As an international student, can I be successful in Ottawa?
Why Ottawa Feel like home now: My Student Success story
Adriana Rosacolocho, an international student from El Salvador studying Digital Marketing Communication (Honours) at Algonquin College, shares how she found a sense of belonging in Ottawa, gained hands-on marketing experience, and grew personally and professionally while building her future in Canada.
This is My Journey from El Salvador to Canada, becoming an international student at Algonquin College and successfully finding my place in a new country while discovering opportunities that I never imagined.
New Country, A New Beginning
Almost 5 years ago, I made the decision to leave El Salvador and start a new chapter in Canada. At the time, I did not fully understand what that meant, and how much this move would change my life. I was leaving everything I knew behind, a country filled with familiar faces, traditions, and memories, just to begin a completely different life in a new place.
Moving to Canada was exciting and intimidating at the same time. Everything felt different, the weather, the language, the culture, and even everyday routines. The simple things felt new.
Coming from El Salvador, where the weather is warm throughout the year, experiencing my first Canadian winters, took some time to get adjusted, but it is something that I will never forget!
However, as the years passed, I slowly began to adjust. What once felt unfamiliar, now it became part of my everyday life, and Canada slowly became a place where I could see myself building a future, even if that took a lot of time for me to start feeling this way.
Finding my place in Ottawa
One of the things I appreciate most about Ottawa is that it offers a balance between city life and a welcoming community.
As Ottawa being the Canada’s capital, it has so much to offer, from beautiful parks and museums to festivals, restaurants, and activities throughout the year. There is always something new to discover. But what made Ottawa special to me wasn’t just the places you can visit. It’s an opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds, experience new cultures, and create meaningful connections.
Living here taught me that feeling at home does not necessarily mean being in the country where you were born. Sometime, home becomes the place where you grow, build friendships, and start imagining your future. Although El Salvador will always be part of my story and who I am, Ottawa has become another place that I can call home.
A Step Toward My Future
When it came time to think about my future and education, I wanted to choose a college that would help me develop practical skills and prepare me for the professional world.
That’s one of the reasons I chose Algonquin College.
I am currently studying Digital Marketing Communication (Honours), a program that has allowed me to explore my interests in social media, digital strategy, content creation, and marketing analytics. Before starting college, I knew I was interested in marketing, but I did not fully understand how many different opportunities existed within the industry. Through my courses, I’ve learned that marketing is more than just creating advertisements or posting on social media. It’s about understanding people, communicating effectively with the target audience, developing strategies, and measuring results.
One of my proudest academic achievements has been making the Dean’s List. For me, that accomplishment represents the hard work, dedication, and effort I’ve put into my education, but it also reminds me that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Classroom Knowledge into Real experience
One of the most exiting parts of my college experience has been applying what I’ve learned outside the classroom. Through Algonquin College, I had the opportunity to work as a Social Media Ambassador for the Spanish-speaking community, creating content to help future international students learn about studying and living in Ottawa. This role is important to me because I’ve experienced the challenges of adapting to a new country, and I want to help others feel more confident about their journey.
I’ve also gained experience working at Planet Fitness, where I’ve strengthened my communication, teamwork, and customer service skills. Both opportunities have helped me grow personally and professionally while preparing for my future career.
The challenges that helped me grow
As every person that moves to another country would say, it hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it.
Balancing college assignments, work responsibilities, and personal life can sometimes feel overwhelming. There have been moments when I’ve questioned whether I was doing enough or if I was on the right path. However, one of many things I’ve learned along the way is that success does not happen overnight, sometimes success means completing a difficult assignment, stepping outside of your comfort zone, meeting new people, or simply continuing to work toward your goals, even when things become challenging.
Being a student has taught me the importance of time management, independence, and believing in my abilities.
I have also learned that asking for help is also part of the process. Whether it is speaking with a professor, connecting with classmates, or exploring the resources that the college provides, having a support system can make a big difference.
Every experience, whether it was negative or positive, has helped me become more confident in myself and my future.
Why Ottawa feels like home now
Looking back when I first arrived in Canada, I realized how much my life has changed. The country that once felt unfamiliar has now become a place that is filled with memories, friendships, opportunities, and personal achievements.
Ottawa is where I discovered my passion for digital marketing, gained professional experience, and started working toward the career I want to build.
My goal is to become a Digital Marketing Specialist and eventually grow into a Digital Marketing Consultant, helping businesses develop meaningful strategies to connect with their audiences. I know I still have a lot to learn and experience, but I am excited about the opportunities ahead.
For me Ottawa is not just a place on the map anymore; it’s where I’ve grown into the person, I am today and where I am building the future I want.
My Advice to Future international Students
The biggest piece of advice that I would give to my old self and someone that wants to move to another country is to give yourself time to adjust and to not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.
Moving to a new country or starting college can feel intimidating, especially when everything is unfamiliar to you, but don’t let that stop you from exploring new opportunities.
Get involved in the college community, attend events, connect with other students, use the resources that are available to you, and take advantage of opportunities that help you gain experience. Both the Algonquin College Student Association and the International Education Centre have lots of ways you can become involved with the Algonquin College community. The International Student Support Services Handbook also has a lot of information about the services available to international students.
Most importantly, remember that everyone’s journey is different. You don’t need to have everything figured out from the beginning.
Almost 5 years ago, I arrived in Canada without knowing exactly how my future would look like, and today, I am building that future with one opportunity at a time, and while El Salvador will always be part of who I am, and where my story began, Ottawa has become the place where I am building the future that I always wanted.