Getting my Canadian permanent residency should have felt like a win. But I’ve lost a lot along the way

I was 18 when I moved to Canada as a Nepalese international student, carrying two suitcases and a simple dream: to study, build a career and eventually call this country home. However, I didn’t fully understand when I first arrived how uncertain and emotionally exhausting the journey to permanent residency could be.

While I studied psychology and international relations at the University of British Columbia, I interned at the Canadian Cancer Society and worked as a research assistant in a lab. I said yes to opportunities, built connections and slowly started to feel like I belonged here.

I didn’t know Canada had a crisis level shortage of psychology and international relations majors.