People of Georgian: Student embraces Latin heritage amid new opportunities

What’s your story?

The Georgian community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives —and we’re sharing them as part of an ongoing series. This week, we’re profiling Valentina Jimenez Rivera, an international student and employee who’s participating in this year’s Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition Nov. 14 and 15. Let’s go Grizzlies! With Latin American Heritage Month also wrapping up just last month, Valentina shares why it’s so important for her to connect with her culture, as well as embrace new learning opportunities in Canada.

People of Georgian: Meet Valentina Jimenez Rivera

My profession in Colombia was social communicator and journalist.

I had been working in digital marketing around seven years when I decided to come to Canada to have an experience at Georgian to study business marketing. I wanted to study deeply about the industry and know more about the North American market.

My husband and I came to Canada in August 2023.

A person wearing a winter jacket and toque and holding a camera stands outside in the snow. — *Valentina and her husband* *moved to Canada over a year ago.*

Embracing new opportunities in a new country

I felt confident in Colombia because I was in my environment and people already knew me and my work, but here, I am starting from zero.

My first language is Spanish, and it’s hard in a different language in a different country because sometimes you want to explain something but don’t know how. It’s a bigger challenge for me, but I’m taking opportunities and trying to do my best.

One opportunity is I was selected to be on Georgian’s team for the Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition.

I will have 30 minutes to review a case study, and my partner and I will have to make a marketing plan in seven slides, and then we have 15 minutes to present the plan. We will compete with people from around Ontario, so it will be a big challenge for me because, again, it’s in my second language, but I am so excited.

I feel that when you have an opportunity – take it!

Two people smile from a viewing platform with Niagara Falls in the background. — *Valentina and her husband, Juan Rodriguez, are embracing new experiences in Canada.*

Valentina goes outside her comfort zone

Back in Colombia, my husband and I were running a digital marketing business, so we are trying to do it again here to support local businesses.

We are currently in the Further Faster program through Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre, and they’re helping to explain how to build our brand, how to stay organized, and more.

I know a lot of people who came to Canada from different professions who decided to come here to have a new experience and challenge themselves, so it is a big challenge for me, but I am so glad I decided to come here and go outside my comfort zone.

Connecting Latinos at Georgian

Culturally, when I arrived, I didn’t meet a lot of people from Latin America, but then I realized we were just spread out and needed a way to come together.

So, a friend and I decided to create the Latino Club at Georgian.

Two people wearing T-shirts reading "Latino Club" smile at the camera. — *Valentina, right, helped start the Latino Club at Georgian.*

We have about 75 people in a WhatsApp group, with about 15 or 20 people who come to activities. Now they have a community where they can go to meet people just like them and get support if they need something.

Speaking a different language in a different country is difficult, but Latin people are so kind and embrace everyone. When you go to a Latin country, you are going to find people smiling, dancing, singing. We are so proud to be Latinos.

A person stands outside and holds up a yellow, blue and red Colombia flag behind them. — *Valentina is proud of her Colombian heritage.*

Two people and a dog stand outside with buildings and storefronts behind them. — *Valentina with her husband, in his Colombia shirt, and their dog.*

‘I will never forget my past. It makes me who I am’

I like so much that in Canada you can learn more about other cultures, but you are always going to miss your culture and family. For example, Latinos celebrate everything; in our countries, every month we are celebrating something. In December in Colombia, we celebrate all month.

Here in Canada, it is different. It’s cold and every day is not a party with your family and friends. So last year, the Latino Club organized hangouts to commemorate important days for us.

It’s good to have friends from different cultures, but there’s a special feeling when I’m with friends from my culture. We understand each other better.

I’m glad for new opportunities in life, but I also love the place I was born and will never forget my past. It makes me who I am.

Valentina Jimenez Rivera (she/her), a student in the Business – Marketing (Co-op) program and a visual designer at Georgian’s Barrie Campus.

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