photo by Xi Zhang
Sylor Zhang, a former international student who graduated from Douglas College two years ago, is working as a barista in a small café in downtown Vancouver, and working toward her dream.
Zhang submitted her application for permanent resident status, using her last job which is a bookkeeper for a cleaning company a year ago. She is still waiting for the news from the immigration.
After Zhang submitted her application, she quit her job immediately. “I have to start pursuing my dream now,” Zhang says Zhang.
Unlike most young international students who came to Canada for high school or college, Zhang came to Canada with her bachelor degree which she earned in China. She was 24 when she first came to Canada and her parents she was here for her masters degree, and that she could afford her life in Canada.
“It was very hard for me at that time,” Zhang says. “I had to work every day after school as a house cleaner to pay my rent and food.”
She received a diploma on accounting from Douglas College after three years. “After I got my working permit, I can work full-time. Life is getting better, and I was lucky enough to find a job that can help me get my PR card. Somehow with good money I made, I don’t feel happy,” Zhang says.
Zhang has a passion for coffee. Her dream is open a small café, and serve handcrafted coffee. Six months ago, she quit her job and starting pursue her dream.
“I’m turning 30 next year. I feel like it’s time to do something about my dream now,” Zhang says.
Zhang can’t remember how many resumés she drop during the four months she was looking for the barista job. “I couldn’t pay my rent again, I didn’t have money to buy food. I was on ‘diet’ a whole week with only water,” she says. “All my friends told me to give up, and find a ‘real’ job.”
Zhang thought about giving up. “I was rejected for various reasons. I think the main reasons that they rejected me are not [being a] native speaker, and lack of experiences.”
Finally, a newly-opened café, owned by an older German couple, accepted Zhang as their part-time barista.
“I have been doing this job for two months now. I started with zero experience, and now my coffee brought me complements from customers,” Zhang says. “Life in Vancouver is hard, especially for people like me who don’t have a PR card and no money. However, it’s not an excuse for me to quit my dream. I always believe that everyone can achieve their dreams if they want it hard enough.”
Mallory O'Neil
I really enjoyed this story. She’s just a regular person trying to make it here and I think her story was very eye opening. I’ve had friends who’ve struggled with the immigration system as well and it seems to usually be a battle. I think the story format you used was really well done. Good work!
Daniella Javier
I think it’s awesome that she’s pursuing her dream of opening up a cafe of her own! I think we all need to keep pursuing our dreams, even if there are roadblocks along the way. This story was heart-warming!