Coming to Canada as a new immigrant was excitingâbut affording university? That was terrifying. I had no family support, very limited funds, and every dollar had to count. But what I had was determination, faith, and a plan. Hereâs how I did itâand how you can too.
Key Strategies That Helped Me
đ°Scholarships Are RealâStart Looking Early
I found several scholarships offered by local community groups, churches, and even employers. Tip: Donât ignore small awardsâthey add up.
đ°Campus Jobs and Internships
I worked part-time on campus and later applied for paid internships during summer breaks. These not only paid but built my resume.
đ°Community & Church Support
Incredibly, a local church helped me buy textbooks one semester. Never underestimate the power of community.
đ°Budget Like Your Life Depends On It
Because it kind of does. I learned to cook, share rent, and prioritize needs over wants.
đ°My Faith Was My Fuel
There were months I didnât know where the next rent cheque would come fromâbut Philippians 4:19 was my anchor. Time and again, God showed up.
Final Thoughts
Being broke didnât stop meâit built me. If youâre a student trying to figure out funding, donât give up. Help is out there, and youâre stronger than you think
âAnd my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.â
đPhilippians 4:19
10 Ways International Students Can Get Financial Aid In Canada
Fatherâs Day can be beautifulâand for many of us, bittersweet.
My children didnât get to know their father for long before he went to be with the Lord. My own dad also passed during the difficult COVID year, and in those moments, the weight of absence was loud.
But Iâve learned something in the quiet: fatherhood is not always biological. Sometimes, itâs a voice on the phone, a teacher who stayed after class, a neighbor who checked in, a pastor who prayed, or even a man I had to ârentâ just to speak to my son during those turbulent years of transition. When his young shoulders needed more than my loveâwhen I knew a male voice would hit differentlyâI leaned on the village.
And prayer. Oh, how I prayed.
And God sent menânot perfect onesâbut willing ones.
So, to every man who ever encouraged a child that wasnât âyours,â
To those who stepped in, stepped up, and stood firm:
You are seen. You are needed. You are fathering in the most powerful sense.
This weekend, I honor not just my sonâs father and my own beloved dadâŚ
But every man who showed up anyway.
If a man stepped into your lifeâor your childâs lifeâand made a difference, tag them, text them, or tell them.
đ Drop their name in the comments or share your own âfather figureâ story. Letâs honour the quiet heroes together.
The Men Who Showed Up Anyway! Happy Fathers Day đ
”Fatherhood is not always about DNA. Sometimes it’s about Decision, Presence, and Heart.”
”A Father to the Fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:5
If this touched your heart, share it with someone who has ever stepped in to be a father figure.
Leave you comments or story below – Let’s celebrate these everyday heroes together
Losing a life partner changes everything. For me, it was the beginning of a long, uncertain, yet transformative roadâone filled with tears, courage, and unexpected strength. I started âThe Widowâs Might â A Graceful Journeyâ not just to share my story, but to stand as a light for others walking this unfamiliar path. This space was born out of pain, but it thrives on purpose. Hereâs why I chose to beginâŚ
A Life Interrupted
When I became a widow, life didnât just shift â it shattered. The roles I once filled changed overnight. Suddenly, I was not just grieving, but also mothering alone, navigating a new country, and piecing together a new identity from fragments of the old one. There was no manual, no clear roadmap. Just questions, prayer, and the next step forward.
But Grace Carried Me
In the silence of my pain, I discovered an inner strength â a gentle, unwavering might that whispered, âYouâre not done yet.â That strength, I came to understand, was Godâs grace. It became my compass, helping me rebuild, raise my children, start over professionally, and live again â not despite the loss, but through it.
My Purpose, My Platform
This blog and community are my way of reaching back to help others who are now where I once was. Whether youâve lost a spouse, your livelihood, your sense of self, or your bearings in a new country, youâre not alone.
đĽ Watch my short video on âMy Purpose Statementâ to hear it in my own words:
If my story resonates with you or youâre walking a similar path, know that youâre not alone. This space is for us â to reflect, rebuild, and rise again with grace. Thank you for being here.
The Widow's Might : A Graceful Journey 