Michael

Florentino

Science Without Borders, Math
São Carlos, Brazil

I chose Canada because I had wanted to learn English, and Canada always seemed to be an excellent country to live in. I chose Lakehead University because I had looked for an excellent department of Mathematics with a focus on pure Mathematics, and Lakehead seemed a great one to choose.

Since I arrived in Canada, I have made many excellent memories. However, my favorite memory is my last graduation ceremony, when my great teacher Mitch gave me the certificate of level 5, and she said that I was the student who had most improved English skills at level 5. That memory is the most important I have, because I struggled in the last semester. Not only was it the most difficult level in the ELP Program, but also I had been in level 2 the year before. I have both studied and worked so hardtop succeed. Receiving this, made me happy to know that all my work was recognized, and I will keep this with me forever. 

Although I have completed the highest level in the ELP Program, I know I still have so much to learn about English. However, since coming to Canada, and starting to learn another Language, “A new world has been opened to me”. Because of this, I can discover other cultures, meet people, and make many precious friends. In addition, nowadays, having knowledge about other languages, mainly English is something very necessary, for instance to get a great job. I plan to keep studying Mathematics once in Brazil, and English is required to do this. Finally, I want to come back to Canada to get a Masters here, so my English will again be required.

 I have loved Mathematics my whole life, but a little while ago I was in a bad moment of my life, and I did not want to study or do anything else. Then, one of my best friends invited me to return to student’s life, and to study with him to try going to University. I thought that that would be a chance to change my life, to prepare myself and to be able get a great job.

The main way that Lakehead is helping me is teaching me English. When I came to Canada, I almost did not know anything about English; so I can say that everything I know I have learned during my time here.

As a poor student, I had faced a huge amount of problems. The majority was about money, such as working as bricklayer assistant during the day, studying at night, staying at the university during all the day because I did not have money to pay for a bus to go home. At night, there was a free bus. Some days I stayed at the university from the morning until night without eating anything because the University was on strike, and at home, we did not have enough food that I could bring to University.

The most surprising thing I have learned during my time here was how huge the cultural differences among people can be, and it has been interesting to live together with people from other countries.

I plan to keep studying, learning, and improving as not only a Mathematician, but also a person. I intend to keep learning always about Mathematics, and I want become a Professor helping people to see how beautiful Mathematics is. 

Coming to Canada was one of the best things I could have ever imagined. It changed my life. I have met amazing people during my time here, some of those people I will remember for the rest of my life. To conclude I would like to say thank for everybody who has helped me during all this time here in Canada.