UNB News
News and stories from one of Canada’s top universities

Every twist and turn in UNB graduate Mansi Kumar’s academic journey helped her discover her true calling in helping others.

For Mansi Kumar, an international student from Kenya with Indian heritage, beginning her journey at the University of New Brunswick was anything but linear.

Arriving in Fredericton in the heart of winter, mid-academic year, after completing two years of university in Malaysia, she knew her experience would be unique and challenging. Fortunately for Kumar, her story unfolded into one defined by deep friendship and meaningful connections.

“I came at the beginning of January, and it was my first time experiencing winter,” Kumar recalled. “I discovered black ice by slipping on it. That was not fun.”

Accompanied by her father to ease the transition, Kumar began to settle in and started to feel the warmth of the UNB community. She joined student societies such as the African-Caribbean Society and the Asian Society, where she was welcomed with open arms.

“I was nervous about being accepted by both the African-Caribbean and Asian communities,” said Kumar. “Usually, I’m met with being seen as more Kenyan than Indian, or more Indian than Kenyan. I didn’t want to choose because both cultures are part of what make me whole. Thankfully, I was embraced wholeheartedly by both, and that meant everything to me.”

Still, the transition wasn’t easy. Kumar struggled with feelings of isolation and self-doubt.

“For the first month, just finding someone who wanted to be my friend was really hard,” said Kumar. “I felt so old at 22, like I was behind in life.”

One of the most pivotal moments in Kumar’s journey came when she met her friend Claire, a fellow student who shared similar experiences of growing up and navigating shifting friendships.

“We clicked instantly,” said Kumar. “It felt like we only had each other for a while, and that scared me, but it also grounded me.”

While Kumar’s new friendship was flourishing, so was her academic path. When her original plan to pursue a master’s degree in psychology didn’t unfold as expected, she discovered UNB’s arts internship program.

Through the program, she secured a full-time internship at Autism Connections, a local organization dedicated to helping individuals with autism thrive and connect.

“This internship was a blessing,” said Kumar. “It gave me hands-on experience in community work, which is a key prerequisite for the master of education in counselling program I plan on applying to at UNB.”

“Working at Autism Connections has not only helped me build my professional skills, but it’s also deepened my passion for helping others,” said Kumar. “I’ve always wanted to be in a role where I can support people through their challenges and counselling feels like the right path for me. It’s where I can make a real difference.”

With the support of friends like Claire and Tabatha Armstrong, student engagement officer in the faculty of arts, Kumar found the strength to persevere.

“I realized I’m unbelievably young to be worried about where I should be in life. If I managed to get here, I’m meant to be here.”

Now, as she prepares to cross the stage at UNB’s Fredericton campus with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, Kumar reflects on her journey with pride and perspective. She compares the emotional whirlwind of her university experience to the title of the Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once.

“To be honest, that’s exactly how I’ve felt: Everything was everywhere all at once,” she said. “But now, there’s a finish line. I couldn’t see it before—but I always knew it was there.”