I’ve always had a really creative personality.

Even as a young girl I knew that sitting behind a desk in a cubicle or in an office was not for me.

Not that there is anything wrong with a desk job, it’s just not what I wanted to do.

Forever the creative soul

Instead, I was destined to be a singer/actress or a gymnast!

I quickly realized that my body really just wasn’t capable of bending, jumping and flipping in the way that gymnasts do, so that dream got nixed pretty quickly.

This left me with my passion for the performing arts.

Throughout middle school and high school, I would constantly be singing, dancing and performing to an audience of 1 (me).

I sang my heart out and delivered some heart churning monologues all behind the safety and comfort of my bedroom door.

Unfortunately, in front of an audience, duh duh duuhh, stage fright set in.

With my heart racing, voice shaking, legs quivering, I would perform, standing in front of my classroom audience, producing sounds and actions at a fraction of what I knew I was capable of.

But why?!

I LOVED performing!

But for some crazy reason, I just couldn’t do it in front of an audience. But let me tell you, I did try.

I took drama, vocal, and performing arts classes all throughout high school landing roles in some of my schools’ major productions!

My college years

I pursued a year of performing arts in college. Constantly being on stage (which was really just in front of my classmates and profs), I noticed a significant improvement in myself.

However, in the back of my mind, I knew my stage fright still had the best of me.

After my year was completed, I took a leap and applied for the 3-year intense program which, with a sinking heart, I never got accepted into.

After mopping around for a bit I figured I needed to switch gears and figure out what else I was good at but would also love doing.

I ended up just working for another 2 years at my customer service job(Costco Wholesale), as well as my summer job with the city of Toronto.

But soon enough, I started getting really antsy for change.

I decided it was time to go back to school.

Keeping in mind my goal to pursue my passions in life, I searched through academic calendars in the various colleges in the Toronto area.

Shylo, the event planner..?

Through my “self-searching” I realized that I’d always loved planning/hosting parties and events for my friends and I.

I would get these grand ideas choosing extravagant themes with matching décor, perfect music, and an awesome menu!

In my mind (and with an unlimited budget), I would plan to hold big events at beautiful venues and I legit could see the picture clear in my head…It’s just that I was never good at the execution part of it all, or so I thought.

I realized that I really just didn’t have the proper training to pull off the execution!

After some research, I found the special events planning program offered at George Brown College ( I believe the program has been modified since then).

In comparing the curriculum with the other event planning programs offered in other schools in Toronto, George Brown was the most impressive and well rounded.

The program offered the practical and hands-on experience I would need to be successful in the event planning industry.

So I applied and I got accepted!

Fast forward, after a hella intense 2 years, a lot of blood sweat and tears (minus the actual blood) and some late, sometimes sleepless nights, I graduated with honours. 

Holla at your girl!

I felt super accomplished and proud of myself, the only thing now was that I needed to find a job.

Problem is that all these companies I was looking at applying to list that applicants are required to have 3 to 5 years’ experience.

I didn’t have any, and so I became completely discouraged and I never applied to any of them.

I finally found something I really love doing and honestly thought I was great at, but when reviewing job qualifications and descriptions, I felt so inadequate, even though I knew deep down that if given a chance I would really excel in this field.

But doubt set in and thoughts like “who is going to hire me, someone with no actual formal experience” got the best of me.

So I stayed where I was comfortable, in my little bubble, and continued working at Costco.

The travel takeover

I started traveling a lot more in the last few years thanks to my new long-distance relationship, which also gave me a great reason to travel.

And I’m fairly certain I got bit by that thing called the travel bug, and now I just have this ongoing fever from it also known wanderlust.

I know I know, it sounds super cheesy but it’s the only way to perfectly describe how I feel.

I’ve had some amazing opportunities to visit places I’ve only dreamt of visiting and it’s really opened up this other side of me that just wants to keep traveling and discovering new places.

This brings us to the now

I’m not giving up on event planning, it’s still something I really enjoy and would love to make my career but I am also starting to think of how I can make travelling be a more permanent fixture in my life.

There’s just so much world out there and I would love to be able to see it all…or at least a good chunk of it.

So this brings us up to the now.

I’m looking at making some serious changes in my life, I want to do the things that make me happy.

Life is so short and we spend the majority of the time working trying to make a living, pay bills, get out of debt and just get by.

A lot of times that means giving up on the things we really want to do by staying at the “just okay” job that pays us the bigger (but not the most rewarding) bucks.

Well, I’m ready to see these major changes happen in my life.

Starting now.

New endeavours

I’ve created a space where I can be myself and talk about the things that interest me most and share some of my experiences that will hopefully in turn inspire other people (aka YOU)  to follow their dreams or at least do something they really love doing.

Because…well, why the hell not!

A wise person did once say, “Be the change you want to see”.

I’m ready to take on that challenge.

Wish me luck!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

“It’s impossible”, said pride.

“It’s risky”, said experience.

“It’s pointless”, said reason.

“Give it a try”, whispered the heart.

 

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