Remembering the Moment You Chose Your University
The serene sun rose over Jordan, casting a gentle glow across the buildings of my high school. The distant echo of anticipation filled the courtyard that Saturday morning. Among the swaying of olive trees was the opening day of the Jordan Model Parliament (JMP), a conference my team and I had spent months planning. Located at the greeting area, clipboard in hand, I was joined by my fellow colleagues, exchanging words and laughter that masked our shared nerves. It was one of those mornings that felt alive with purpose.
As I went about my morning, I looked down to check the time and my phone lit up: There has been an update to your application portal.
For a moment, everything faded—the chatter, the footsteps, even the approaching wave of attendees. My stomach dropped, and there it was: my offer of admission to the University of Toronto.
I froze, letting the moment sink in. I hadn’t expected to find out then, but something about the timing felt right—poetic even.
The University of Toronto, oceans away, held the same values I had carried throughout my life—curiosity and the drive to make meaningful change. I arrived in Canada with those attitudes in my pocket, unsure of what the transition would look like, but certain that it was the right step.
And I was right!
The move from Jordan to Toronto was exciting, but definitely nerve-wracking. Navigating a new academic system, a new city, and a new community all at once felt daunting at first. But U of T’s environment made the learning curve manageable. A classmate showed me the fastest way from IB to Davis, an academic advisor walked me through my degree plan, and a professor stayed after class to make sure I understood they topic discussed in class.
At U of T, I found spaces to grow, new people who inspired me, and opportunities that reminded me of why I chose the University of Toronto Mississauga in the first place. Whether in classrooms, campus organizations, or leadership roles, I discovered how seamlessly my past experiences connected with my new life in Canada.
U of T encouraged me to step into unfamiliar spaces, ask difficult questions, and redefine what leadership meant to me. From joining student initiatives to finding mentors who pushed me to think deeper, I learned that growth happens when you’re willing to stretch yourself, even when the path isn’t clear.
My time at U of T also awakened my love for public health and equity, values rooted in my experiences growing up in Jordan, but were further shaped here in Toronto. Working with diverse communities, learning about barriers to care, and witnessing how systemic inequities unfold in real life made me realize just how much work there is to be done. U of T gave me the tools and the confidence to pursue that path, guiding me towards the kind of future I have always dreamed of. Each experience taught me that growth happens beyond the boundaries of your
comfort zone.
My transition wasn’t just a physical journey—it was the next step of the same story, one that connected leadership and learning across continents. But, to learn from the best and become my best, I knew I needed a place that was the best—and that is why it had to be the University of Toronto for me
