Avin is an alum of the Pathways Program in Saint John, Class of 2022. She is currently studying Biomedical Health Sciences at the University of New Brunswick. She has also recently taken on the role of a Pathways Alumni Ambassador, where she will work with Pathways alumni across the country to support current Pathways students. 

Newcomer youth often encounter significant barriers in adjusting to learning, living, and developing new identities in an entirely new country. Avin was one of these young people. Born in Kurdistan and later moving to Syria, her family was displaced by war and spent several years in Turkey before settling in Saint John, New Brunswick.

While Avin felt welcomed in Canada, adjusting to her new environment was challenging. She struggled to connect with her peers because she couldn’t speak English. “I would come home crying because I’d see people speaking English while I couldn’t. My dad would tell me, ‘It’s okay! We moved around to so many countries, and you have learned multiple languages. You can also learn this one.” 

When Avin started Grade 9, a friend told her about the Pathways Program. “I thought, ‘Why not?’ I’m a social person, and I would love to get involved in any opportunity out there.” She also thought joining Pathways would be a great way to learn English.  

Pathways staff took the time to sit with Avin and walk her through any books she was reading or assignments she was working on. “We’d take turns reading pages, and if there was a word I didn’t understand, they would explain the meaning in an easier way.” She’d also watch English-speaking videos on YouTube and cartoons with subtitles at home. Avin gradually got to a place where she could comfortably and confidently speak and understand English.   

Avin always aspired to become a doctor. Growing up, her mother had cancer, which she later recovered from. Shortly after, her father passed away after his own long battle with cancer. “It was a difficult time for my family and affected us a lot. This made me want to be a doctor to help people and their loved ones who go through the same thing.” Coming to Canada, Avin didn’t think it was possible for her to pursue a medical career due to her initial language barrier—but joining Pathways gave her the confidence to see her dream as a reality.  

Avin graduated from high school with high honours and is now in her third year at the University of New Brunswick, with plans to attend medical school. “Joining Pathways was the best decision I ever made. Graduating from high school and seeing my name on the list of high honours was amazing, and I couldn’t have done this without the help from the wonderful staff,” she emphasized.  

And for Avin and her family, the impact of the Pathways Program didn’t stop there. After Avin’s positive experience in the program, her sister Serin was inspired to enroll. “I’m really enjoying being part of Pathways! They help keep me on track with my schoolwork, and they’ve impacted me by showing me what I’m capable of doing,” said Serin.  

Avin looks forward to her new role as an Alumni Ambassador, where she will work alongside her fellow alumni to inspire even more students across Canada to join the program and carve out their own path to success.