Oahu, Hawaii: Weaving Stories – Reclamation and Restoration of Indigenous Identity | Winter 2025

My time abroad in with the Be World Ready program was a dream come true and a truly life-changing experience. I have always been fascinated with learning about different cultures and Be World Ready allowed me to not only learn about a different culture, but also explore it for myself. The benefits of doing so have been numerous and have permeated into every aspect of my life. This experience touched me on many levels, it broadened my perspective and benefited me both personally and professionally.

If I had to sum up this experience in a few words, they would be: absolutely life changing. I am not exaggerating at all when I say this trip exceeded any expectations I had before going. From the people to the beautiful views to the food and atmosphere everything was so perfectly curated and planned out. Our team leads made sure every single student on this trip was well taken care of and included in daily activities and that overall, we were happy. Portugal is probably my favorite country I have every visited and I honestly am planning to move out there and thanks to the BWR program I even made some connections out there and got to learn about programs and schools that will help international students / just assist people who want to move there! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and for anyone who is contemplating this opportunity take the jump and sign up for that IFS trip!

One thing I was told before going on this experience was how it would change me, and they were right. Returning to Canada, I know how greatly this experience has impacted me and that I am forever changed. It enriched my understanding of Indigenous people and changed my world perspectives.  But from the moment we arrived in Hawaii, I felt instantly a sense of belonging and connection to the land; it truly is a magical place. Not only for its beautiful landscapes but the people and the experiences we had throughout our itinerary. I was inspired not only by each speaker’s knowledge and strength but by the experiences that further invited me into their culture and allowed me to witness things from a different lens; this experience has forever changed me. I have not only grown in discovering my own identity but also acquired new skills along the way. I gained cultural sensitivity and, in the process, have improved my active listening skills. I now understand the importance of collaboration and standing alongside those reclaiming their language, land and identity. It opened my heart and mind to new possibilities and ignited a passion for change that will follow me for years. As a future teacher, however, Maxine, her team, and this experience left a lasting mark. They inspired the educator I hope to become. One who will empower my students to explore, take chances, and discover themselves by embracing their unique strengths and confidently pursuing their dreams. Just as I experienced in Hawaii, I hope to create a learning environment that encourages growth, self-discovery, and respect for diverse cultures and perspectives for my students in the future. Lastly, I will cherish the lasting friendships that are now a part of my family with whom I shared this experience. These connections and knowledge shared by my peers, our leads and the Indigenous people of Hawaii are forever etched in my heart and will continue to inspire me. Again, this IFS was more than an educational experience; it was a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this opportunity; it was truly memorable and life-changing.

The entire trip was amazing and its very difficult to pinpoint something that was number one in that sense. However, I’ve realized that without the social part of this experience it would be completely different and not as memorable. I enjoyed experiencing this with my peers and leads, and it was great to meet new people in Japan as well, both itinerary-related and outside of itinerary on my own time. The professional connections made will give me an advantage in future careers, and the casual connections significantly improved my time on this trip. Networking is mainly what comes to mind. Since a lot of our activities were business-related, I had learned how to confidently build connections at these companies, which I can use that skill to build and maintain future connections with others, in the business environment and casual. I have wanted to go to Japan for many years (since elementary), and before Fall of 2024, I only saw it as a fictional thought in my head. This trip has given me the drive that I know I needed and need to be excellent in my program. Last semester was by far the most difficult semester I’ve experienced, and my only motivation to put in as much effort as I did was to remain eligible for this trip. Now that the trip is over, my new drive for putting in more effort now is so that I can be successful and excellent enough after graduation to eventually live in Japan. If it were not for this opportunity giving me that drive, I am nearly certain I would not have been able to accomplish what I had last semester, and would have acquired much lower marks.

It would be a disservice to the program to not share how life changing this experience was, and continues to be for me. What I enjoyed most was experiencing new things with my peers and now good friends. Whether it was educational like our visit to Canal Sur, sight seeing at Plaza de España or just enjoying the culture together by sharing tapas and drinks, every moment with them was my favourite moment. I know that all of us will never have the chance to do something like this again, and while it’s sad to think about it solidifies how special the trip was to each and every one of us. I gained professional and networking skills, as well as a lot of new knowledge about the industry we’re preparing ourselves to enter into. The World Cup is coming to Canada in 2026 and being able to say we not only studied abroad but worked on a project about football abroad is extremely unique and valuable to our resumes.  I have loved NC since the moment I stepped foot on campus on Orientation Day 3 years ago, but this is the biggest example of just how fantastic of a college Niagara is. I had friends from high schools who went to big name universities texting me blown away by how this was a school sanctioned opportunity and that they had never seen anything like it. Niagara College, it’s staff and the way they genuinely care for its students are truly exceptional, and this was just the perfect bow to wrap up my college experience.