When Kenta Shirakura first showed up at C building on
the Barrie Campus, only days after landing in Canada
from Japan in 2011, he wanted to call his mom to let
her know he made it safely. He really needed to hear her
voice but it was a challenge to make that happen.
It wasn't a simple process. He had a phone card, but
also needed to use cash. Before he could start the call,
he had to figure out which coins were quarters and he
didn't feel comfortable asking anyone for help because
at the time, he didn't feel confident enough to explain
what he needed.
"That was my very first-time experience
in Canada, as well as Georgian,"
notes Kenta, who was enrolled
in the English for Academic
Purposes program at the
time (he later completed
the Hospitality
Management – Hotel
and Resort program
in 2015). "When I first
arrived, I wouldn't
ask questions and I
couldn't express what
I was really wanting
to ask. So, I would get
different answers and I
would be like, okay, that's
not really what I'm looking
for, but I will just say, 'yes,
thank you,' because I was
afraid to probe further."
Although Kenta is fluent in English
now, he uses his early experiences to
help international students in his role as the
International Housing Co-ordinator with the Segal
International Centre at the Barrie Campus.
"I will ask them questions, almost like a probing question,
to say, 'is this really what you're asking for, or do you
have anything else that you need help with?'" he says,
noting that empathy is key.
Kenta and Siddhant Taneja, the International Student
Services Officer at Georgian College, answer questions
or find resources for international students who
experience a wide range of challenges, from getting
around campus, to finding housing or even experiencing
feelings of loneliness or sadness.
To help international students connect with each other
and have their questions answered before they leave
their home country and once they get to Georgian, the
centre hosts Instagram Live Chats three times a week.
They also started a WhatsApp group to keep people
connected. Students have their contact information and
use it often.
The pandemic has created a lot of unknowns when it
comes to studying internationally. Georgian has been
committed to providing all students, particularly
international students, with information
to help everyone navigate the
challenges they'll face coming
into Canada and getting safely
set-up with accommodation
once they get here.
"We're trying our best to
improve the students'
experience, so they
have less challenges
in their first few
weeks or months.
(Because of the
pandemic) I think a
lot of the questions
are happening before
arrival," he says. "I'm
very happy to be in
the position where I can
change that experience for
many international students.
You know, trying to improve
the processes and information
available and then provide them with
more support."
And once they get here, Kenta's role is to help them
through their mandatory quarantine period, then find
housing.
It's all about creating a supportive experience and Kenta
credits the support he received at Georgian for his own
successes.
"I'm very thankful for the opportunity to work at Georgian
because it was really one of my dreams to work for
Georgian when I was studying here," says Kenta. "My
life in Canada has been really around Georgian and I'm
very thankful to them for helping me accomplish what I
have and to contribute."
37 GEORGIANVIEW 2021 SPRING
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS
LEADING WITH EMPATHY
Kenta Shirakura, class of 2012 and 2015
