Some of the best advice I have received as an international student studying at a career college in Canada are from my teachers. Their professional knowledge and rich life experience make them great resources to learn from. Here are the ones that had an impact on my study abroad experience:

 1.  Stay Organized

Time management is essential. Keep a detailed calendar of all your commitments, including classwork, social events and extracurricular activities. This way, you can block out time each day to study. Understandably, when studying in a foreign country international students tend to want to explore the new city and go out most of the time. But it’s important to remember that there is time for everything. Don’t leave anything to the last minute, do it as soon as possible and you will have more free time later. Use sticky notes to tag important textbook pages, keep your returned assignments, and make flashcards for key terms. You’ll thank yourself come exam time.

2. Build and maintain a network

You won’t ever regret building a wide network. If you want to become globally successful in business, building a network is crucial. Don’t be shy. Talk to people. Get to know them. You may come across someone who can lead you to your next opportunity. Whether you want to build a professional relationship with them or an actual friendship, there are many benefits of  building and maintaining a network of the people you have met along the way.

3. Keep Going and stay positive

When someone says, “I’m going through hell,” the best response is to tell them, “Don’t stop!” One of my favorite teachers of all times used to tell my classmates and I this quote every single week. Staying positive is essential for success, especially for international students who may face problems such as homesickness, language barrier, and culture shock. Just because you are having a bad day or a bad week, doesn’t mean your life is terrible. If you come across a problem, don’t give up! Sooner or later you will find a way to fix it. Believe in yourself and stay proactive.

4. Take some time for yourself

A break from your daily routine to spend time with friends is a great way to re-energize. Don’t try to push yourself way too much otherwise it will just backfire. Don’t over-stress yourself trying to study the night before or studying the whole time. Have a fresh start every now and then, do something different and relax. Given how easy it is to become overwhelmed studying at a career college, where courses are fast-paced and quite intensive, this is probably the most important piece of advice to keep in mind for international students.

5. Every master was once a disaster

This is a very popular quote my “Introduction to Management” teacher used to repeat to me. I tend to be very hard on myself to achieve goals and try to be perfect in everything; however, no one is perfect. Learn from your mistakes. Dream, set goals and work hard in order to achieve them. Don’t be a quitter. Never stop learning.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Follow me on instagram @michelleegt for my latest adventure.