As I look out of the frosty panes of glass, I see the sun
begin to poke its way past the horizon. It is a cold winter morning and we
cling to our blankets for a bit of warmth and comfort. About half of us sleep
while the other half sit in a nearly meditational state. The bus is serenely
quiet and only the sound of humming motor strumming us along can be heard. It
is the dawn of a new day as we head out to “Nowhere”, SK.
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| Nothing but long stretches of highway in Northern Saskatchewan. |
We endure early wakeup calls, brave the cold climate, and
sit through hours of bus travelling nearly every day. It is hard at times, but
we know our small sacrifices are worth it for the work that we do. We set out
to change lives every day, a tall
order that I am proud to say we accomplish.
Through the good and the “less good”, I can honestly say
that Live Different Academy is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I
love everything about this unusual lifestyle; I love what I’m doing, who I’m
with, and where I am. Most
importantly, I am learning to love myself.
Live Different is providing me with the tools to love myself at where I’m at
and the tools to transition into the person I want to become.
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| A moment of peace between shows in Penticton, BC. |
What I do
justifies all my all complains about the road life. I can proudly say that I actually
look forward to and enjoy my job. I like speaking onstage and I love talking to
students after the show. In all honesty, connecting with students is my
favorite part. Coming into the Academy, I had no idea that students would be so
willing to talk to me. I thought no one would be willing to connect with me
since I didn’t share a personal story on stage. Was I ever wrong. Students
approach me every day for a variety of reasons. Some want to let us know how
much they liked the show, some want to know more about the Hero Holiday
program, and some just need an outlet. It feels great to be able to help them
out with whatever they’re going through. Regardless of what we talk about, I
feel like I grow after each conversation. I learn to be a better listener, a
better speaker, and a better friend. In a world that lacks some serious
compassion and empathy, I learn to care for complete strangers every day. In
sum, the best part of my job is that I get to help myself through helping
others.
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| Frolicking through golden fields in Prince Albert, SK. |
Who I am
surrounded with is a group of zany, kind, and inspirational young adults aiming
to make a difference in the world. Each of them have taught me so much about
life and how I want to live mine, whether they know they have done so or not.
They each possess sets of skills that I pick out and aspire to gain. Best of
all, they are never-ending sources of love and encouragement. I know that I
could go up to any one of them with a problem and they would listen and help me
to the best of their abilities. They act as shining lights guiding me through my
journey. They have made me laugh, cry, push my boundaries, and grow. They are
the best kind of people to surround myself with and I feel blessed to have them
around.
Where I am changes
on a day to day basis, and I like it like that. Each province has its own qualities
that I come to love. I’ve fallen for the golden fields and endless horizon of
Saskatchewan and Alberta’s varying scenery. I’ve even come to love the cold,
snowy lands of Manitoba. Most of all, I adore the beautiful mountains of
British Columbia. My heart melts every time I see them. I cherish BC so much
that I envision myself living there someday. I am so fortunate to have the
opportunity to explore my country and to wake up in a new place every day. I
truly had no idea how beautiful and spectacular our “home and native land”
really is.
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| A beautiful lookout on top on Mount Sulfur in Banff, AB. |
Throughout this entire tour experience, the most notable
change in my life is in myself. I am not the same person I was in Hamilton some
three months ago. I felt like I was treading water until Live Different threw
me a life preserver. I am now learning to embrace the past, and learning that only
my present self defines me. Live Different is encouraging me to grow into to
person I want to become, and teaching me to love myself throughout the
transition. I am becoming more and more aware of my immense potential as I am
challenged to use it. I am becoming a leader and an overall better person. Best
of all, I’m learning to never, ever, be afraid to Live Different–ly.
