‘Your Today is not your Forever’ From little English to winning Toastmasters competitions with Ruth Javier (NOF#8)

00:00
Miguel Abascal
Welcome to another episode of newcomers on fire. I am Miguel Abascal, and I love connecting with our incredible community of newcomers and helping you navigate the journey in your new country. Before we dive into today’s discussion, I have a quick request. If you have been enjoying our show and finding value in the stories and advice we share, please consider supporting the show by leaving us a review. Your feedback means the world to us and it helps us better serve you. So drop us a review and let us know what you love the most about this episode. Doing this also helps other newcomers discover our podcast, making it a valuable resource for more people on their journey to making their dreams a reality. Thank you for being part of our community and for your continued support. Our guest today is the remarkable ruth javier.

00:46
Miguel Abascal
And you are in for a treat because in this episode, you are going to learn about the secret of improving your communication skills, even if english isn’t your first language. How to find the strength and courage to chase for your dreams, no matter where you’re coming from. The power of networking and volunteering, building your new life. Why embracing your unique accent can be a superpower and proven strategies for maintaining a positive mindset, even in the face of rejection and adversity. Ruth has walked the same path many newcomers do, and she’s a true expert in turning challenges into opportunities. And she’s here to share her wisdom with you. So if you’re ready to learn, be inspired and transform your newcomer journey, this.

01:33
Miguel Abascal
Episode is for you.

01:35
Intro/Outro
Welcome to the newcomers on fire show with your host, Miguel Abascal. Listen to people like you sharing their journeys, struggles, and their breakthroughs. Be ready to be inspired to take control of your time, career, finances and future. Fulfill your potential, become the person you’re meant to be and make your dreams a reality.

02:05
Miguel Abascal
So welcome back. Today, I’m with an amazing guest. Her name is Ruth, and even though we met recently, it’s one of those feelings that you met a friend for a long time. That’s what happened with ruth. In fact, ruth, remember we had our first coffee meeting and we said like, oh, boy, I wish we have recorded that meeting. That was ruth, how are you? How’s everything?

02:31
Ruth Javier
Thank you very much, Miguel, and thank you for having me here. I’m doing great and I’m really excited to talk to you again. You mentioned that we met before and how we wish we would have recorded and how we could relate to each other’s story and how immigration was a huge change for us and how we overcame it. So I’m really excited to be here.

02:53
Miguel Abascal
Amazing. Tell us more about who is ruth. How long have you been in canada? Where do you come from? How you immigrate to canada? Like, a little bit about that story that will be very helpful to understand yes.

03:07
Ruth Javier
I come from Dominican Republic, so I speak Spanish. And we moved back in March 2016 because my husband got a job in Canada. His boss wanted him to move, so the entire family moved there, moved here in Toronto. So both of us are having new experiences in Toronto, and moving here with our three kids as well was a huge change. But again, grateful for having a job. Of course, my husband had a job, and also grateful for my kids to see snow for the first time. So a lot of changes. But that was how I started to my immigration story, by moving because of my husband job and starting a new life here.

03:52
Miguel Abascal
Wow, that’s incredible. And how did you adapt? Because that’s actually a very common pathway for a lot of people, moving with a significant other, with a family. And I know that starting a new life, starting new schools, starting everything, it might be challenging. So if you can explain a little bit more about those early months, early years, just what happened to you.

04:17
Ruth Javier
Yes, at the beginning, it was all beautiful. Just imagine someone coming from an eternal summer there. We have one time of the year, summer all year long, and coming to a new country and finding snow. And I felt like the universe was for me that day, because the exact next day I moved to Canada. It snowed like crazy. I remember it was March 5, 2016. It was snowing a lot. I even heard some locals talking about, hey, it’s been a while without snowing like this. So were excited. We enjoyed the snow. We laid down and we ate snow. We made sure we didn’t eat yellow snow. So it was exciting. So with the excitement within, someone actually said that, be careful with yellow snow.

05:12
Ruth Javier
With the excitement with the excitement, I became, for me, as a mom with three kids under the age of seven, I was busy, as you can imagine, finding school for my kids, finding housing. My husband had to go to work. So, again, as an immigrant, you have to live wherever you can. First, we eventually found a house, and that’s for another story. But again, finding a public school for my kids, and then finding out what to do with the two of them that couldn’t start school right away because of their age. So that’s how it started. My first encounter with someone who spoke my language was at the library. We went to the local public library, and that exact day, I found someone that is a community worker, and the person was speaking Spanish. I said, oh, I found someone who speaks my language.

06:09
Ruth Javier
And I felt relieved. And I started talking to that person. What can I do? How can I access resources? I need to speak English. And the person started giving me references. The first thing she said, oh, do you know what YMCA is? Please go get your language assessed so you can find an English school. So that’s how I started transitioning, little by little. But I was so lucky to find that local public library and that person who said, ruth, here are some resources that you can access to start your life here in Canada.

06:41
Miguel Abascal
Oh, wow. You know what I love about your story is that you’re also right. I also come from a place that is super hot and as you mentioned, eternal summer. And a lot of people will ask me, why did you came to Canada? You’re coming from a beautiful place in front of the ocean, coconut, palm trees. Amazing, right? But of course, I know Canada for us has been amazing as well and super happy. Quick question for you. Did everything went according to plan?

07:13
Ruth Javier
Definitely not. And I will give you one example. When I came to Canada, I came with the hope that I will find a lot of friends and I will go to an English school and my kids will go to school and I will enjoy everything. While this is partially true, the transition was not easy. So just picture this. When I went to YMCA, my English level was four or five. I consider myself an extrovert. So I love making friends, I love meeting new people. I could not do that. I felt shy. So it was the other way around. I became an introvert at that time because I didn’t find my community. So I was struggling on that sense. And as a professional back home, I didn’t complete my studies.

08:09
Ruth Javier
And the first thing I heard is that, oh, if you didn’t complete your studies, that it will be hard to validate your credentials and all that. So that was another punch in the face because I came with the hope, oh, I’m going to be able to continue my university here in Canada. That was not true. I needed to go back and start all over again. So that was the first, I guess, bump in the road, I would say that I found. And I didn’t have any professional network. I didn’t have anything. I didn’t have a LinkedIn, if that tell you something. I can’t imagine. So that’s how big the bump was. And again, it was not all roses. Yes, I enjoyed the country at the start, but again, transitioning and adapting was quite a process for me and my family.

09:06
Miguel Abascal
I 100% believe that because now I see you and it’s like for me, it’s even hard to believe that was Ruth some years ago. And now I see you as a super successful helping newcomers, running amazing programs. So what happened? If you can tell us a little bit about that transformation and the steps you took to overcome those challenges.

09:24
Ruth Javier
Yes. So, number one, I started my research. I’m very good at that. I googled everything. I translated everything. And as I went to English classes, I believe my English got better. And then when I went to get my English assessed, my English was then six, seven, enough to go to college. So I went to George Brown College. And I’m happy to say that I received everything I needed there. Because I took a program to start with. I didn’t think much of it, but I wanted a program that would affect me as a mature student. That’s the first one. And a program that would accept my English level and a program that would provide me with resources, but also the skills I need to thrive in the country and to start a career.

10:18
Ruth Javier
So I took the Community Worker program, some of people know it as a social service program. There I learned about Canada, about how this country was founded and everything about the story of the country. And I fell in love. And the beauty of the Community Worker program was also to support other immigrants. I had an opportunity to start working as a settlement worker and support newcomers. And as I received them, I started seeing the value of my studies. I started providing immigration support, immigration advice, and how to start your life in this country, how to find schools. So again, everything that I struggled with, I started to give this advice to other people. So I felt fulfilled, I would say. And as I advanced as a settlement worker and working in a Canadian organization, I wanted more.

11:13
Ruth Javier
I really wanted more because as I received the clients, I started to see more needs such as how can I find employment, how can I prepare, how can I bring my studies to Canada? And I was not equipped to help them. The only thing I knew is how to provide settlement support, resources and anything, just guidance on how to navigate. However, I couldn’t help them with employment support. So I saw a lot of needs there. And that’s when I decided to go back to college because I knew a little bit more. And I went back to college and took the post secondary education in career development professional at Church Brown.

11:52
Miguel Abascal
Oh, wow. That’s incredible. And then what happened? I’m so intrigued, I’m so curious. You took again the program and now you are in the process of helping people. How did you landed your first job?

12:05
Ruth Javier
My first job, it didn’t happen right away, of course. And one of the things I learned as a community worker is the importance of volunteering. So first, before transitioning from settlement and community service field, I needed to transition to the career development field. So I didn’t understand much. And then someone said to me, ruth, you need to volunteer. If you don’t do that, you won’t be able to access those knowledge and you won’t be able to make an informed decision. So I signed up for a volunteering position at an organization that is well known for serving people to finding employment, the Career Foundation. So I went there and I volunteered. I supported people, I shadowed, and I was very proactive. And I believe my personality helped because I was open to talking and networking as well.

13:02
Ruth Javier
And remember, at that time, I didn’t have much professional contact or professional network. So when I started volunteering, they said, ruth, I feel like this job could suit you well, so if you want, you should go back to college and take this program. So after volunteering and it was right before the pandemic hit 2020, I remember that I applied for the program at George Brown College, and I started volunteering, studying. And after that, I took internship. So another big part of my career was internship. And I took internship very seriously. I didn’t see it as a step back. I saw it as an opportunity to leverage my skills and to see the future of it. Because the more skills and strengths I got, I believe the better and more equipped I became to serve others in the field.

14:01
Ruth Javier
So after volunteering two internships, then I applied for my dream job. And that’s how it started. After finishing my internship and everything, I saw all these positions. And one of the things that I try not to emphasize on and I’m really upfront about it is about my shyness when it came to speaking a lot or expressing myself in English. So I practiced and I practiced my interview skills. I applied for several position, by the way, and when I applied for some of them, again, rejections came. And with every rejection and I took notes. What did I learn from this interview? Where did I fail? What did I do wrong? And I was bold about this. I reached out to my interviewers and I said, hey, I’m new looking for a job in the field. I would love to hear your feedback.

15:02
Ruth Javier
I would love to hear what I could have done better.

15:06
Miguel Abascal
Right?

15:07
Ruth Javier
Not a surprise. I didn’t receive a lot of response, but I did receive two responses from someone that I will never forget. The person sent me an email, hey, we found a better candidate. Whatever the email said, we found a candidate. We decided to go with someone else. But if you want to hear my feedback, here is what you can improve. Amazing. I took that feedback and I embraced it so much and I applied it for my next interview. My next interview was another rejection. No reason, but again, they moved on with another candidate. So I applied for at least, my goodness, 7810 jobs. And every time they came, rejection came. At some point, I became a little bit sad because it’s desperating and I needed a job.

15:59
Ruth Javier
However, I was embracing the experience of applying for jobs and the experience of receiving the feedback. I reached out to a friend, and that’s something I also recommend anyone when you are in the process of finding a job and rejection can get you okay. Can get you because it’s like telling you, hey, you’re not qualified, you’re not equipped and can really hurt your self esteem somehow. But I’m grateful that I found some friends that I could reach out to. So I have a colleague, I reached out to her and I said, hey, I’m not feeling well. This is hard. This is very hard. And my friend was so open and she said, ruth, let’s practice together. And that was amazing. So that’s how I became oh, more confident. I practiced with a friend. I took care of my mental health.

16:57
Ruth Javier
Again, reaching out to a friend is also taking care of your mental health. And I eventually found the job. When I applied for the job, I would never forget, it was a December. I reached out and I was very proactive and I followed up after a week of applying for the job. And eventually I got that beautiful news ruse. Congratulations. We decided to move forward with your.

17:20
Miguel Abascal
Amazing I love that story. Three things I want to talk to you about. The first one, volunteering. Because I come from a country where volunteering is a thing, but not that big of a thing. I don’t know if in Dominican Republic it’s the same where it’s know you volunteer sometimes food bank or something. But in Canada. Oh, boy. It’s completely different. And if you can explain more about that, how volunteering is actually a deal breaker or sometimes it’s something that it’s expected in a way, or that it’s like people ask you in your resume, like, okay, what is your volunteering experience? If you can talk more about that. The second one is communication. I see how your communication journey has evolved and if you can tell more about that. And lastly, we can go over your confidence journey because you’re so right.

18:14
Miguel Abascal
With so many rejections, it’s impossible not to feel that there is something broken about it, about us, or about me. Maybe there is something wrong with me or maybe I’m not that great. And then it’s like, okay, and you mentioned it like community and having a friend and mentor. That’s incredible. But so many more questions. But this is just like three that came right away. But yeah. Tell us more about volunteering in Dominican Republic. Is that a thing?

18:41
Ruth Javier
Yeah. So I will start with volunteering in Dominican Republic is not a thing. Yes, you can volunteer, but that’s not something you add to your resume if you want a professional position or a professional career. So everything has to be paid position. It’s very formal. To my surprise, when I came to Canada, canadian put a lot of emphasis on volunteering position. It’s like all the experience and strengths and skills you’re gaining. It doesn’t matter if it’s paid or unpaid. So volunteering here. When I found out about it, I put a little bit more emphasis and let me tell you how I started. And that’s when I was in the community worker program. I started volunteering at my kids school.

19:26
Miguel Abascal
Nice.

19:29
Ruth Javier
That’s how I started expanding my network. So this is all I knew. My local library, my kids school. That was all I knew. And I said, okay, if they value volunteering somewhere. So I need to start somewhere. Having in mind that back home I was a teacher. I used to teach elementary school. That made sense to me to start from somewhere I knew, somewhere I was familiar with. So I talked to the principal and I asked her, hey, can I do my internship here in volunteering, supporting students? And to my surprise, she went through all the process. I filled out all the forms, background check, everything. She said, yes, you are welcome to volunteer in here because I also know you want to be closer to your kids. That was an amazing win.

20:16
Ruth Javier
And all these skills, I was able to add it to my resume, local experience to my resume, that I assisted kids with their drama. I assisted kids with their homework. So all these skills added to my resume. So again, I was very surprised. But again, volunteering in Canada is so valuable. And as an immigrant, I think that’s the best next step when we come to Canada, volunteering and putting our strength to work. Because as you give, you receive an amazing also you get the experience to move forward with your career.

20:57
Miguel Abascal
It’s so true. And it’s interesting because I’ve been coaching and helping newcomers for so many years, and the first thing that I say is like, hey, have you considered volunteering? It’s like work for free. No, thank you. It’s like I need to find a job first. And it’s like, yes, I know, but if you volunteer, that’s a faster way also to find that job. So that’s amazing.

21:18
Ruth Javier
Yes. And some of them say some immigrants think it’s like a step down.

21:23
Miguel Abascal
Right?

21:24
Ruth Javier
Volunteering. It is not a step down. It’s a stepping stone. So again, I will repeat that volunteering is not a step down. It’s a stepping stone to bump your career. Because while you volunteer, you’re gaining this amazing experience. You’re giving your time, but you’re also gaining this strength and experience working in a local organization. And you can use that to leverage your career and for your next step. And even better, at the end of your interview, if you qualify for the job, you will be asked to provide local references, right? Guess what? Volunteering will provide you with that. Local references you need. So again, it’s a win.

22:10
Miguel Abascal
And another thing also to mention is that just because it’s a non paid activity that you are doing, you should also treat it with so much respect and professionalism. And you need to show up on time and work really hard because that might be the stepping stone, as you mentioned, to go to the next level. I remember a story where the CEO of that non for profit made a referral for the person to get a job and it was because that person did a fantastic job. So when you do a fantastic job, think great things happen. So volunteering. Thank you so much for sharing that. Now let’s talk about communication. Your communication skills are amazing, superb. I’m in awe and I know why. That’s why I’m asking this a little bit, because I want you to share more about that.

22:56
Miguel Abascal
Yes, please tell us more.

22:59
Ruth Javier
Yes. Communication. As I mentioned when I came to Canada, English level, based on the CLB assessment, all the domain four, five, I mean, not impressive at all, especially if you want to have an open communication and professional communication. So after taking classes and make my English a little bit better, I decided to take more communication classes. So I have someone who recommended me toastmasters. What is toastmasters? My first impression is like, I don’t understand what that word means. With my English level, I can toastmasters. But when I went there as a guest for the first time, I understood it was such a safe place. I remember when I got there, the first thing is, Ruth, introduce yourself. No one have ever asked me to introduce myself before.

23:54
Ruth Javier
When they asked, Ruth, please let us know about yourself, how you found about the club and what made you join us tonight. I was forced to stand up and speak, which was my biggest fear, especially speaking in English. So when I went there, I found that safe space and I asked a little bit more how I could become a member. After I became a member, it was the best decision in my life. It was a game changer because I received mentorship. I had a mentor there who guided me in terms of grammar, in terms of writing my speeches, the structure of my speeches, and how to also participate in impromptu speeches. We call them table topics. So that pushes you out of your comfort zone to stand up and speak.

24:43
Ruth Javier
And I truly believe that really helped me for my interview skills, because there you receive questions, you prepare, you talk in front of people and you lose that shyness of speaking to strangers, right? So that’s how I improve my communication skills. So again, I’ve been a toastmaster for the last six years. I have participated in speech contest and I have won. So again, it’s been a journey. I started from being very shy, not being able to speak, to participating in a speech competition. I went from the club level and then the area level competition and then the division level competition. And I said, I’m winning. And I put on the work, I put on the effort and now I am getting the result that I really needed.

25:35
Ruth Javier
So that’s where my communication skills improved immensely because I don’t think I could have done it with just an English school. Again, I received the skills I needed. But again, the confidence of expressing my thoughts freely and confidently came from joining Toastmasters Club.

25:56
Miguel Abascal
Oh, wow. You tell your story and I get goosebumps and electricity running my body because I feel so identified as well, because CLB, the Canadian language benchmark, four or five is almost a little bit over basic. And now from that start to go. And winning competitions where you are competing against native speakers when you’re competing against people that have done this for years. And I know this because I also joined Toastmasters. I love it. Love it. I 100% recommend it. It’s one of the best things that is going to help you a lot. And another thing that I also wanted to share with you is that you’re so right because I remember a mentor telling me it’s like Miguel in Spanish, you are this charismatic guy, super joyful. Your face, your eyes lights up.

26:45
Miguel Abascal
But with the moment that you switch to English, it’s like, boom, completely a gray person. Everything is gone. And he was asking me why and I was like, well, it’s because I do not feel confident. I do not feel I’m doing the right job. My accent is too thick. I don’t know if I’m making a mistake. I usually mix the verbs and you name it. But to your point, like taking to practice, I became a little bit better at communicating and sharing and not being afraid of like, am I going to make mistake or I’m going to say something wrong. It’s like, well, if I say it’s fine. Today, I know executives that they speak English in a way that sometimes they also make mistakes and they are not even afraid of them.

27:31
Miguel Abascal
So it’s like, oh, wow, if they are not afraid of making a mistake, why should I be afraid of making a mistake? And they are executives. So it’s like, oh, I’m 100% on the right path. So again, I applaud your journey, Ruth. It’s incredible. I’m so happy.

27:45
Ruth Javier
And I would say from a toastmaster toastmaster, we understand the value of it. And if we could give any advice is that improve your communication skills. It’s a game changer once you know how to express your thoughts confidently without any shyness.

28:02
Miguel Abascal
So, yes, I agree because you can be the best candidate. But if that best candidate cannot communicate their value proposition or why they are the best candidate, then they’re going to choose somebody that might not be the best candidate just because you were not able to communicate that. So, yeah, 100% is about confidence, about communicating your value. So quick question for you. What did you wish you knew before you coming to Canada?

28:30
Ruth Javier
Wow, okay, I need to keep it short, right? So I will go right to it. First of all, improve your communication skills. That’s the first one. Without it, you won’t be able to do the next one that I wish I knew networking is very important. Expanding your circle here in Canada, it doesn’t have to be hard. You can start with what you know. So what do you know is people from your library, from your kids school, start communicating with them to start growing your professional career. So number one, communication. Number two, expand your professional network. Number three, my goodness. And I thank goodness I found out. But volunteering is a huge one.

29:19
Ruth Javier
So if you don’t know how to start your career, find a way to put your strength to work, to give before starting receiving all the benefits of living in this beautiful country, which is Canada. So again, communication, networking, volunteering is great. And another one is it’s a huge one personally is like make peace with your accent. Make peace with it. Because if you don’t make peace with it, you will be that shy person that won’t be able to express your thoughts. So understand that your accent tells a story of survival, a story of bravery, of taking your family and moved to a new country. So your accent is yours. So I would say own your accent before coming to Canada. And yes, of course, improve your communication skills.

30:13
Ruth Javier
But as you can see, Miguel, and we speak English, but we both have a different accent, right? So I feel like once we make peace with this, it’s much better for us to express our thoughts in our second language. So these are my four recommendations. Number one, improve your communication skills in English. That’s the country you’re going to live in, so you can’t help it. The number two is that expand your network, start making contact and networking with people you already know and go from there because you don’t have to reach out to someone you don’t know, like people you don’t know. Start with your small circle and go from there. And the second one is just don’t stay at home volunteer. There are many places you can start volunteering. It doesn’t matter your background. Are you coming from banking?

31:05
Ruth Javier
Are you coming from marketing, are you coming from teaching? Background? Whatever your background is, there is a place for you here in Canada where you can volunteer. And there is a website where you can find volunteering positions. So just google it there. And number four, make peace with your accent. That will help you express thoughts freely and be able to communicate your values.

31:27
Miguel Abascal
That’s incredible. Oh, wow. Quick question about how life changed for you once you found your dream job. Did anything change for you or was everything just the same?

31:42
Ruth Javier
Something changed. Definitely something changed. Especially when you have been in a journey of finding your place. Coming to Canada means changing basically everything. It doesn’t matter your career, your background, even when you want to continue in your same career in Canada, something changed and you need to be open and adapt to these changes. So when I came. With a teacher background. Yes, I wanted to continue. However, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Besides, I needed to adapt to my new language, my new environment, my new everything culture. So finding my path to be able to support others came from my story. So when I look back and I see my story, as someone who tried to immerse herself into the new Canadian culture, into the new Canadian professional world, I wished I knew what I know today.

32:41
Ruth Javier
So today my mission is to support newcomers to achieve their career goals by providing them resources and everything they need and the skills they need to start finding jobs successfully in Canada. So definitely yes. Miguel, to answer your question, something changed. And it was the ability to adapt to the changes I’ve always loved to helping people. However, through that journey, I had to find my path and new people change my mind a little bit and then finally say, my goodness, I made it. I’m loving what I’m doing and I’m sharing a little bit of my story. So people who hear it can learn a little bit about it. And maybe reduce a little bit of the bump on the road.

33:27
Ruth Javier
Yes, bumps will come, but when you know the information and you have the resources and access to it makes it a little bit easier and better.

33:35
Miguel Abascal
I love that. You’re so right, because also for me, I remember when I landed my first professional job, I was like, oh, wow, I’m finally made it. Of course, years and years later, but I finally am starting. I felt like I’m starting. And a huge weight on my shoulder was like, okay, lift up. Or like the rainy cloud that was following me was like gone now. It was like sunny and sunshine. So they are definitely and that’s when I started volunteering like crazy. I became, to your point, addicted to volunteering. I was like hours and hours just because I wanted to help, I wanted to share. And yeah, that was the beginning of all of this. By the way, it’s incredible.

34:13
Ruth Javier
And may I ask you, how many years did it take you to find your dream career?

34:18
Miguel Abascal
A lot. A little bit over five, almost six years just to get there. And I did a lot of survival jobs, from working at Tim Hortons, which is a coffee shop, to restaurants, to cleaning, maintenance, construction. I never had a hammer on my hand because I always did professional jobs like accounting and marketing and finances. So I learned all of that too. But again, it’s part of the journey. And today I’m so happy. It’s like I can see black and day, night and day, the transformation is like, okay, now those jobs were amazing. But now I’m loving what I’m doing because I’m in my streamline. I’m where I’m supposed to be. And that is why we’re here.

35:02
Ruth Javier
Yes. And this is what people need to hear, I would say, because, again, your story has so many layers to it, and sometimes I can just see, oh, Miguel, the amazing person who works at a bank as this position. But what is the story behind it? What did you do to adapt? Oh, Ruth is an employment counselor today, but what did she have to go through to adapt? And again, if you hear it’s beautiful embracing those stories, but also knowing what that person did to get where they are at the moment.

35:38
Miguel Abascal
And you know what one of the biggest components on our journeys is to your point? Mental health. So one of the questions I have is, like, how did you stay positive and strong and happy when you receive those rejections, when suddenly you notice that your career, that you were thinking, you need to change it all? Of this. To your point, as you mentioned, punching the face, it’s like, okay, that was the first one, the next challenge, and the next. And it’s like years of challenges. And on top of that, I can just imagine families, everything that goes with raising a new family in a new country. So that mental health component, that confidence, how did you just keep it afloat? Or what was your strategy there?

36:21
Ruth Javier
That’s a very good question. And I might not have a set strategy, but I have a great self awareness. And coming from a country where mental health is not a huge thing, we talk about coming to Canada. I was forced to look into it because if I didn’t take care of my mental health, I would confidently say I wouldn’t be where I am today, because rejection gets me the ability of not communicating clearly, having an accent, not having a professional career, having to change everything, I would say that would have pushed me down. So some of the things I did and it worked for me, well, I’m here today. Some of the things I did is keeping a positive mindset, knowing that my today is not my forever. And that is something I learned when I started my career a little bit early.

37:25
Ruth Javier
I was telling an unemployment counselor how I was feeling. I said, I don’t have any hope. I don’t have any career. I have three kids. I don’t see anywhere to go. And the person said to me, and I will never forget about this, he said, Ruth, I’m hearing what you’re saying, and it’s completely normal to feel the way you feel. But I would like you to make a little change of your vocabulary. I would like you to add the word yet at the end of what you say. I’m not there yet. I’m not a professional yet. I’m not successful yet. But I’m getting there. I’m on my way. So that gives me that boost of that is true.

38:13
Ruth Javier
If I look back where I’ve been and where I am today, a little bit of change of how we see things can change our mental state to continue to keep going. And the other thing I did is, again, my personality played a role is reaching out to others. I started with someone who spoke Spanish, and from there I started networking. And from there I got friends again. My kids got friends and reach out to moms and all that. And speaking to them also opened a world for me I didn’t know. Yes, speaking with others, talking to others about how you feel can help a lot. And as an immigrant, I did feel isolated, but I didn’t have to stay in isolation. So to anyone listening to this, you are not alone. Even though we think, oh, no, I’m alone in this.

39:08
Ruth Javier
I don’t have anywhere to go. You are not alone. There are so many resources you can access. If you have friends that speak your language, start from there. If you have a community center, a local library, start going there to meet others as well. And again, positive mindset changing your vocabulary because you bring so much strength. My goodness, Miguel, I know you and I could go over the things we bring with us over and over again. We bring so much strength. And when finding yourself a little bit lost, this is not your forever. That’s what I wanted to say. That’s how I kept a positive mindset.

39:47
Miguel Abascal
Yeah, I’m blown away again. It’s like my today is not my forever. That’s a huge one. The other one is like, just add jet to the end of whatever objections or negative thought that you have and then that starts shifting because it’s like, yeah, you’re right. I’m in a process. Another thing that I will add to the mix is that do not compare yourself with others because there is no need. Actually, it’s impossible to compare yourself with others because it’s different stories, different backgrounds, different everything. So just compare yourself with yourself. And if you compare yourself today from the Miguel of one year ago, the change is huge. I remember a mentor telling me, it’s like, if you are not embarrassed today with the person that you were a year ago, you are not growing enough. So it’s like, oh, wow.

40:33
Miguel Abascal
It’s like, yeah, sometimes I’m embarrassed with the person I was a year or five or ten years ago. And it’s like, yeah, so I think I’m growing. So definitely I love how much you have shared with us very quickly. Imagine this, Ruth. If you have a billboard that any or every newcomer can access and see, what will that billboard say? What will be your message to them?

41:04
Ruth Javier
Let me take that in because I want to say the right thing and I want to keep it short. Reach out, you are not alone.

41:16
Miguel Abascal
I love that.

41:17
Ruth Javier
So that’s the whole thing. Reach out, you are not alone. There are so many community around willing to support someone like yourself on LinkedIn. Reach out, you are not alone. And how would you be reaching out? And how would I say in that billboard that you’re not alone? I would put LinkedIn in big down there. Reach out. If you are professional, reach out, you are not alone. And a big LinkedIn logo down there. Because I feel like if you want to grow professionally, you need an online presence. So reach out. You’re not alone. Make sure you have a professional presence here in Canada. This is a huge one because when you apply for a job, your employer will Google you. We’ll find out who’s Miguel, who’s Ruth. So make sure you reach out to professionals. You connect with them.

42:12
Ruth Javier
And remember, you’re not alone in this. Today might seem a little bit blur and a little bit dark for you wherever you are, but you are not alone. You just need to start reaching out to those like minded professionals that are able to help you.

42:27
Miguel Abascal
I love that. Oh, wow. You know what? I have a friend in LinkedIn, so I’m going to tell him. I think you should put this in your marketing material because it’s amazing. Reach out, you are not alone. And then big LinkedIn and it’s like, yes, that’s exactly the message the newcomer should see. That’s incredible. Any last words of wisdom? Anything that we forgot to mention? Anything that you want to add?

42:51
Ruth Javier
Well, I would say, again, we covered so much. And I would say that as immigrants, we will struggle. That’s a fact. We will struggle along the way. But if we prepare ourselves ahead of time for this struggle, the bump will be a little bit manageable, I would say. So as immigrants, I would say reach out to other professionals here in Toronto. Network with your community. Find information and resources. The beauty of Canada. Again, we come from beautiful country, but the beauty of Canada is that there are so many resources available for you. Most of them are for free, and you just have to go grab them. As soon as you come here to Canada, don’t sleep on it.

43:44
Ruth Javier
I know you came here maybe with family or maybe you came alone and you want to make friends, whatever it is, but access to those resources and make use of them as soon as possible and you will see the difference in a shorter period of time. So maybe if Miguel knew what he knew today, it would have not taken you five years.

44:04
Miguel Abascal
Exactly.

44:04
Ruth Javier
Maybe if I knew what I knew today, it would have not taken me six years. So start using those resources and the time might be lessened for you. So that’s my final word.

44:15
Miguel Abascal
I love that. And you know what the reason we’re doing this podcast is exactly because of that. Is this the podcast I wish I had or I wish I have access back in the day when I was like, oh, you know what? The story of root is something that talks to me or like, oh, this is the way, or I will not struggle or battle the concept of volunteering. That it’s a waste. It’s actually an investment about mentoring. It’s like, oh, people trying to help me. That’s something weird about it. It’s like, no trust, it’s fine. We come sometimes for countries where a stranger is trying to help you, it’s like, oh, that’s a red flag. But actually, here is amazing.

44:52
Miguel Abascal
So, yeah, all of these stories, my intention is that people listening to them getting inspired, and then it’s like, okay, today I’m going to do that little action. Send a message, send an email, reach out to people. So that’s the vision. So, Ruth, you are doing amazing things and you have amazing programs. Would you like to share a bit more about that and where can people find you?

45:17
Ruth Javier
Yes, of course. So, my name is Rudh Javier. I work at the Mennonite New Life Center. I work with a very specific program. It’s called bemsi. It’s bridge to employment in media and communications. And the reasons why I love this is exactly to help immigrants bridge their career to Canada. So we take into account your experience from outside of Canada, your professional experiences and your studies, and we provide you with what you need to adapt to the new culture and the new place that you will be developing your career. So the Bemsey program is for journalists, marketing, PRofessionals from outside of Canada. We have other programs, so feel free to check them out. Feel free to go to the Mennonite Mule Center and check all the amazing Bridging programs. By the way, we have four Bridging programs.

46:10
Ruth Javier
So please go there and see what’s the best fit for you as a professional in Canada to bridge your career. Because sometimes you don’t have to start from zero because you bring so much. So and that’s why I’m so passionate about these programs, because one of the requirements, most of the requirement is that you need to have all your experiences from outside of Canada to be able to enroll in these Bridging programs. So that’s where you can find where I work. And if you want to reach out to me, just feel free to reach out to me. Reach out. You’re not alone. If I don’t know the answer, I will refer you to someone. If I don’t know it, I will. Hey, Miguel, can you provide some information or whatever from my network? So my name is Ruth Javier Friesen.

46:57
Ruth Javier
You will find it on LinkedIn as well. So feel free to reach out to me as well.

47:00
Miguel Abascal
Oh, wow. Ruth, as always, I know this is potentially our second meeting, but it feels like we have met in another lifetime or something. It’s incredible. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom. Thank you for being amazing, as always. And yeah, I’m again blown away. We have so much content that is great for people exactly that are trying to find their way or make their way into their new careers, into their new home. And your story was just exactly what we needed. So thank you. Thank you so much, Ruth. And yeah, thank you.

47:33
Ruth Javier
Yeah, it was great meeting with you again and share my experiences and I look forward to reading more about all your wonderful posts. And thank you for having me.

47:43
Miguel Abascal
Awesome.

47:43
Miguel Abascal
To your success. See you soon.

47:46
Ruth Javier
See you soon.

47:48
Miguel Abascal
Hey there. Thank you so much for listening or watching another episode of Newcomers on Fire. We truly appreciate it. If you love this episode, please help us by sharing on social media. Your support can make a big difference in growing this platform when you share it with your friends and family, you are helping new people find their way and make their dreams a reality. The more you share, the more lives we can impact. So let’s work together to inspire others who might not even know about us yet. In our next episode, we are diving deep into a crucial skill every newcomer needs to master how to nail coffee meetings, also known as information interviews. Join me as I sit down with a seasoned coach who has guided hundreds of individuals on their career journeys.

48:31
Miguel Abascal
We will explore the ins and outs of why these coffee meetings, or curiosity conversations are vital, how to prepare for them and uncover best practices for success. To be honest, I initially thought this conversation was going to be just about 10 minutes, but the conversation was so good and insightful that it took almost 40. You don’t want to miss this one. Remember, this podcast is just the starting point. The real magic happens in our Newcomers on Fire community. If you are doing great awesome. Pay it forward and help someone else live a better life. And if you’re still finding your way, know that you are not alone. Come and join us for a chat and let’s navigate this journey together. Stay inspired, stay motivated and keep moving forward. Until next time to your success.

49:23
Intro/Outro
We hope you enjoyed this show and that it helps you to find your way or make your way. If you found value, share it with someone who needs it. Until next time, to your success.