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As the child of immigrants who came to Canada when I was four, I've always heard my parents' stories of leaving their extended family behind and navigating a new country alone. This summer, I explored how these experiences translate to today's international students at U²»Á¼Ñо¿Ëù.  

Before PURE, I'd never done research before. I'd never written a research proposal, navigated the ethics approval process, or conducted focus groups. I'm someone who likes to plan everything, I like things to go as planned, but research taught me quickly that things rarely do. Recruitment was harder than I expected. Most international students return home for summer, and I hadn't initially considered that reality. The ethics process was rigorous but continuously improved my overall design. Through it all, my supervisor gave me the freedom to learn by doing.  

Participants’ narratives were remarkable. Many talked about sacrificing social connections because they felt they couldn't afford to fail university. They saw their education as an investment, not only of themselves but also of their parents investing in them. Many described feelings of having to choose between maintaining their mental health and meeting their families' expectations. Many also highlighted cultural differences, like moving from a collectivist culture to Canada's more individualistic culture, reporting difficulties making friends in university.   

For me, I’ve learned how important research is, especially in areas where people are underrepresented. International students are real people here to learn and to make better lives for themselves. I feel privileged to have had this opportunity to hear their stories.