From security guard to Concordia student: Montrealer achieves long-held dream
Posted January 2, 2026 6:08 pm.
Last Updated January 9, 2026 4:36 pm.
The excitement was at an all-time high when Montrealer Tadjadine Cherif Nahar received his offer of admission to Concordia University for winter 2026.
For years, students knew him as the calm, steady Campus Safety and Prevention Services staff member who checked IDs during late-night hours at the Webster Library.
Now, he is preparing to walk those same hallways not as security staff, but as a student pursuing the academic journey he has long dreamed of.
From late-night ID checks to student life
Cherif began working at Concordia in March 2024 as part of the Campus Safety and Prevention Services team.
“I was working all over the campus,” he said. “At the time, I was very inspiring. Like, am I going to be here all my life, or I have to do something else, or like, what’s my next step? By the time, I worked here for quite a long time, and I realized that why not to be one of the students instead of protecting the learning space.”
As a security officer, he helped ensure the campus felt safe and welcoming.
“Here we have a mission to protect the environment, whether students, staff, professors, faculty, and visitors. So everyone feels safe in a good environment, and we do customer services and guide the students and newcomers on campus.”
He described his late-night responsibilities: “We help them, and we do ID checks, especially at night shifts after 11 p.m., because you know there’s cleaners and stuff like that. There’s something going on in the community, right? Concordia is a big community. So we make sure that after 11 p.m., only Concordia students or only Concordians belong to Concordia to be in there.”
Cherif attended open houses to explore his academic options.
“I attended it in 2024, and it was very interesting. I inspired it, and I applied it right away after that open house. I applied it. I still needed some pre-recorded courses and some preparation, because in my background I had never studied English, neither French, so I needed to prepare myself well to be at Concordia University. Then I gave myself some space, and then I came back to 2025, open house. At that time I met with a lot of interesting people, a lot of information. Then I applied it, and I accepted.”
A journey that began far from Montreal
Born and raised in Chad, Cherif first studied nursing at King Faisal University, learning biology, chemistry, and patient care. He speaks Zaghawa, Arabic, English, and French.
Moving to Canada meant leaving behind family, friends, and everything familiar — and starting over.
He emphasized the importance of persistence. “Back home, I know education, especially higher education, for many, is straightforward. For others, it’s a story about resilience, persistence, determination, in my case, for example. So just keep moving, keep moving and never give up.”
Reaching a long-term goal
Cherif recalled the moment he received his admission letter.
“Oh, that’s unforgettable. I wasn’t expected. I was working hard for that for sure, and I was ready for that. And I prepared myself well, because being in such a university, Concordia is one of the greatest universities in the world. So it was neat courage, determination, hard work, and belief in what you want to be in the future.
“Then I focus on myself, focus on my languages, and then I apply it. That day I received an email saying that it’s an offer at the mission from Concordia University. It was like, wow. So this is where I have to begin my journey. And then I was super happy. I shared with my friends. I never forget that day.”
His semester begins in two weeks.
“I’m going to be studying in political science, majoring in political science, and I plan to add a minor in law and human society. So the reason why I’m doing all this, and before that I had a nurse background back home, I’m from a nurse student to a Concordia student in political science, and aiming to add law and society.”
Cherif also reflected on the personal challenges of starting over.
“I’m here today. Moving away from your parents, from home, from your comfort zone, it’s really challenging. But you have to know why you are moving. When I came here, I faced a lot of obstacles, but I’m still moving forward because I have something to be achieved. I’m really glad.”
He added that his journey is bigger than himself.
“This new beginning is not just about me,” Cherif said. “It’s about the people I hope to inspire, the communities I want to support, and the leadership role I aim to play both nationally and internationally.”
From night-shift security to university student, Cherif’s story is a reminder that setbacks can become stepping stones, and that hard work and determination can turn dreams that once felt impossible into reality.
