“Over the course of my four years at Redeemer, even among cultural and denominational differences between people, I find myself reminded of how connected we all are… I thought that the differences between me and others from different cultures, upbringings, and beliefs were much larger than I do now. It’s been one of the biggest blessings to embrace those differences and really learn through them and how to connect with other people better.” When asked what he learned from his time at Redeemer, Mycah Winsor reflected on his experience in discovering the interconnectedness of the community and of God’s kingdom as a whole.
Mycah Winsor is in his fourth year at Redeemer, studying Physical Education with a minor in Ministry. Mycah’s attraction to Redeemer back in 2021 was rooted in a desire to play soccer, attend a Christian school, and explore a new part of Canada. Don’t let the blonde hair and blue eyes fool you—Mycah is, in fact, not Dutch! Mycah had a unique upbringing, growing up in several different places (China, Newfoundland, and Malaysia) with many different cultural influences on his development. Before graduating from an international high school in Malaysia, Mycah heard about Redeemer University and was intrigued. Redeemer’s community-based element fitted his outgoing personality and preference for Christ-centred education. It also provided him with the opportunity to play soccer and “see how far [he] could go with it.” Going to Redeemer gave Mycah a chance to form new connections with family members and pay Canadian domestic school fees. More than that, however, going to Redeemer gave Mycah an opportunity to reconnect with his Canadian roots.
Growing up overseas, Mycah always knew he wanted to come back to Canada at some point. “I never felt more Canadian than when I was outside of Canada,” he said when asked about his connection to his Canadian passport. “[If] you grow up being a foreigner…your home nation feels like home in a unique way.” He still felt connected to his home in Malaysia, of course, but found that neither an all-Canadian nor all-Malaysian understanding of home reflected him accurately. “The question of ‘where are you from’ is trying to put you in some sort of frame (contextualize you) and I don’t think saying I’m from Canada accurately contextualizes me… Saying I grew up most of my life in Asia, while that is not a perfect picture of my family and my childhood, at least opens the door for how those two identities melt together.”
For Mycah, coming to Redeemer meant incorporating a new element of culture into his life. Having to balance his TCK (“third culture kid”—a term used to describe persons who grow up in a culture distinctly separate from their parents’ culture) identity with his Canadian identity was a part of his university transition that added unique challenges. When asked about how this transition impacted his identity, Mycah expressed that moving did not bring any core identity impact. “I wouldn’t say that I moved and became a different person… The adaptations that I have made in Canada have not really been foundation-shaking parts of my identity.” Throughout all of the environmental differences, Mycah remained true to himself and true to his identity in God. Early in his Redeemer career, Mycah made long-lasting friendships that continue to support and bless him. “I was shocked at how many quality friendships were formed and how early they were formed at Redeemer. Early on, I recognized that I was very blessed to find friends that I am still now close with.” It is these friendships and an appreciation for Redeemer culture as a whole that has allowed Mycah to truly understand how connected we all are in Christ.