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Amrita Singh

Fitness and Health Promotion, 2013

“Humber was the first and best experience I had in Canada.”

Amrita Singh took a tremendous risk when she decided to study abroad at Humber College. Having to leave her family behind and move to a new country was very daunting, but with her dreams outweighing her fear, she took a leap of faith and moved to Toronto to pursue her education. 

Having minimal understanding of the post-secondary system in Canada, Amrita wasn’t sure of what she wanted – until she took a tour at Humber. 

“I was so impressed with Humber. I knew right away that it was the college where I wanted to study.” 

Although confident about her decision, Amrita was still extremely nervous, not knowing what to expect once she started. To her dismay, the welcoming she received was nothing but wonderful. Recalling the experience, she says “Everyone I met was extremely approachable. They understood what I was going through and accommodated me in every way they could.”

To become more familiar with the college and all of its amenities, Amrita decided to join the Orientation Team. “One of my best experiences was with the Orientation Team. They did such great work for international students, and really helped us to feel comfortable.

Getting accustomed to college life was made easier with the company of her new friends, mentors and the Orientation Team, yet there were still many stressors that arose during her studies. 

“As an international student, you pay nearly triple the amount of tuition compared to a domestic student. That amount of money weighed on me greatly – thankfully I was awarded with two scholarships that helped me lessen my financial load.”

Amrita credits her instructors and the many student services that helped her along the way, including the Humber Students’ Federation Emergency Food Bank – an initiative that provided students in need with healthy food options.

“Everyone goes through a phase of nervousness which they have to overcome,” she says. “It’s so important to use the resources the college provides to you. You have teachers, tutors and counsellors to help you with assignments, and for anyone struggling financially, there are options for you such as the Emergency Food Bank and renting or buying second-hand textbooks.”

She remembers a time when she did very poorly on a midterm; the thought of failing the course was unbearable to her. With the motivation and support of her instructor, she pushed herself to study harder, inevitably passing the course with an impressive grade. “You can’t be afraid to ask for help,” she reiterates.

Now living in Edmonton – after a short stint back home to visit her well-missed family – Amrita is living her dream, working as a fitness professional for the City of Edmonton. “I love my job,” she says “I get to work with all age groups and meet new people every day.”

Currently working toward achieving her Personal Trainer certification, Amrita has finally found stability and a feeling of accomplishment. She took a long and challenging road to get where she is today, but thanks Humber for aiding her along the way. 

“Humber educated me to reach my goals and provided me with memories that I will cherish all of my life. The most important thing is to make your experience at Humber memorable; try to enjoy it and not stress about the little things, because there are always resources to help you through the difficult times. I was faced with a lot of challenges during my time at Humber, but in the end they made me a stronger person.”