People of Georgian: International co-ordinator finds ‘true personality’ at college
Jan. 29, 2021
What’s your story?
The ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵcommunity is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series.
People of Georgian: Meet Kenta Shirakura
I first came here as an ESL student, studying English back in 2011.
I really liked ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ and my experience in Canada, so I decided to come back.
The social culture – how people react and behave in social environments – matched my personality more than Japanese society, so I really found my true personality when I came here.
I especially loved experiencing cultural diversity in Canada and being able to meet different people.
I’m very openminded and outgoing, which wasn’t really me back in Japan; it was kind of hidden. My personality changed when I came here.
My mom said she thinks I always talked a lot. That was an interesting one to hear.
In Japan, there’s no real cultural oppression, but in the classroom and social environments, I felt that. I always had questions about how things are done but I never asked those questions; you have to sort of accept what’s out there as what it is.
So, it was a very interesting feeling for me to come to Canada and experience openness.
In Canada, everyone has a different opinion. In the classroom, certainly, I felt that people would express their own opinions, and I learned there’s no one way of answering certain questions.
I really like that about living in Canada. People accept you as you are.
Through my experience working as an international student ambassador at Georgian, I really liked helping others.
It made me want to come work at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ, and I’m now in the college’s helping international students.
I want to enhance other international students’ experience by doing whatever I can to help.
Kenta Shirakura, alumnus of Georgian’s Hospitality Management – Hotel and Resort program (Class of 2015), which is now our Hospitality – Hotel and Resort Operations Management program. Kenta is also the International Coordinator with Georgian’s .
Check out Georgian’s Hospitality programs.
Want to share your story? Please contact socialmedia@georgiancollege.ca.
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