One Rising Star

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020 “An open heart is an open-mind." - Dalai Lama I woke up just a few weeks ago, picked up my phone as I always do, and began scrolling through my social media (Yes, I know, this is a TERRIBLE morning routine!). Something was different that morning though. I kept coming across black squares. Initially, I thought “Hmmm...why aren’t things loading?” But, shortly after, I noticed the captions ‘#blackouttuesday’, ‘#BlackLivesMatter’ and '#BLM'. Later, I turned on the news (which I often avoid) to try to catch up on what was going on. As I watched clips of protests as well as the brutal killing of a black man, suddenly, I began feeling...well...an assortment of emotions. In the few days that followed, I was glued to my TV and my phone trying to keep up with what was happening in the United States and around the world. I’ll completely admit that I wasn’t (and still am not) fully aware of the history of black people in America as well as the...

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020 “Sometimes, you need to look at life from a different perspective.” Back in the summer of 2008, just after I completed my first year teaching, I went on my very first humanitarian trip. Many of the challenges I faced throughout my first year as an educator came as a result of me struggling to understand my students and their families who came from diverse backgrounds. So, in addition to reading books and watching movies to learn about other cultures, I thought a humanitarian trip would be a great opportunity for me to step outside my comfort zone and to gain more insight into the world, outside Canada.  Building project in the Dominican Republic As it's to be expected, the 4 humanitarian trips I joined, in the Dominican Republic and in Peru, really did help me develop a broader perspective on life. While travelling to both countries, I had the opportunity to visit several communities, to spend time in orphanages, to work in schools, to...

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020 “Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation.”   In 2007, I began my first full-time job as a teacher.  To this day, I consider that first job to be one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced,  for a wide-variety of reasons.  That being said, that particular challenge set me up with so many opportunities,  and of course more challenges that turned into more opportunities. Some of the first students I ever taught helped shape the person I am today Over the years, I have learned that challenges can always be turned into opportunities  and that when we think of them in this way, we learn, we grow and most of all, we strengthen our mindset while preparing ourselves for future barriers. Some of my most rewarding moments have come from overcoming adversity The current COVID-19 situation that we are all dealing with  is undoubtedly very difficult in ...

#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...

#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 decision...

#SoManyReasonsToSmile2020 "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost,  to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences." Back in 2010, I travelled to Brazil with two friends from Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).  We spent quite some time exploring what I still consider  one of the most vibrant countries in the world.  Our journey began in Salvador, Bahia where one of my cousins lived at the time.  Salvadors' Afro-Brazilian culture completely won me over.  Its architecture, its music, its dancing and its cuisine was all so fascinating to me.  Our visits to the Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim,  to Mercado Modelo and the Historic Center known as Pelourinho  showed us that Salvador was full of history.  While travelling through the streets,  we often came across some wonderful performances.  Capoeira, an Afro-Bra...