When I began my journey at McGill University, I remember feeling nervous and worried but I also felt excited. A new chapter in my life was about to begin in a new country. I was born in Kenya, brought up in Australia and lived in Dubai for the majority of my life, so Canada was an eye-opener. People had told me to be ready for a new culture, a new lifestyle but, most of all, be ready for the best chapter of your life. Little did I know that McGill would truly be one of the best chapters of my life.
When I first reached Montreal, I was hesitant to explore different places because it meant getting out of my comfort zone. But, with time, I began to enjoy exploring the city. Whether I was listening to music and walking towards Mount Royal or down to St. Caths, I truly began to embrace my surroundings. I managed to find the shortcuts on campus, the best places to eat (hands down it has to be Boustan), and also got to explore the best of what Montreal had to offer.
There were days when I felt homesick and just wanted to be back in Dubai with my family, but it was the family I made in Canada that kept me going.”
Not only did McGill make me more street smart but, it allowed me to build meaningful relationships which would last a lifetime. My friends became my ‘family away from home’ with whom I explored new places, tried new things and ultimately, lived my best university life. There were days when I felt homesick and just wanted to be back in Dubai with my family, but it was the family I made in Canada that kept me going. I joined a student association (McGill Ismaili Students Association – MISA) on campus and can whole-heartedly say that it changed my life for the better. Without MISA, I am not sure how my university journey would have turned out. I got the chance to start out as a member of the association, transitioned to being the VP Finance in my second year and in my third year, then President. Part of the reason why I stand as a confident leader today is thanks to the guidance and support I got from MISA throughout my time at McGill.
Of course, just as any university would, McGill challenged me academically. I walked into university knowing 100% in my mind that I wanted to take International Development Studies as my major. Courses such as Anthropology & Development, Political Science, Economics, and Climate Change in Development opened my eyes to new theories and models of thinking that I did not know existed. Once I finally found my footing at McGill, not only did I decide to do one minor, but I pursued a double minor in Social Entrepreneurship (where I was able to take classes that ranged from the fundamentals of business to innovation and entrepreneurship) and South Asian Studies (where I developed my speaking skills whilst learning how to read/write Hindi from scratch).
Although a part of my second year and the entirety of my third year of my university journey was online, it was still an unforgettable experience. COVID-19 truly took a toll on everyone’s lives, especially us students whose university lives were put to a stop overnight. Going from having no recorded classes to having many recorded classes made me grateful for the experiences that McGill had given me for the past two years. However, I have to say, having classes from 7pm till 5am Dubai time worked out in my favor given my preference for working at night. Nevertheless, McGill ensured that the online experience was as smooth as possible with flexibility in submissions and asynchronous course options. Thanks to this model of learning, I had the chance to develop multiple skills, including time management – so much so that I was able to simultaneously study full-time, work part-time and take up a leadership position.
Fast forward to the 6th of December 2021: the day of my final assignment submission for my undergraduate degree. I submitted my final paper for ISLA 305 that night and all of a sudden a feeling of accomplishment and excitement overcame me. I could not believe that after lots of late nights, some tears and, most all, a tremendous amount of hard work, I had finally completed my journey at McGill University.
By the 8th of December 2021, I had flown out of Canada and was headed back home to Dubai to figure out the next chapter of my life. By March of 2022, I had gotten a three-month internship with Deloitte in the IT Audit department. Thanks to the experiences that McGill gave me, I was well-equipped with the right skills and abilities required to excel in the workforce.
At the McGill alumni networking event, I stood shoulder to shoulder with other fellow alumni feeling welcomed, confident and above all, proud to be part of a family that we call the McGill Alumni.”
In early 2022, I met Principal Fortier in Dubai at EXPO 2020 and I was also able to have an insightful conversation with her about the current education system and the room it has for innovation and adaptability to the future. This conversation prompted a discussion of the current students/recent graduates and our ways of working in an education setting. It was obvious that I was the youngest alumna in the McGill Alumni Association of the UAE and Principal Fortier asked me whether I was coming to graduation. Thankfully, I could say yes.
Graduation was an event that changed my outlook on life. I became stronger, opened my mind to new possibilities and ultimately discovered who I was. It was not until they announced “Saasha Gulamani” on stage on the 30th of May 2022 that I felt truly proud of what I had accomplished. I felt like a graduate. I felt like someone who had achieved a milestone in their life. I felt happy because my family was proud. But most of all, I felt grateful for my family, friends and McGill University for giving me the most extraordinary experience of a lifetime.
After this, I went back to Deloitte, but this time in the Sustainability Department. It has been almost three months since I have been at Deloitte, and I could not be more grateful. The work ethic, sincerity, gratitude and lessons that McGill taught me have truly been put into action at Deloitte.
As emphasized by Principal Fortier at EXPO 2020 Dubai, McGill instills confidence in its students so that when they walk out of McGill as graduates, you see confidence in their eyes. At the McGill alumni networking event, I stood shoulder to shoulder with other fellow alumni feeling welcomed, confident and above all, proud to be part of a family that we call the McGill Alumni. At one of Principal Fortier’s panel discussions, she said something specific that I will always remember for the rest of my life. She said: “During orientation for first years at McGill, I tell everyone to look right, look left, look front, look back, the next time you see each other will be at convocation”. Powerful words to motivate and be proud of who we are at McGill.
In keeping with the MADE by McGill campaign, I can say that McGill MADE me. It groomed me into someone who always has her head held high, seeks excellence, and continuously reaches out of her comfort zone to achieve her goals. The MADE by McGill campaign resonates with me as it not only reflects diversity and pluralism but also encompasses McGill’s values and ethos. As a global citizen, my experiences and learnings at McGill have not only encouraged me to dream, but also to chart the path to achieve my dreams. These recent unprecedented times have taught me resilience, tolerance and above all, gratitude. To be thankful for everything we have in our lives is almost always forgotten. Spending my third year studying entirely remotely from Dubai and then returning to Montreal for my final semester was an experience I will never forget. Every time I saw the McGill flag flying high whilst walking to the Faculty of Arts building, it made me realize just how grateful I was to McGill for making me who I am.
The pride of being a graduate of McGill University extends beyond words. Every time someone asks me where I studied, I do not just say “Canada”; I proudly say “McGill, one of the top universities in Canada”. Thank you McGill for the best three and a half years of my life. I now stand as a proud McGillian!