When Life Gives You Lemons
Original guest post on Patreon.
For those who have migrated from their home country and embraced a new place as their home, I want to express my profound admiration for you. It is truly one of the most challenging endeavors a person can undertake. Drawing from my own experience as an immigrant, I fully comprehend the immense courage required. It involves packing essentials and completely uprooting your entire life, leaving much behind. In my case, it meant leaving my family behind, a decision I wrestled with. I am grateful every single day for the availability of flights that enable me to visit them. Recently, while at the airport with my partner, I found myself stating, "I always want to live in a place with a daily direct flight to India." The fear of being far away from my aging parents burdens me, but at the same time, I need to do some things for myself.
So, let me share a story with you all.
I moved out of my parent’s home when I was 19. Since then, I have called many different cities my home. While living in Coventry, United Kingdom, I realized that my home country fell short of meeting my expectations in terms of work, lifestyle, and even culture. I take pride in my Indian heritage, but I also value staying true to myself.
Thus, I decided to apply for permanent residency in Canada. Canadians, known for their kindness, extended me the opportunity without hesitation. This was approximately four years ago, and as of today, January 22nd, 2024, I will officially become a citizen.
I made the move to Vancouver on February 27, 2020. Yes, you know the date. You will never forget it because the world went into lockdown on March 13, 2020. The pandemic struck, confining us all within the walls of our homes. Some fared better than others. For me, it was a challenging situation. I found myself in a new country, living with a roommate I had found on Facebook Marketplace. Returning to India would have jeopardized my permanent residency. The irony of it all is both amusing and frustrating. How was I supposed to start my "new life" when meeting people in person was not even an option? Offices were closing down, and uncertainty loomed over me.
I vividly recall this conversation with my mom and pouring out my feelings of hopelessness. Her response was her favorite phrase, "Whatever happens, happens for a reason."
As many would attest, securing employment as a newcomer is often a challenging journey. It involves navigating paperwork, obtaining approvals, and visiting various government centers for different tasks. The pandemic brought about a shift to online processes. One advantage of living in a first-world country is adapting swiftly to changes and accessing necessary resources. Everything transitioned online, saving me a significant amount of time. At no point do I want to sound insensitive when I say I was lucky when the pandemic hit. I do, however, strongly believe that for me.
Many were losing their jobs during that period, and it was frightening. My decision to immigrate here was driven by the hope of finding better job opportunities and a higher income than what I could achieve in the UK or India. However, most companies commonly prefer hiring candidates with experience in the same industry/country. The industries I was experienced in were not only not hiring but laying people off. So, there wasn’t going to be much success for me in finding a full-time position.
Once again, I think I was lucky. Instead of pursuing full-time positions, I started seeking freelance work. For freelancers, the companies tend to be a bit more lenient. It’s not a culture fit they must worry about, benefits, or base pay. They need you to have the skills to get the work done. And that’s why I think I was lucky. I had the skills. At one point, I found myself juggling five jobs simultaneously. All I did was list my skills on my resume, online freelance websites, and Linkedin to make sure people knew I could offer their business what they needed. I made tons of connections and sent people in-mails to connect with them, like clockwork, which was undeniably exhausting but also exciting. It is crucial to find joy in what you do.
The lessons I learned in those uncertain first few months in Canada helped me establish a challenging and rewarding career. I keep them in mind whenever I am faced with uncertainty:
Know your strengths: be prepared to leverage them when faced with challenges.
Invest in transferable skills: if there is one thing no one can ever take from you, it’s your skills. Learn, practice, excel, and success will follow.
Find enjoyment in your work: You’ll learn and grow faster, and you’ll like your life more.
Challenges are opportunities: difficult times can serve as opportunities to reassess your path and make necessary adjustments.
Your network is a force multiplier: Don’t be afraid to reach out to others. You’d be surprised how many are capable and willing to help.
New beginnings are always difficult, but also opportunities to learn and redefine ourselves.
