Life as an international student in Canada meant crushing poverty. But it also taught me resilience

Two weeks into the school year, then international student Gideon Christian found out he had no funding. He learned how psychologically damaging the experience of poverty can be.Four months into master's degree in Canada, Gideon Christian could no longer pay for his one-bedroom basement suite. He says poverty began to destroy his sense of self-worth. This First Person article is written by Gideon Christian, who lives in Calgary.

But I did it, studied law and was called to the bar. Still, I wanted more. I wanted to be a university professor and, because I lacked political connections, I believed I needed the cachet of a foreign degree to get me there. I bought my plane ticket, found a place to stay and even started classes. Then I got the heartbreaking news.

Then one Sunday morning, as I attended my regular religious service, I saw a familiar face leaving the building. Struggling to remember how I knew him, I yelled his name anyway.He was a high school mate from Nigeria. We hadn't seen each other in 16 years but after introducing me to his young family, they offered me a room in their house for four months.I felt so grateful for their kindness.

I finished my master's degree and got an internship with a Canadian crown corporation. Then, with Prof. Attaran's support and encouragement, I started a PhD in law and secured $135,000 in external grants even after the university admission committee initially turned me down.

Source: Education Headlines (educationheadlines.net)

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