Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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When Cindy Alonso moved from Colombia to Canada, she faced culture shock, language barriers and unexpected health challenges.

“For the first 14 months I was just really surviving. Everything felt foreign, disconnected and distant,” says Alonso, a Master of Arts in Environment and Management student.

But her journey also became a lesson in resilience.

Watch Cindy’s full International Ed Talk to see how embracing small changes, connecting with nature and adapting to challenges helped her grow and how these lessons can inspire communities and cities too.

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