From early struggles to supporting others: How this undergrad found success at UTM

Ruqaiya Rahman was looking for a whole new chapter. 

As she made plans for university, the international student from Bangladesh wanted to go to a place where she could meet new people, have new experiences and embark on an educational adventure. 

Aiming for a business program, she came across the University of Toronto Mississauga and was drawn in by its academic offerings. A promise of financial support confirmed her decision and she chose UTM for her fresh start. 

Her plans were unfolding nicely until the realities of integrating into a new country by herself hit. 

“Back home, life is very comfortable because I have my parents, I have all the support systems and everyone I have known since I was a child,” she said. “Here, I was so scared. I didn't know anyone or anything about how things work.”

Thankfully, she said, there were many who offered to help. 

From her roommates in residence and student housing staff, to campus centres with support programs and fellow students who were simply more familiar with Canadian living, Rahman found people in the UTM community who taught her how to navigate everyday life and provided help she didn’t know she would need. 

“I didn't know how to even commute from one place to other using the transit system here,” she recalled. “My roommates really helped with that. My don and my (residence education facilitator), they introduced a lot of the core services here, like where to grocery shop.”

When winter came around, Rahman got advice on what kind of gear to buy and where to find it, she said.  

“These are the things you never really know because it's so different country to country,” she said. “The fact that they were so open to explaining everything to me as if I was a beginner, it was really helpful.”

The support she received left Rahman wanting to do the same for other students like her.

Over the four years of her undergrad, she gradually took up roles in several campus centres, including in residence, at the International Education Centre and with Student Recruitment and Admissions.  

“These departments were ones where I had attended programs, and the students and staff were role models to me,” she said. 

“That kind of support is really prevalent here at UTM – you can ask any question you want. Without their advice or support, I don't think I would have been able to try all these new things.”

The confidence she gained saw Rahman work to help other students ease into their university experience while encouraging them to occasionally move outside their comfort zone.

“I hope they remember me as someone who encouraged them to try something new,” she said of her mentees. 

“I would say ‘Immerse yourself into the experience as early as possible. Attend as many clubs and events as you can so that you get to find out where your interests lie.’”

She also always advised younger students that it’s entirely acceptable to change their academic paths. 

“In your first year, you think, ‘OK, this is the program I want to do.’ But then it’s ‘Oh, this doesn't suit me. I want to switch to a different program.’ That's completely OK,” she said.  “There's great flexibility and support here.”

As Rahman prepares to graduate with a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in accounting and a major in economics, she said she thinks her plan to start fresh ended up being a success. 

“I really think I made the right decision because there is a whole community here, so many different kinds of people, including people from my own background,” she said. 

“I'm an international student, but UTM just feels like home away from home.”