audio documentary

What you are about to listen to is my origin story, of how I became who I am today. It is my journey of making friends, being inspired, taking on new challenges and making myself a home in Ottawa. I’m going for an audio diary style, with every event told in the present, so you can walk through my journey moment to moment with me.

finding my place

00:00 / 09:52

When I first moved to Ottawa to start at Carleton back in 2018, I was filled with excitement and hope that I would quickly make this city my home. As an international student and a naturally shy and awkward person, when I started Carleton, I had a difficult time fitting in. I doubted myself, asking why other international students blended in so easily, and I did not. Looking back, I now realize that there is always a place for me somewhere - just that I have to find it.

AIESEC was that place for me. It's an international youth-led NGO with local offices based in different universities across the world, and I joined the Carleton office. There, I met the most inspiring and supportive people that now become my closest friends, and took on challenges that now shape my world. In AIESEC, I felt like I had a place at Carleton, in Ottawa, and in Canada.

Many of the sounds you will hear in this piece are from real videos of my most favourite memories at AIESEC, and producing this piece really sent me down a nostalgic alley. This story may not be the most exciting or dramatic one out there, but it is very core to me, and I hope you'll enjoy listening to my piece.

My first Marketing team

A regular weekly meeting at AIESEC

My first AIESEC conference (and this is not even everyone!)

My executive team, the most fabulous people in the world. Half of them have graduated and are now elsewhere in the world, but we are still in touch and it never stops fascinating me to hear what they have been up to.