Setting out and feeling supported

The future is full of possibilities for Leila Khalifa, who last fall began her third year of a bachelor’s degree in international business at Concordia. At 20 years old, she has a broad sense of where she’d like to make a contribution — perhaps in international relations, business law or sustainability in business — but she hasn’t yet narrowed her focus.

She’s already taken one definitive step, though: coming to Montreal. “When I moved to Canada, I was excited about the next four years,” says the native of Egypt. “To be honest, I was also nervous.”

Concordia soon proved to be a supportive and empowering place to land. “The university and its donors are helping students out in every way they can: academically, financially, physically and mentally,” Khalifa states.

One of the donor-supported programs she benefited from was the career-planning service at the Student Success Centre. “I was hunting for a part-time job and the advisor understood that I was a beginner,” she says. “She gave me good, personalized advice. She even sat there and helped me filter through potential options.”

Eventually, Khalifa found employment assisting with Concordia alumni events, such as book launches and receptions, a role that leverages her ease with conversation and her enjoyment of working with others.

“Not only have I met some very interesting and inspirational people through my job, I’ve also seen a lot of the city,” she says. “It’s one of the things that has made a substantial difference when it comes to dealing with homesickness.”

When she’s not working or in class, Khalifa can often be found at the R. Howard Webster Library. She’s tried out each type of study space, ranging from comfy couches to quiet zones to meeting rooms. “Whether I need a place to join with a group or get really dialed in without talking to anyone, there are consistently good options available,” she says. “Except during finals week, of course, when you need to get up early to get a spot on the main floors!”

Resources offered through the library also helped Khalifa learn to craft strong academic essays, and at the start of her second year she received a merit scholarship.

“I was so excited: I believe higher education is worth the money, but it’s still expensive,” she says. “Besides alleviating some of that burden, the award also made me feel like my efforts have been worth it; they’ve been recognized.”

Looking ahead, Khalifa intends to round out her undergraduate experience by participating in student life. “When I looked into it, I was surprised by how many activities and initiatives there are on campus,” she says. “But of all the challenges students can face, having too many interesting things to do is a good one!”