One Rising Star

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020 “When you can’t control what is happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what’s happening. That’s where your power is!”   I think everyone would agree that the beginning of 2020, even more so the month of March, has been anything but ordinary. At this point, the Coronavirus pandemic has pretty much affected every single one of us in some kind of way. Trips have been cancelled, events have been postponed, places have shut down, people have been left stranded in various spots around the world, many have been forced to work from home while others have lost their jobs, teaching and learning have looked very different lately, and of course, toilet paper and hand sanitizer have been in high demand. Back in early February, I had heard that my ex-colleagues in Vietnam had begun teaching their students online due to school closures as a preventative measure against the spread of COVID-19. At the time, a small part of me was a lit

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020 ”The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”     Just about 9 months ago, I made the decision not to return to my teaching position in Vietnam for the 2019-2020 academic year. The decision wasn’t easy and it most definitely wasn’t planned, but after months of uncertainty, I knew returning to teach there wasn’t the right decision for me at the time.   Initially, I leaned towards taking a year off from teaching to coach at the gym and to focus on participating in more CrossFit competitions, but those plans went out the window fairly quickly when I faced a few unexpected challenges. In just a few months, my life seemed like it had turned upside down. I found myself 'alone', with no job, no home and absolutely no plans. It was just me with two large suitcases and a backpack full of my belongings.  I eventually left Vietnam, travelled to Indonesia, then to Hawaii before returning to Canada. I knew my decisions to take s