SASKATOON — Asian Heritage Month at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) represents an opportunity for Soma Bidar Pour to share her story – one of the many being celebrated at during this month of reflection, recognition and learning.
“I was born and raised as a Kurd in Iran. As a feminist, my story is one of resilience,” said Bidar Pour, who is one of the student co-chairs of the USask Asian Heritage Month planning committee.
Feminism is a central tenet of Bidar Pour’s identity, which is rooted in her dedication to academia and the pursuit of learning – her path forward.
“Education became a mission for me that needed to be accomplished,” she said.
USask commemorates the nationally recognized Asian Heritage Month in May, presenting an opportunity for reflection, recognition and learning about the members of the diverse Asian communities spanning East Asia, 麻豆视频 East Asia, 麻豆视频 Asia, Western Asia and Central Asia.
Being in Canada has given Bidar Pour a unique perspective on the freedoms that can so easily be taken for granted.
“I had the privilege of being part of an exceptional department and studying under the guidance of incredibly supportive professors—something I had always dreamed of," she said.
“My supervisor, in particular, was an immense source of support. While I’ve experienced many meaningful academic moments here in Canada—moments that have become part of my everyday life—I remain deeply aware that not everyone has the same freedom to pursue their academic goals.”
Bidar Pour recently completed her coursework to earn a master’s degree in political science at USask. She will begin a PhD in political science at the University of Ottawa this fall.
Julie Su is the fellow student co-chair for the event. She came to Canada from China in 2021 to study education, joining a small cohort of international students accepted to the program each year.
Though she began learning English at the age of four, Su found the program challenging at first, especially when it came to understanding her lecturers and reading academic papers.
In addition to the weather, which was very different than in her home in 麻豆视频ern China, she was struck by the immense cultural differences between the Chinese and Canadian education systems.
In China, high school students are in school Monday through Saturday from 7:30 am until 10:30 pm, with homework to follow. Class sizes are much larger, and grades are paramount.
She also found the relationships between teachers and students to be quite different.
“I was really amazed doing my first internship. I found my collaborative teacher was very friendly to his students and built really strong relationships with students,” she said. “He knows the students’ gifts, and trusts that every student has their own gifts. Every student has their worth.”
Su was able to share her experiences to broaden her own students’ perspectives during her teaching practicums.
Su recently completed her final exams and will graduate from the College of Education this spring. She plans to teach high school math in Saskatoon.
“I’m really looking forward to beginning my career as an educator,” she said.
Both students were nominated by faculty members to serve as student co-chairs of the Asian Heritage Month committee, and they have worked to organize and support the events that will take place during the month of May.
This is the second year a committee has come together to plan activities and learning opportunities in recognition of Asian Heritage Month. This year’s theme is “Reclaiming Asian ‘Excellence.’”
“Sharing the stories of resilience can be really inspiring,” said Bidar Pour. “Lots of people sometimes find themselves alone. Lots of other people have been through hardships, and they have resisted. They have found new ways to resist, and to live and to stay proud in their life.”
— Submitted by USask Media Relations
