Identity

Nasma Asfour

Representation and Inclusion Experiences of International Students in Toronto

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Hi! I’m Nasma Asfour, a Professional Communication student at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Moving to Toronto as an international student, I expected to find connection easily in such a diverse environment. But over time, I started to notice how belonging isn’t always as natural or immediate as it’s made out to be. There were moments where I felt present, but not fully seen and that made me question what it actually means to feel included in a space.

That experience pushed me to look closer at the small, everyday interactions that shape how we feel seen, included, or invisible. This project is a reflection of those moments, and of my own experience trying to understand where I fit. It’s not just research to me, it’s something I’ve lived, and something I hope more people start paying attention to.

University is often described as a place where you find your people. But what happens when you don’t? This project started from my own experience as an international student in Toronto, where I began to notice how belonging isn’t always as natural as it seems. It explores how international students describe inclusion through everyday social interactions like group work, classroom moments, and casual conversations.

While universities promote diversity and connection, many students describe feeling invisible, excluded, or unsure of where they fit.

Through analyzing real student experiences alongside academic research, four key themes emerged: feeling invisible, social exclusion, being “in between” cultures, and internalized self-blame.

What this research shows is that belonging isn’t built through big programs, it’s shaped in the small, everyday interactions that often go unnoticed.

Lightning Talk

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