Lolade Ozomoge migrated to Canada 4 years ago. She describes her migration experience as a combination of excitement and challenges. She had set out to achieve her defined goals, and the presence of family here in Canada made her transition much easier. The thought of starting over in a new country was daunting, but she braced up and embraced the challenges. She also shares the importance of celebrating her victories and how this spurred her to achieve more. Lolade tells her full story here:
Exciting challenges: this is how I describe my migration experience. My name is Lolade, and leaving all we knew behind to start all over in Canada as new migrants was quite a daunting experience. I had family here, which made the transition more bearable. Still, new experiences like the harsh winter, cultural differences, and finding a job made an indelible impression on me.
I embraced the stark reality of the differences between my home country and my new home. I adjusted to the weather and actively sought out communities that encouraged me to grow, such as local cultural groups and professional networks for newcomers. I leveraged resources for newcomers, such as government services and community centres, and built a viable network of friends and associates. Mentally, I worked on embracing my new reality with an open mind. I asked God for the strength to adapt, grow and thrive. I asked for my eyes to be opened to opportunities and to have the wisdom to utilize them to the fullest, and in time this became my reality as Canada presented opportunities for me to evolve, grow and thrive.
One unique experience that stands out is being the only black person in my organization. At first, I wondered how I would fit in; though I had the expertise and skill that the job demanded, it just felt strange being the only black person in the organization. I questioned many things due to cultural differences and wondered how the overwhelming majority would receive my perspectives. I didn’t want to shrink any part of myself to blend in. Still, surprisingly, I found very receptive and friendly colleagues who approached diversity with an open-minded and friendly curiosity. From the first day at work, my colleagues were excited to learn about my Nigerian roots, my migration experience and why I wanted to come to Canada. They wanted to know the meaning of my name and the significance of Nigerian culture and were also curious about Nigerian food. So you can imagine the small talks we made in the office; we talked about culture, traditions and history, which became the bridge that forged great work relationships. My heritage was celebrated, and my opinions were valued.
I had heard so many stories that were not like mine and how women of colour had to battle with systemic barriers such as lack of representation in leadership roles and unconscious biases like stereotyping and microaggressions to forge ahead in the workplace. I was grateful that my experience was different, and this brought home for me the reality that some organizations go all out to embrace diversity and inclusion and implement this in the workplace.
Looking back, one thing I would have done differently is to have paced myself rather than being constantly on the go. I was very focused on pushing boundaries and getting things done; I was always looking ahead to the next goal, milestone, and opportunity. I wanted to achieve a lot quickly and forgot to pause to appreciate how far I have come and to celebrate my small wins. If I could do things differently, I would have celebrated my small wins as much as my big wins; I would have taken time to breathe and reminded myself that success is not just about achievements but also about the journey, the people I have met and the lessons I have learnt. I would have slowed down to smell the roses, enjoy the experience and be grateful for it.
To women of colour migrating to new countries, remember that your dreams are not just dreams; they are achievable goals. Be resilient, seek out communities that affirm you, and never dim your light to fit into spaces. You have a lot of value to bring to the table, so remain focused and seek out people who are friendly and warm and who will help you grow. Your resilience is your strength and will guide you through your journey.
Use your intuition well when deciphering people, and let your intuition guide you in building your tribe. Build meaningful relationships, as this will open doors for you professionally. Remember, you are not just here to survive but to thrive, so keep pushing the boundaries, and the world will be yours to conquer.
Lolade tells her story from the city of London in Ontario.
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