Skip to main content

The next chapter


When I was younger I dreamt about visiting Mexico. I had an apparent passion for learning Spanish and new things about the latin culture. Little did I know, this passion would go far beyond Mexico and Spanish. 

5 years ago, I started teaching at an amazing French school called Pavillon de la jeunesse in Hamilton, Ontario. This school brought forth many challenges, but with every obstacle I surpassed, I learnt so much about myself and the World around me. I was lucky enough to work with a very multicultural group of kids who in the end probably taught me just as much as I taught them. Thank you to all the students and staff members I was privileged to work with in the last 5 years!  

After my first year teaching, my passion for learning about new cultures and for helping others fuelled me to go on my first humanitarian trip. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time, but the experience was absolutely life changing. Within about 3 years, I went to the Dominican Republic 3 times with a great group now called Live Different-Hero Holiday. On every one of those trips I was able to push myself a little further into different situations I had never dreamt of encountering before such as building houses and working in a garbage dump. Thank you to everyone on those Hero Holiday trips; the staff, the participants and all the great people I met and worked with in the communities.

Just over a year ago, my dad brought home a newspaper article about a girl doing humanitarian work in Peru. He knew right away that this article would interest me, and he was so right! I got in contact with the person of interest and next thing I knew, I was signing up for my 4th humanitarian trip, but this time in Peru. I was so excited to push myself even further this time, travelling to a new destination with a new group of people. What a great experience it was! I got to teach English to kids and to some of the local teachers. Every minute of it was rewarding! Once again, a big thanks to everyone on that trip; Solidarity in Action (SIA) staff, participants and everyone in the communities! 

Teaching and going on humanitarian trips have been very valuable experiences for me, but I have also done a few trips just for pleasure and they have been just as great. I have travelled to Brazil, Argentina (only for a few hours), Chile and just recently, I FINALLY made my way to MEXICO! My long-time dream came true! 

Everything I have experienced thus far in life has allowed me to grow and to learn so much about myself, but I am far from done! There is so much more I want to learn! So, in just over a month, I will be starting a new chapter in my life. I will be moving to Dubai to teach French in the primary level at an international school called Greenfield Community School (GCS). I am ready to confront the new challenges that will be presented to me. I look forward to pushing myself, once again, just a little further in order to grow and to learn more about myself, my profession, my passions, new cultures, new people, new languages...

Please stay tuned for updates...

Thank you to EVERYONE (tagged or accidentaly forgotten) who has been a part of my life thus far! Pavillon de la jeunesse, Live Different - Hero Holiday, Solidarity in Action (SIA), Zumba crew, family and friends! Believe me, you have all hepled me grow and chase my dreams! 

The key to happiness is having dreams. The key to success is making your dreams come true.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...

Locked in.

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...