MississaugaNews

It took time for Sneha Grace Koshy and her family to adapt to Canadian life after immigrating to Mississauga from Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2008.

The 18-year-old St. Marcellinus Secondary School student wrote in an RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians application essay that although it was an exciting, new experience, it took a while for her parents to find jobs and for her and her brother to settle into their new schools and community.

Now, she said, her family has succeeded in what they set out to have — a better life and more educational opportunities.

Koshy, who's in Grade 12, was among 12 students from across Canada who recently received a $3,500 scholarship. The scholarship is based on academic achievement and responses to the three, 250-word essay questions about personal immigration experiences, how immigration has shaped Canada, and advice to others who are going through similar experiences.

Nearly 1,400 applications were submitted to the annual RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians.
In its fourth year, the scholarship program aims to recognize the important role new Canadians play in Canada's cultural, social and economic development.

It also seeks to help some of the brightest new immigrant students achieve their academic and career goals.
Koshy, who plans to study accounting at University of Waterloo in the fall, said she's thrilled about winning the scholarship. She said she had been looking for scholarships that could help pay her tuition.
"This (contest) seemed to fit my situation as a new immigrant and I was able to write more about this essay than others," she said.

Planning to get her master's after her degree, Koshy said she's thankful for the opportunity to have a better life.
"It's nerve-wracking when you first come here, but it's obviously a better country with a lot of resources like free education, healthcare and lots of opportunities," she said.
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