Angad Singh: “To all the newcomers I say, 'Don’t wait for opportunities to come knocking, go out and find them.'”
Growing up in Punjab, India, life was never easy for Angad Singh and his sister.
He lost his mother early in life and was raised by his grandparents as his father’s job as a professor of languages took him away from home frequently.
“My grandmother took care of us,” says Angad, “but we had to look after ourselves, and make decisions at a very young age.”
When he was barely 18, Angad's father also passed away, and Angad made the difficult decision to leave India for better prospects.
Arriving in London in 2010, he chose to pursue a three-year program at Fanshawe College.
Then 19, Angad says he had prepared himself for many culture shocks.
Yet, he felt the homesickness terribly.
He missed being with his family on special occasions. He felt deeply not having someone to come home to or a hug from his grandmother.
The time difference between London and his hometown made Angad's feelings of isolation worse since it meant he didn’t get to talk to his sister or his family in India as often as he would have liked.
“Homesickness does take a toll,” Angad says.
“When I went back to India in 2018, I got to spend my birthday with my family for the first time in eight years.”
He lost his mother early in life and was raised by his grandparents as his father’s job as a professor of languages took him away from home frequently.
“My grandmother took care of us,” says Angad, “but we had to look after ourselves, and make decisions at a very young age.”
When he was barely 18, Angad's father also passed away, and Angad made the difficult decision to leave India for better prospects.
Arriving in London in 2010, he chose to pursue a three-year program at Fanshawe College.
Then 19, Angad says he had prepared himself for many culture shocks.
Yet, he felt the homesickness terribly.
He missed being with his family on special occasions. He felt deeply not having someone to come home to or a hug from his grandmother.
The time difference between London and his hometown made Angad's feelings of isolation worse since it meant he didn’t get to talk to his sister or his family in India as often as he would have liked.
“Homesickness does take a toll,” Angad says.
“When I went back to India in 2018, I got to spend my birthday with my family for the first time in eight years.”
Angad says he’s grateful for the Gurdwara, a place of worship, where London’s community of Sikhs meet to pray, eat and support each other. It made his transition to living in a new country a little bit easier.
“It gave me inner peace to be able to listen to my mother tongue and talk with the elders of my community,” Angad says.
When reminiscing about his early years in London, Angad says feeling welcome in the community also helped his integration.
“I was the only guy with a beard and turban in the Multimedia Design and Production program at Fanshawe, but I never felt any discrimination from my professors or my classmates,” he says.
Angad feels that his ability to speak English, which he says is his third language, was vital in helping him achieve his goals in London.
“Communication is the key that really helped me out in those early years,” Angad says. “To all the newcomers I say, invest in yourself by learning the language. Don’t wait for opportunities to come knocking, go out and find them.”
Among his many achievements, Angad is most proud of his contribution to the community. As a mortgage broker, he says the most rewarding is seeing his clients get one step closer to their dreams.
“I love being part of such big life moments for them,” Angad says.
Angad feels that his major sacrifice was having to leave his family behind.
“But looking back now, it was well worth it because I have achieved so much,” reflects Angad, who owns his own home, has married his childhood sweetheart, and runs two successful businesses.
“If I hadn't made that sacrifice, I would only be able to hope for a better life for my family.”
“It gave me inner peace to be able to listen to my mother tongue and talk with the elders of my community,” Angad says.
When reminiscing about his early years in London, Angad says feeling welcome in the community also helped his integration.
“I was the only guy with a beard and turban in the Multimedia Design and Production program at Fanshawe, but I never felt any discrimination from my professors or my classmates,” he says.
Angad feels that his ability to speak English, which he says is his third language, was vital in helping him achieve his goals in London.
“Communication is the key that really helped me out in those early years,” Angad says. “To all the newcomers I say, invest in yourself by learning the language. Don’t wait for opportunities to come knocking, go out and find them.”
Among his many achievements, Angad is most proud of his contribution to the community. As a mortgage broker, he says the most rewarding is seeing his clients get one step closer to their dreams.
“I love being part of such big life moments for them,” Angad says.
Angad feels that his major sacrifice was having to leave his family behind.
“But looking back now, it was well worth it because I have achieved so much,” reflects Angad, who owns his own home, has married his childhood sweetheart, and runs two successful businesses.
“If I hadn't made that sacrifice, I would only be able to hope for a better life for my family.”