Times are Changing
As some of you know (from reading my last post I hope), I've completed my degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Wintec. Its been a great three years! I cannot thank the staff in Q block enough for the mentorship they provided throughout my degree. There is so much I can thank them for but I will save that for graduation day!
The last big change was when I decided I would be studying in New Zealand. The decision to move from Canada back to New Zealand was a simple one at first. I was excited to finally know what I was going to do with my life (or so I thought lol). I was excited to move back to the place I always called home. But most of all, I was excited to be close to my Dad's side of the family again. I've been pro New Zealand since day 1! I never got sick of correcting people of my origins. I have always been a proud Cook Islander and made sure everyone knew it. When the opportunity presented itself to once again be closer to that side of my family, I snapped it up, and as my leaving date got closer, my excitement grew! This was my first adventure where I had made where the decision was all my own. Call it my becoming-an-adult moment. True to form, I was broke, and if anything went wrong, I would have had no form of currency to get out of it, but thats all part of the novelty. It wasn't until I was driving out of Salmon Arm that it hit me that I was leaving my family and friends behind.
The last three years have been a blast! I have enjoyed every single minute of it. Well maybe not every minute - exam weeks were pretty rough. My last semester was by far my worst! I had lost all motivation to complete the goals I had set out for myself. The thing that kept me going was that if I didn't follow-through now, then uprooting my life would have been a waste and I wasn't about that. If I'm honest, being finished has left me in some weird limbo. Wintec provided structure. Without it I have felt a little lost. I've been lucky enough that my tutors have provided opportunities for me that have allowed me to further grow my skills and knowledge. Work has also kept me busy but my brain hasn't been stimulated and its that lack stimulation that I believe has got me in a weird mental state. I have spent the last three years challenging and expanding my brain through others but having to do so by myself hasn't been as successful as I would have hoped.
Right now I want to thank everyone who asked/cheered/pushed/feed me during my undergraduate studies. Some of you may feel as though you did nothing but simply asking how I was doing showed me that you actually cared about what was happening. I had my Dad, Aunty Debbie, Mama and Papa financially set me up for the first two years and read over assignments. My HAMCIA family provided many laughs and often a much needed break from study. My Wintec friends for understanding the struggles of being students and soldiering on together. To Nathan for being my rock and taking my abuse, I am so sorry and so appreciative :D. To the friends that let me couch surf and gain some independence - I'm looking at you Rachel and Isabelle :*. My Canadian friends and family for staying in touch and showing me what I'm missing out on. Last but not least, I would like to thank my mum and siblings for allowing me to leave and not hating me for it.
My next goal is to achieve my Masters degree! The details are still a little foggy but I have enrolled into summer school. As I said before, there have been a lot of moving pieces in my life at the moment, yet my need for education hasn't settled. I hope that I am not pushing myself too far out of my mental and physical reach. However, I would much rather push myself to my limits knowing its going to add to my future rather then letting my fire burnout doing something my heart is not fully in. I am lucky enough to be in a job that allows me to stay in the industry and have trainer opportunities in the community working with some amazing clients (both athletes and general population). I know I can do this and I am not only driven by achieving my dreams but also by making sense of why I moved back to New Zealand in the first place.
I hope that in the last three years I haven't used up all your patience. Thank you again for being apart of my journey, it never goes unnoticed. Now to kick summer schools but and to pump through these week 1 readings!
ps. You found Lydia xx
