Geography student finds resilience in SFU community during pandemic

Siya Amin was in SFU’s residence building when she received the news that in-person classes would halt due to the threat of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

After beginning her studies as a Global Environmental Systems Major, Siya was surprised by how much she enjoyed the program, from learning about earth’s natural landscapes to studying major climate effects.

“I did not know I would enjoy learning about geography as much as I do,” she says.

After spending three years at SFU, Siya was optimistic about the opportunity to return to her home-town in Kenya and complete the semester surrounded by family.

Between the stress of the pandemic, shifting time zones, and increasing workloads, Siya began to feel the weight of our unprecedented year.

In an attempt to combat this, Siya began to engage with friends over Zoom, helping to motivate herself while back home in Kenya.

“We would all be in different parts of the world and when all my friends are studying, it would get easier,” says Siya.

Now back at SFU, Siya is excited to explore all opportunities her program has to offer with an appreciation for how she has grown through her time at university.

“I am most proud of the person I have become… after coming to SFU I have really built my self-confidence and met a lot of people from different places.”