By Laura Churchill Duke (’98)

A handful of Acadia alumni came together recently to discuss challenges and share tips for personal and professional success with members of the University’s international student population.

Sam Zhang (’05) of the Halifax Port Authority, Asian Trades, was one of five people involved late last year in NetTalks. Others included: Jude Abbey (’07, Department of Natural Resources); Jake Rideout (’11, co-owner, Inquisitive Toy Company); Hannes Weiland (’08, CarbonCure Technologies); and William Morris (’08, Floating Pipeline Company Inc.).

Based on the Ted Talks concept, NetTalks provided students with a chance to network with graduates who have settled in Nova Scotia and found success in their chosen career paths. It was also a great opportunity for students to learn that others have walked in their shoes and they are not alone.

“By sharing my experience,” Zhang said, “I hope it could be beneficial to international students’ career planning and development and encourage them to stay in Nova Scotia after Acadia.”

Michelle Johnson is International Student Career Advisor at Acadia, and the catalyst for the event. “I wanted our current students to learn from alumni that it’s possible to find employment in Canada, and especially in Nova Scotia,” she said.

Twenty international students came out to hear the panelists, who hail from places such as Africa, England, Germany, China and Canada. All have settled in Nova Scotia.

Trace career path now

Weiland, who is originally from Germany, impressed upon students the idea that they could start to trace their own career paths now and build on their personal passion and desire. He also suggested that there are no shortcuts to success. “As much as we are trained for straightforward careers and drilled on joining the workforce after graduation, I'm a firm believer that there isn't a straight path to success,” he said.

Weiland added that international students particularly struggle with this concept. “They feel they need to imitate others to fit in, forgetting that their diversity could be the source of welcome new ideas in the Canadian economy.”

Ghana’s Abbey said the key is to stay on top of the necessary paperwork and be sure to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. “My main challenge (in coming to Canada) was managing the numerous visa and permit applications and staying focused with the decision to travel this far away from home to study and possibly work,” he said.

One common thread throughout the presentation focused on the abundance of resources and opportunities on- and off-campus, and students were urged to make the most of them. Volunteer when you can, compete in competitions, and take advantage of Co-op options.

“Co-op provided me with a lot of great experiences and gave me the opportunity to work in a professional environment,” Abbey said. “Also, coming from Acadia, I gained experience working with people from many nations that has helped me in the diverse workforce we experience today.”

Zhang agreed, noting that his involvement with the Wong International Centre at Acadia provided an ideal foundation that helped him fit in and gain valuable experience. “I got to practice my English and was able to engage more with Canadian students,” he said.

Never back down from a challenge

Rideout said a great idea, supported by hard work and commitment, breaks down barriers to success. “In my experience, having a passion for what you're doing helps to defeat just about any obstacle,” he noted. “I don't take ‘no’ for an answer and never back down from a challenge.”

He wanted students to know that they can achieve what they want through commitment and stepping outside their comfort zone. He says his time at Acadia was an incubator that helped his confidence and passion grow. “Acadia gave me the opportunity to take risks in a supportive environment. I started my first businesses while I was a student and I learned so much that complemented my studies,” he said.

Zhang’s final piece of advice was to take time to identify talents and assets in any environment. Be patient and ask questions when starting a new job. “Seek a mentor if you can from a faculty member or people you meet through business networking events. Ask them for advice.”

The alumni panelists were happy to participate in the event as a way of giving back to Acadia and helping the next generation of students. Other international alumni interested in being future panelists at similar events are asked to contact Johnson at: michelle.johnson@acadiau.ca.

“I hope our panel was able to take some of the fear out of the unknown when it comes to career planning,” Weiland said, “and present instead a model of taking a bit of risk to try something outside of one’s comfort zone. I also truly hope this group of international students took away a sense of excitement for their immediate future, grounded in their ability to bring a unique perspective to the Canadian economy and its culture.”