Education can offer life-changing opportunities, but every year, too many bright, driven students from disadvantaged backgrounds make the decision not to pursue post-secondary education because they can't afford it. We're here to help.
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Hi everyone! My name is Justin Soriano, and I am fortunate to be a luminary from the Cohort 2022 of the SHINE Program. I am a fourth-year health sciences student at SFU.
I am also currently in the process of applying to school again, as I am hoping to pursue the the nursing program at either BCIT or Langara – I hope all goes well (cross your fingers for me)!
A little bit about my background: before coming to Canada, I was born in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and lived there up until I was around 7 years old. Since I was young, I have always enjoyed playing with a camera, hitting record, and documenting little bits of my life here and there. Starting on YouTube and now branching into content for Instagram Reels, I have always found it enjoyable to make videos that not only entertain others but also serve as a way to look back at certain moments in my life.
If you are interested, you can check out my YouTube and Instagram 🙂
Beyond my hobbies and studies, however, my journey hasn’t always been straightforward. Today, I’m here to share my story and remind anyone who may be in a similar situation that it’s okay to feel behind.
Up until migrating to Canada, I was fortunate to have a supportive and stable upbringing. I was able to attend both elementary and high school, opportunities I know would not have been possible without my parents’ guidance and support.
In high school, I wanted to give back and get more involved in both my school and the broader community as a way to honour their efforts. I joined the student council and eventually served as Vice President of Internal Communications, an experience that taught me leadership and teamwork.
After high school, I viewed post-secondary education as a chance to network and explore potential career paths, particularly in the field of health sciences.
By the time I graduated high school and started at Simon Fraser University, things had started to take a turn for the worse.
Though my mom’s health had not been the best, it was during my first year of university that her complications had started to catch up to her. I had to be more hands-on and involved in taking care of my mother.
It’s difficult to admit, but 2023 was probably the worst year of my life: it was the period when my mother underwent several complications. In February, my mom had to undergo a very complicated heart surgery, where she needed several valve replacements.
It was a long rehabilitation at the hospital, and in June of that year, she was finally discharged. During that downtime from coming back to the hospital, we were back to the usual routine of taking care of her and bringing her to any given appointments.
By the time October 2023 rolled around, it was another tough time as my mother needed a below-the-knee amputation on her right leg due to a terrible infection. My mother was transferred to a rehabilitation centre in South Vancouver, where the healthcare team helped her adjust to her new life. Similar to the rehabilitation following her heart surgery, it was another long stay at the hospital. She stayed there for four months and was finally discharged at the end of January 2024, proving her strength and perseverance.
As I have described, the majority of my 2023 was spent staying in hospitals. This in itself was exhausting – not to mention the daily commute, especially after my classes.
Of course, my mother’s health my priority, but admittedly, time spent in the hospital and in recovery left me fatigued. Despite my best efforts, I inevitably burnt out and felt unmotivated which took a huge toll on my grades that semester.
However, 2024 started to look a little more promising: my mom was discharged from the rehabilitation centre and back home again. It was not until November 2024 that the burden of responsibility was placed in my hands when my brother took on a job opportunity abroad. I had to learn to balance my time academically and at home when it came to taking care of my mom.
With my brother abroad and my father working two jobs to help provide for the family, my availability was mostly consumed by the role of the caretaker. This became especially difficult when it came to course selection for school and managing my dad’s availability and my mom’s mandatory weekly doctor’s appointments. After attending my classes for the day, I would usually have to leave immediately to get my mom from the hospital each week.
This was when thoughts of “feeling behind” had become persistent.
Whether that was academically or socially, being an informal caregiver clouded my perspective on life for a while; to the point that I forgot what I was passionate about.
It was as if I was living life on autopilot mode and only taking classes for the sake of completing the prerequisites for my degree. It is also because of time constraints that, up until now, it has been difficult for me to be involved in extracurriculars at SFU. Whether that was clubs or engaging with professors about the career possibilities with a health science degree, I struggled to engage because it was hard to see where my future would be even a year from now.
I used my circumstances as an excuse to not partake in the opportunities my peers had happily taken. Watching my peers accomplish big roles on campus and pursue their interests, there was a little voice in my head guilt-tripping me, saying “you’re straying behind everyone else because of your uncertainty in life”.
After much self-reflection and acceptance of my current life situation, I have come to realize that “success” comes in different forms for many people.
It is a given in post-secondary education that success feels a lot more competitive. After all, it is a place to explore your degree and get involved. Though I am now in my fourth year, I still have not felt on par with my friends. Being an informal caregiver for two years has left me burnt out and exhausted, leaving no time to think and plan for the future or to take care of myself.
That, however, should not be an excuse for stopping me from trying to find my path in life. As I think about where I am in my life at this time, “success”, to me, starts with reflecting on the hardships I have had to overcome and redefining my aspirations in life to keep moving forward. I have learned that I should continue trying to put myself out there, even if it might result in it not working out in the way I imagine it to. This is a mindset I am not used to, but I am hopeful that with time, I will learn.
For a while, I was troubled by a frequent tendency to compare myself to my friends or peers. Given my circumstances, I have now learned that it truly is not fair to put myself down in the way that I have. I am still learning that my outlook on life should not be weighed by the responsibilities I have to bear, but rather be thankful that I still have a full life ahead of me.
Rather than dwelling in my mind about “feeling behind”, I should, when given the chance, continue to stay curious and take up important opportunities.
This mindset shift has allowed me to set a goal to continue my education in order to become a nurse. This is a career option I have considered since high school, and I am grateful that this was the push I needed to bring this to life. In reflection, I am proud of myself for not letting the burnout take control of me and my future.
Remember, though people are dealt different cards in life, they should not define who you are as a person. It is okay to move through life at your own pace and in whatever way you want.
Thank you, Justin. We are so proud of you. Let’s chat soon.
