International student Yingjie Qian can’t wait to learn about one of the most unique and dynamic things here in her adopted home of Canada: our politics.
She was extremely honoured when she found out she was one of the young Canadians chosen to attend this year’s Forum for Young Canadians.
“I’m really happy,” she said.
A teacher at her school had mentioned the opportunity was out there, and as she’s always been interested in politics, it was just a natural decision for her to try.
Things are very different for her in her hometown in China, a “small town” of just over 300,000.
“We have totally different government system from the Canadian system and I want to know more about Canadians,” Qian said. “I want to know more about it so that I can compare it with the Chinese system.”
Even now, China is in a fairly strong position, but there are still some problems; maybe, by looking at our way of things, some solutions could be found someday, she said.
Her decision to finish her high school education in Canada stemmed from her desire to attend a university in the United States. Living here for two years will do a lot for improving her English, and Smithers was chosen specifically because of a family connection.
Although Smithers may be small, she’s really enjoying her time here. She said the scenery is just gorgeous, and the skiing is fantastic. Prior to living here, she and some friends would go skiing in the summer at an indoor compound in Shanghai, so it’s quite the difference.
Her list of scholastic achievements that helped her to be accepted are numerous, but included was her skills with math. In November, 2010 she placed 26th out of 8,716 students from across Canada in the Sun Life Financial Canadian Open Math Challenge, which was quite the feat for her.
“I really like math,” she said.
Math will always be an integral interest of hers, however for career paths she’s more interested in economics or politics, which is why she’s just so thrilled to be going to the forum later this month.
“I’m excited because I can meet more people, see how the government works, and do more things,” Qian said.
Of the attendees of the forum, only two, including Qian, are international students. It’s an incredible opportunity, she said, and she’s looking forward to having dinner with MP Nathan Cullen. Also included would be a mock cabinet session on Canada’s immigration policy.
“I will maybe be a cabinet minister, and we will discuss it,” Qian said, who’s researching our policy before we go.
She’ll also be a delegate at a First Ministers’ Conference, which is a realistic simulation that will look into problems facing each attendants’ area. They’ll have to research what issue would fall under whose preview, be it provincial or federal or both, Qian said, who’s more than up to the challenge of researching as it’s helping her fully understand what she so desperately wants to learn — about Canada, and what makes our country what it is.
It’ll be interesting to watch cabinet in session as well, she said, who will have the privilege of sitting in on both the House of Commons and the Senate.
As an international student, she’s not eligible for funding however, so she’s currently fundraising for her trip, which departs on March 26.
Donations are tax deductible if received before May 31, and anybody interested in helping her on her trip of a lifetime can contact her at happyqyj@gmail.com.