A leap of courage: Anahi Bustamante

After finishing high school, Anahi Bustamante stepped into a snowy winter in Calgary, Alberta—a stark difference from the warmth of her home country of Ecuador. At 17 years old, and with limited English, Anahi challenged herself with starting a new chapter in Canada without friends or close family. It was an experience she says she will forever be grateful for as she reaches her dreams of studying in Canada, while building long-lasting connections and memories.

“My English wasn’t great, so I couldn’t speak at all with other people,” she recalls. Starting at level 2 for English proficiency, Anahi knew she needed to improve her English to help her build friendships and achieve her academic goals.

Anahi quickly found warmth and belonging in the University of Calgary Continuing Education’s English Language Program (ELP). She also found success enrolling in the Semester Program, progressing all the way to level 7 and earning the Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) in the process. For Anahi, each level wasn’t just a course; it was a step toward a new future.

Connecting in a new environment

One of the defining aspects of Anahi’s journey was the multicultural environment she found in the program. “There were students from all over the world. For me, it was awesome,” she says. But even more impactful were the instructors who guided her through, such as her writing instructor; “Her classes were amazing. Even though they were long, you just had fun there. She included everyone, and you could tell she really loved teaching.”

The program didn’t just teach Anahi grammar or vocabulary, it gave her confidence to communicate in English across many different situations. Presentation skills, academic writing, researching reliable sources—these were all new and intimidating at first. “In one of my speaking classes, I learned how to present myself, how to talk with others.”

Speaking in front of people was especially challenging at first. “My vocabulary was... reduced, let’s say,” she admits. “But I started to enjoy it, even though it was hard.”

Anahi felt that her online labs became essential to improving her English since only Spanish was spoken at home. “I could go online and just practice there. It helped me so much.”

Taking the leap

After completing the programs through ELP, Anahi took another leap and applied to the Bachelor of Science degree program in chemistry at UCalgary. Like many students new to post-secondary, her first year as an undergraduate student was tough. However, she says it makes her feel especially grateful for her time with ELP, not only because of the fun memories—but for also giving her the English skills to thrive academically and personally.

Anahi understands how hard it can be to start a life in a new country, learn a new language, and navigate a new academic system. But with some courage to take each step forward, she believes the reward is worth it. “Just go for it. You still have time to try something new. Even though it’s hard, you’ll get to that place you want to be—if you’re brave.”