Student Spotlight: Kayla Charles
Kayla Charles
Program
First-year student in the Faculty of Social Science
Home Country
St. Lucia
Involvement with Western International
International Student
Why I chose Western
I have a few friends from St. Lucia who also study at Western, which made the transition here feel a little more familiar. Back home, high school finishes at grade 11, so I needed to complete a preliminary year before starting university. Before that, I spent two years in high school in the US, but when the COVID pandemic started, I moved back home to St. Lucia. I’d always been interested in studying in Canada, and when I found out Western offered a preliminary program, it felt like the perfect fit. That opportunity was a big part of what brought me here.
Highlights of my Western Experience so far
Overall, my experience at Western has been really positive. I enjoy my classes, and many of my professors make a genuine effort to engage with students during lectures, which helps me grasp concepts on a deeper level. Outside of academics, I’m part of the Caribbean Students' Organization (CSO), which has been a great way to connect with people who share similar backgrounds and experiences. I was also part of the track team for a while and hope to rejoin in the future. Track has always been a big part of my life. My dad was an athlete. He was the one who encouraged me to participate in track. My mom and dad would take me to track meets growing up, they’ve always been my biggest supporters. Before coming to Western, I competed in high school track in the US and won multiple awards. I also competed locally, regionally and internationally for St. Lucia. It’s something I’m really proud of.
My plans for the future
I’m working towards a career as an economist. My mom works in business and was the one who first introduced me to the field. Seeing the impact of what she does has inspired me to follow a similar path. In the future, I see myself living somewhere in Europe, but I definitely plan on visiting St. Lucia often. Home will always be home.
A fun fact about me
Julien Alfred, the 100m Olympic champion 2024, is also from St. Lucia—and we were actually on the same track team! It’s pretty inspiring to see how far she’s gone. Another fact is that I have two dogs back home, a Pitbull and Akita mix and a German Shepherd. I miss them terribly.
