One Rising Star

Some people find my accent charming Others find it very alarming They think it’s unusual   At times some would even say it’s brutal Certain comments are upsetting And really unsettling I won’t let this go I refuse to lay low Criticizing others for the way they speak Seems to me pretty weak We all come from a different place Can’t we try to embrace? The accents we’ve acquired Should be admired They make us all unique Isn’t that something we should seek? I’m pleased with who I’ve become And it’s all thanks to where I’ve come from Many things are important to me My accent is one most definitely I’ll forever stay true to my roots There is absolutely no excuse No matter what form of the languages I may speak One thing's for sure, open-mindedness will always be the attitude I preach

Miles and miles and miles apart Every week I look forward for your next game to start Early mornings aren’t always easy for me But it’s so worth it to see you play the wonderful game of hockey Passionate, determined and focused on your dream Seriously, who wouldn’t want you on their team? You’ve proven yourself to truly be One tough warrior, this everyone can see Now keep working hard Don’t catch us off-guard We believe in you We know your wishes will come true                                                                                                                                     Happy Birthday bro! Love you around the...

To all of my  family and friends  who listen to me, who support me, who encourage me, who comfort me and who laugh with me... THANK YOU  for being there for me throughout all the ups and downs of 2014.    "Family and friends fill our lives with happiness and laughter giving us memories to treasure today and forever after"   Hong Kong                                                             India   Colombia     USA                                                             China Canada   Dubai Looking forward to many more memorable moments in 2015!

Turning 30 isn’t just like any other birthday -  It’s a milestone! I once read : 30 - That's when you start being considered "old". YIKES!  In exactly 6 months from today, I will be reaching the BIG 3-0! Though at times it does sound a little scary to get older, when I take a look back at everything I’ve experienced and accomplished before turning 30, I can’t help but be happy for all that's happened and be excited for all that is to come. Before turning 30, I have... -graduated from university -got a good job  -been successful in a variety of sports and activities -been on some of the most life changing humanitarian trips  -accomplished my dream of living and working abroad -travelled to over 20 countries around the World -... AND...AS OF LAST WEEK...I HAVE FINALLY COMPLETED MY MISSION TO VISIT ALL  NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD Christ Redeemer, Brazil - My trip to Brazil was absolutely unforgettable! It was my fi...

Well well well... Another summer vacation has come to an end, but thankfully, I created some great memories! Let's take a look... I must admit, the greatest highlight was simply spending time with my family ; sitting together, exchanging stories, sharing laughs, singing country music, going out to dinner, watching my brothers play hockey, spending time with my mom, having my dad act like my client at the gym... I love my family!!! Other summer highlights: A stop in Geneva, Switzerland exploring the city and watching the World Cup with people from around the World 4th of July weekend in Michigan, USA spending time with family on the Lake A trip to Bogota, Colombia exploring the city with a friend and her family A weekend in Toronto studying to become a personal trainer and spending an evening with my brother and his girlfriend at the aquarium A weekend in Montréal, spending time with a childhood friend and attending her wedding Of c...

The people around me who never give up always inspire me. I’m thinking about those people who face challenges, but who choose to react to them in a way that allows them to grow into some of the strongest people I know.  Once again, the past 10 months living in Dubai have been filled with many challenges; some at work, some in my family life, some in my social life and some in my personal life. I've struggled to work through some of these challenges, but in the end I've also realized how strong of a person they've helped me to become.  "I am an unfinished work in progress. One of the good things about life's challenges: I get to find out that I am capable of being far more than I ever thought possible." One of the biggest challenges I have faced in recent months is being away from my family during some difficult times. As many people know, this past January, just a few days after his birthday, my brother Nic was the victim of a ver...

Over the last 6 weeks, I have been "mentoring" two Grade 5 students with regards to their Exhibition project about racism in sports.  These students have blown me away with their passion for their chosen topic, their commitment to their project and all of their great work habits. Tonight, they presented their work to their families and a variety of other individuals. They demonstrated great confidence and great knowledge, while explaining and answering every question ever so accurately. They spoke about their research, field trips, interviews, and positive actions, while sharing valuable facts, findings and opinions.  The students created a large presentation board integrating a variety of subjects, strands and skills.   It's truly amazing to see such young kids produce such amazing work!  The students made it out to one of my soccer (football) games! What a great experience!  When I began "mentoring" these two stu...