Una Sharapova's Story

One of my favorite moments during my Canada SEED 2025 journey was climbing a tree for the first time during our land-based curriculum course. Admittedly, I didn’t get very far and was nervous the entire time, but I still remember looking down and seeing my mentor and classmates cheering me on and telling me how proud they were. In that small moment, I felt supported, capable, and braver than I thought I was.

I went to Canada expecting independence and tough challenges, but instead, I was welcomed with warmth and kindness. The learning environment was very different from what I was used to back home, yet just as effective: encouraging creativity, exploration, and problem-solving. Learning didn’t just happen inside four walls; it happened outdoors, through movement, nature, and play.

I used to keep my guard up in new places, but in Nova Scotia, I found circles waiting for me: friends, mentors, and kind-hearted people who made home feel like it wasn’t 13,000 kilometers away. Through this experience, I shared my culture while learning from others, and strengthened my communication skills, adaptability, collaboration, and confidence as an early childhood educator. More importantly, I grew as a person. I learned to slow down, be mindful, and appreciate the present in ways I didn’t realize I needed. NSCC didn’t just shape me professionally, it reminded me that home can be found anywhere people choose to care for one another.