One of my favorite Filipino words is “sulit”. It loosely translates to getting a good deal, but is more about ensuring that the value received for something outweighs the cost.
As an international student, the true cost of my Canadian education goes far beyond tuition (though we have to admit, that’s a lot). It has cost me a pause in my career, uprooting my family, and restarting my journey in country where I have little to no professional networks.
Considering these, I knew I had to make my time at KPU worth it.
As I graduate the University, here are a few reflections that I’ve had on this journey as well some takeaways:
School is a place of learning, not grandstanding
No one is expecting you to be the best from the get go. There’s a learning curve whenever we try something new.
School becomes the place to practice and hone our skills in a safe environment. This way, when we step into the workplace, where consequences weigh more, we’ve developed the skills necessary to complete the tasks required of us.
When we take shortcuts, like completing work with Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI), looking up answers online without attempting the work ourselves, or copying the work of others, we don’t get to practice our knowledge and skills at all. And it will show when it really matters.
Key Takeaway: Progress is the goal, not perfection. So, challenge yourself. The classroom is the perfect place to make mistakes and to learn from them. Trust that your instructors are here to guide you and that your own capabilities are enough.
Shortcuts can increase pressure, not reduce it
KPU’s instructors are experts in their fields. That means that they can spot whether or not a student is writing in their own voice.
Imagine if your instructor told the class explicitly that the use of Gen AI was prohibited. But for your final paper, you just had to use it because you were drowning in deadlines and drama from outside school. You were on survival mode and it seemed like the only lifeboat available to you at the time.
Now, you’re waiting for feedback and grades. But you don’t know whether you’ll pass or fail, whether or not your instructor detected that you used Gen AI, and whether this will impact the rest of your courses. The uncertainty can be overwhelming.
Key Takeaway: Juggling different priorities like competing deadlines and the pressures of life will always happen. Even in the workplace, you might have to learn to renegotiate a deadline or ask for help or more resources to complete a job. Learning how to do these tasks is part of how school prepares us for the real world.
Talk to your instructor early about your struggles. Visit the Learning Centre to ask for help from tutors or learning strategists. There’s multiple resources available at KPU for those who seek it.
Your university reputation follows you
Having a limited network in Canada also limited the people I could approach for references. One of the companies I had applied to for a job tried to get in touch with my former employer from another country but was unable to do so. Luckily, I had back-ups from the University.
But what if I didn’t? What if my instructors, fellow students, or career counsellors were unwilling to vouch for my character because of lapse in judgement during the time they knew me? What if instead of admitting I had a skill gap because I didn’t know how to properly cite, I was as a plagiarist? What if I didn’t ask for help when I needed it?
Key Takeaway: Relationships and reputations are so easily tarnished. And even though it might seem unfair, just as people remember us at our highest, the lowest points in our lives also make an impression. Nurture the relationships you build at the University as they could serve a greater purpose in the future.
During your time at KPU, you probably have your own reflections or lessons that you’ve learned outside of the classroom, too. In the end, only you can answer whether you made the most and got the most out of your time at KPU. Your instructors and the University can provide you with all the resources to assist and support you but whether it is “sulit” or worth it is completely up to you.