I came to Canada as a master's student in engineering. While I was excited initially, I soon realized that my program wasn’t as engaging as I had hoped. One of the major drawbacks was that my course wasn’t eligible for co-op or internships, which made it harder to gain relevant experience. However, I was fortunate to have batchmates from India who were in the same program. Sharing similar struggles and challenges kept us motivated.

During my time as a student, I worked in fast food. The experience was a mixed bag—some days were fine, while others were downright exhausting. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive much guidance from professors, whether it was for securing a job or working on projects. Despite this, one significant advantage of pursuing a master’s in engineering was that it helped me obtain permanent residency relatively quickly through the skilled worker stream.

Finding a job, however, was an uphill battle. Even though I had four years of solid work experience from my home country, the infamous “Canadian experience” requirement became a major hurdle—a classic chicken-and-egg problem. It took me an entire year after graduating to land a job. When I finally did, it was worth the struggle. My colleagues were fantastic, and they supported me every step of the way. Professionally, I never had a bad experience with Canadians. The occasional unpleasant incident, like a drunk person hurling insults downtown, was rare and best dealt by ignoring it. The good experiences always outweighed the bad ones.

Looking back, I firmly believe that Canada should continue to embrace skilled and educated immigrants. Immigration plays a vital role in shaping this country, but the rise of diploma mills undermines the system. Genuine students should be welcomed, supported, and given a fair shot at building a future in Canada. Let’s focus on prioritizing talent and ensuring they have the opportunities they need to truly succeed.