Three years ago, Lei Gong left behind a secure career in China for the uncertainty of being an international student in Canada. Although the decision to make the move was difficult, the reason was simple: to provide a balanced lifestyle for his daughter.

“In China, in elementary school, in junior high school, there’s so much competition,” says Lei, explaining the pressure his 10-year-old daughter felt. The 12-hour days at school were followed by hours of homework every night. “She cried a lot of times. We wanted to give her a better life.”

So Lei and his daughter came to Nova Scotia. His wife followed a year later. They chose Halifax for its reputation as a kind and welcoming city, one with a climate similar to their hometown and a cost of living that felt manageable. “It was the first place we arrived,” says Lei. “And we are still here.” 

Lei, who had spent nearly a decade as a network administrator at a medical college in China, enrolled at Nova Scotia Community College, completing a one-year Medical Office Administration program before earning a two-year diploma in Information Technology. “I wanted to improve my skills, and I wanted to contribute,” he says.

The transition from China to Nova Scotia wasn’t easy. Lei’s English was limited. He didn’t know where to go for help or how to navigate daily life. But then he discovered EduNova’s Foundations program. “At that moment I realized there’s a program, and there’s people to help international students like me,” he says. 

Foundations offered connection, stability, and access to social, cultural, and professional resources. “I was so worried when I arrived here,” says Lei. “After I found this program, it was a relief to me. Almost everything I need to know I can find within this program. That gave me peace in my mind.”

Through the program, Lei learned how to adapt to the Canadian job market, from how to write a resume to how to introduce himself at a job fair. “Back home, you just hand out your resume. There are too many people for conversation,” he says. “Here, I learned you need to have a conversation first and to introduce yourself briefly. You need to know more about the company, you need to let others know you more. It's not just looking for something, it's to build a relationship with others. That’s what Foundations taught me.”

Eventually, Lei applied for EduNova’s Capstone program, where he was matched with a mentor in his field who helped Lei build his confidence and his network. “She's a kind person and even after the program ended, we still keep in touch.”

Giving back is very important to Lei and through EduNova, he gained the confidence to become a volunteer. He helped at EduNova’s BEST Conference, helping welcome new international students and guiding them through events. He also joined NSCC’s International Student Ambassadors, and he has applied to become a volunteer for the Immigrant Service Association of Nova Scotia. “I try to give back because I got so much help from others.”

Now that Lei has graduated and his daughter and wife are happy in their new home, he is actively job hunting, hoping to work in IT for a school, non-profit, or government organization. “My first choice is to work for an organization that helps people,” says Lei. “I like the feeling of helping people. When I see they are happy that I have helped them to deal with their issues, it feels so good.”

When asked what he would say to an employer who’s never hired an international grad, Lei pauses. “Local students know the language, the culture. That’s fair. But international students have their own advantages too,” says Lei. “We bring diverse perspectives. We have knowledge of international businesses. And we want to contribute.”

To other international students, he offers this advice: “Find an organization like EduNova because it's really helpful,” says Lei. “Build your network here, to feel more support and to feel that you belong here. Not just as a foreigner, but someone wanting to stay here, wanting to contribute to the community.”