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McBride is just inside the British Columbia border in the Central Interior region of the province. It is a small town with only a few thousand residents. I did not live in McBride but an even smaller place called Dunster.
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I attended Dunster Elementary School from kindergarten to grade seven. This school was a unique environment to learn in. The primary class consisted of split instruction of kindergarten to grade three while the intermediate grades were taught in the same manner for grades four to seven. The school had two classrooms and one gymnasium. Over half of the school property consisted of forested land and the students were given freedoms that are unheard of in schools now.
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I attended grade eight in McBride, the neighbouring town. This school ended up being home to some of my least favourite educational experiences. There is not enough room here to fully speak to it. Feel like hearing more? I'd love to chat!
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This is the year that I quit school. I formally left school for several months. I then, following a good break, decided to home school myself. After enough time passed, I decided to return to McBride to finish my schooling. Yet again, I have so much to say on this but not enough room to say it.
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Upon my return to formal schooling, I structured my year around my interests and focused on my passions. It was a difficult time for both the administrators of the school and myself. None of us really understood how to facilitate schooling for a student like me.
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I did it! It was a long, twisted, hard, and at times dark journey. But I do not regret a single moment of it.
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I have worked in Lake Louise on and off again for many years. The work includes construction, safety and maintenance of the world cup downhill ski race track. It is seasonal work that allowed me to basically live on my skis. As a result of this, I am a passionate and slightly less avid skier than I would like to be.
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I was awarded this incredible honour in order to give me financial and personal aid as I progressed through my studies. In order to receive this award I had to provide evidence of being a leader in the First Nations and Metis Community.
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I attended one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the world! My time at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is one of my fondest memories. I loved every minute of it and it was the beginning of my realisation that not only do I love learning, I am good at it.
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After a small amount of time being a professional chef, I felt that I wanted to try my hand at something else. Welding! I still continued my career as a chef while I completed this certification.
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The day I met my wife Leah was the true beginning of my life.
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Yet again, I decided to try my hand at something new. I followed my passion for helping people and decided to obtain my EMR certification. This was an eye opening experience for me in many ways and allowed me to work towards my Emergency Medical Technician certification as well.
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Enough said...
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Yet again, I can't explain enough how much this impacted my life. But it made me complete.
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This is when I began to truly wonder about myself. I couldn't stop myself from learning. I had decided to become a teacher!
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Harlow has been one of the LARGEST sources of learning in my life. She may be small but her impact is immeasurable. The amount of joy she brings to my life is equally without bounds.
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After a little longer than I had hoped, I finished my formal training through Red Deer College and entered into the Middle Years Collaborative Program. Yet again, I wouldn't change a thing. I took two extra years to spend extra time with my new daughter Harlow!
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I entered this program and was so nervous and excited at the same time. I was welcomed with open arms and made immediate and lasting friendships. The last two years have been incredible. I need more time and space to discuss my feelings about this program.
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My time at Eastview Middle School, here in Red Deer, was so fun. It was busy and hectic and intense but I miss it! I look back on my time there fondly and would love the opportunity to return there. I wish that I could have stayed.
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Yet again, another massive source for learning in my life. What a joy this little guy has been for us!
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I am so excited to be at this school. What an amazing place for our community's kids to come and learn. I can hardly wait to be fully immersed in this little world.
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Words are not enough to explain how I feel about this. I have mixed emotions when I think about completing this program. Gratitude, relief, loneliness, happiness, pride, anxiety, but mostly pride. I am SO proud of what I have done in this program.
