downtown is also nice. It’s easy to get to different shops and restaurants which is a big yes for a coffee lover like me.

What’s your favourite Canadian memory so far?

Experiencing the Calgary Stampede for the first time with my international friends was really fun. The cowboy attire, the carnival and the grounds, the food and the rides — the entire week everyone just celebrates! I also tried poutine for the first time, that was a good memory too.

Is there any other advice you would give to someone who is thinking about studying internationally?

Try to get out of your comfort zone! I know it can be daunting at first, but once you move away from your home country, you get to know yourself better and can explore more possibilities. Also, get to know the culture of other people and respect each other's boundaries and culture differences.