Settlement

I was born to working-class parents in a small town in central China. I was the only child in the family because of the one child policy that was implemented in 1980 and ended in 2016. My parents were afraid of losing their jobs if they had a second child. I grew up with my cousins and focused on studies. At the last year of my high school, I earned a place at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, where I majored in Computer Science, learning the knowledge about the computer.

My life in the university was struggling. Only ten percent of the students in the department of computer science were female. Mathematics was not easy to learn. Every time I came across some difficulties, a voice from my inner self reminded me I should not be there.

In 2009, I managed to graduate with a degree and found a job in an IT department in a bank. I worked there for a few years as a client support and database administrator. After a few years of work, I realized I was not a good fit for the bureaucratic corporate culture, and started thinking of leaving. In 2016, a young man was killed by the police violence in the street of the capital city of China, but no one was held accountable for his death. I was angry, depressed, and had a strong feeling I should leave.

In 2017, I came to Canada as an international student. I arrived with a sense of curiosity about my new environment. I got some education at Algonquin College and found a job after graduation. After I settled down, I started missing my parents and friends in my country.

This year is my 6th year in Canada. I have gotten used to the cold winter here, and know more about the Canadian culture and society. I love the peaceful feeling I have here, which I could not have in my own native country. I hope one day Canada will become a place where I feel at home.