“I will always be deeply thankful for what my parents did for me during my studies here”

Pınar Ovalı came to Canada from Turkey to attend McMaster in 2015. This year, she graduates from McMaster’s Faculty of Humanities with her BA in communication studies and multimedia. Here is her story, in her own words. (Answers have been condensed.)

What made you decide to go away from home for your education? Why did you choose McMaster?

My parents and I did not believe that the education system in my home country [Turkey] was sufficient. We also had doubts and concerns about the future of Turkey, mainly from a political perspective. We were not able to see a future for me where I would be able to create a peaceful life and make a fair living.

I chose McMaster because I really liked the programs, and I wanted to be close to my high school friend who was going to York University. Being close to Toronto was another factor in my decision.

What was your first impression of Canada? Of Mac?

I love how multicultural Canada is, and that is still my favourite thing about this country. When I first came to McMaster, I loved the campus and was very impressed by how friendly and kind everyone was.

I didn’t meet a single person who wasn’t kind and understanding, which was especially important in my first year.

Was there anything surprising about adjusting to life here?

I come from a collectivist culture, so having to adjust to the individualist culture here was the most challenging adjustment I had to make. There were times I felt very lonely, not because I didn’t have people around me, but because of that huge cultural difference. I felt myself being drawn to people who were also from collectivist cultures – it felt like we had the same background, even if we grew up at the opposite ends of the world.

Did you face challenges during your time at Mac? How were you able overcome them?

I am the first person in my family to go to university. The hardest challenge that we had to overcome as a family was the financial burden. At one point, there was simply not enough money for me to continue my studies.

My parents sacrificed a lot from their lives: small things, like cancelling their cable subscription, and more serious ones like not using their car for a year, selling a few things, working on the weekends, or giving up certain activities to save that money towards my education.

I was faced with the possibility of having to drop out and return home a few times because we were struggling a lot.

I will always be deeply thankful for what my parents did for me during my studies here.

I also struggled with the language barrier in my first year as English is not my native language. I was even advised to drop out because they didn’t think it was possible for me to keep up with the intensity of the courses as well as the course load itself.

I had many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to write a slightly more complicated sentence, trying to find the right words or learning about the essay formats that were required of us.

I cried with happiness the first time I got a mark above 55.

How does it feel now that you’re graduating?

I can’t believe how fast these five years have gone by. Even though I feel anxious about finding a job, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel proud and relieved that I finally finished my studies.

It was kind of bittersweet given the circumstances of how the school year ended. I wish I had been able to say goodbye to my friends and professors properly.

What advice would you have for other international students?

I would say try to join clubs or do volunteering on or off campus – small communities where everyone has mutual interests and goals might make it easier to make friends. Also, explore the city. I started to feel more at home the more I got to know Hamilton and other close-by areas.

Also, take advantage of the services that Mac offers – they’re very helpful when it comes to understanding the culture here as well as the academic expectations.

During these times right now, I would say do what’s best for you, whether it’s staying here or going back home – and stay as positive as possible.

The whole world is being affected by this situation, and there isn’t much we can do except take care of ourselves and our mental health.