From homesick to hopeful: Five things I’m grateful for after 3.5 years at VIU

Becky Duarte reflects on a transformative university journey

On January 4, 2023, I arrived at VIU alone, nervous and very uncertain. I wrote my first blog about the five things that surprised me about VIU while adjusting to my new life here in Nanaimo. Now, 3.5 years and a blink of an eye later, I find myself looking back on my time here with a heart full of gratitude as I share five things I am grateful for and the advice I would give as a graduating student.

Place

Very few people can say they live in a place where you can go skiing on a mountain and swim in the ocean on the same day. There were countless times when I was studying in the library and got distracted by the beauty of the snow-capped mountains in the distance. I took breaks from studying to walk through beautiful gardens, forests and flower-lined pathways.

The number one piece of advice I would give to anyone studying here is to take every chance you can get to explore the Island. Whether it’s through trips organized by the university or carpooling with friends for a weekend getaway, make the most of where you are. Living here can push you to try new things and teach you stuff you never thought you could do. Because of the many rivers, lakes, and ocean spots around me, I became a much better swimmer. I tried ice skating for the first time, started to enjoy hiking and biking, and generally found myself becoming more adventurous simply because Vancouver Island invites you to be.

Profs

I cannot write about my time at VIU without mentioning what it was like to study here. Some people are completely sure of what they want to study and where they want it to take them. Others throw a dart in the dark and hope for the best. As one of the latter, I had many existential crises thanks to assignments I couldn’t understand, projects I felt like I couldn’t complete or subjects I simply did not enjoy.

In moments like these, I’m grateful that I always felt welcome at office hours or during quick after-class conversations with understanding professors who guided me through it all. They all took a deep interest in my learning journey and made me feel more sure of myself when I was doubtful. My advice: talk to your professors. They are there to help and genuinely want the best for you. 

People

As a lonely, introverted, homesick first-year student, I was determined to avoid people. I didn’t go to orientation, I didn’t talk to my classmates, I didn’t attend events and I avoided eye contact like the plague. The only good thing to come of that was making the Dean’s List that semester, because I did nothing but stay in my dorm room and study.

While good grades are important, I will not be framing a transcript of straight A’s on my wall. I’ll be framing pictures of people. The classmates I eventually talked to and became close friends with. The connections I made at random events I forced myself to attend. The friends I met through clubs who I believe will last a lifetime.

I never made the Dean’s List again, but I made friends who feel like family, and for that I am most proud. My advice is to be social. As hard as that can be at times, it is a necessary discomfort. 

Potential

One thing I am especially grateful for is that people around me saw 
potential in me, even when I could not see it in myself.

Throughout my entire time as a student, I worked two jobs on campus. As a high school graduate with no prior experience, I felt underqualified and like I did not deserve the opportunities I was being given. Yet people 
trusted me, gave me chances and allowed me to learn and grow into roles I never imagined myself doing.

Through my work-op placement in Communications, I learned so much about my degree in a hands-on way that no classroom alone could have taught me. It gave me experience, confidence and clarity about the kind of work I enjoy doing. Through my other job with Thrive, I learned something equally important: how to talk to people, how to be confident in unsure 
situations and how to navigate challenges. Those soft skills are just as necessary to learn as any other.

What I appreciated most about working on campus was that the people I worked with genuinely cared about me as a student first. They understood when school became overwhelming, encouraged me to prioritize my education, and created environments where I felt supported while still learning how to be responsible and professional.

My advice is to apply for opportunities even if you do not feel fully qualified. Sometimes other people can see your potential before you can.

Perspective

Moving away from home, meeting people from places and backgrounds, people with different experiences, trying new things and experiencing life abroad has changed the way I see both the world and myself. I’ve learned to be open-minded – viewpoints I was once sure of were changed by 
listening to other perspectives. University taught me far more than what was written in course outlines. 

Allow yourself to be changed by your experiences here. Say yes to more things, talk to more people and be open to the unexpected. You might leave university a completely different person than the one who first arrived and that can be a very beautiful thing.