This weeks AWA or ‘Afternoons With Alumni’, comes from free-spirit Kaitlyn Forde.Read all about her new outlook on life, post-University. – K.A.
“It’s Labour Day Weekend. This is my first Labour Day Weekend in eighteen years where I haven’t stepped foot in a Staples, or a Bentley’s Backpacks, or a mall for a “first day of school” outfit. It’s my first Labour Day Weekend where I haven’t had my nervous back-to-school jitters, or sat by a body of water with a drink in hand.
Instead of a laidback weekend full of drinks, my weekend consisted of twelve hours of overtime and unwashed hair. Instead of laying poolside, it snowed. Needless to say, this Labour Day has been very different.
The last year has shown me three address changes, hundreds of people who have walked in and out of my life, a new province to call home, and an undergraduate degree. For the first time in twenty-one years, I found myself at complete liberty to do anything I wanted. Of course, I’ve always had the freedom to choose; freedom to choose what backpack to buy from the mandatory first day of school. The freedom to choose which post-secondary degree I would pursue, and where I would pursue it. I could choose my path – but I always knew what direction I would be moving in.
Graduation placed me in a situation whereby my entire future was placed solely on me, and I panicked. I can’t handle a grown up job. I’m too young to be an adult. I can barely spell adult. I also can’t handle finances. And I definitely, definitely, can’t handle living with my parents again. So what does a twenty-one year old kid do when they no longer have anybody to tell them what to do? They run away; or at least I did.
In January, with my post-grad Real Life looming just around the corner – I found myself applying to jobs provinces away from my family and from what I perceived my “real life” should be i.e. working as a successful woman (of any profession, I’m not picky) in the hustle and bustle of Toronto. I applied to two places: Whistler and Banff, and left the rest up to fate. I decided as I hit “submit” on the applications that if I got the job, I would go no matter the circumstances. It wouldn’t matter that I had a boy who loved me, or a degree that would sit unused, or that I was scared shitless; I would go. After all, if 2013 taught us anything it’s that You Only Live Once.
Fast forward to eight months later. I’m sitting in an apartment that resembles a first-year residence (the one downfall to not living at your parents house), and eating Mr. Noodles (the Oreo ice cream in the freezer is also calling my name) – my sad new fast-paced diet. I’m still in my work uniform, and when I look out my window I can see the first snowfall of the season. Let’s also point out that it snows in the summer in Alberta. Despite this sad, sad depiction, I’ve never had a more fulfilling summer. Instead of spending a summer in the Suburbs – a place I originally envisioned to be my only option, I’ve had the pleasure of living in Canada’s first National Park. Instead of seeing picket fences at every view, I see mountains everywhere I turn. I’ve had the pleasure of discovering late night campfires under the Northern Lights, of floating down a river instead of sitting on a patio. Instead of walking around the mall for a few hours, I’ve spent hours hiking to the summit of mountains. I’ve never had an experience quite like this summer, and I couldn’t feel more blessed that my first solely independent decision has brought me to a place as beautiful as Banff National Park.
So, this labour day I have hair that desperately needs to be washed, hands that are still thawing out from my snowy walk home from work, my Mr.Noodles is sitting uneaten (I still can’t come to terms with eating shitty processed foods, but am also unable to accept the price of groceries here), and it’s 10:15 and I’m ready to go to bed. It’s not exactly drinks on the beach, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s not that corporate office job, or copious amounts of money – but this still is the post-grad Real Life graduates are so anxious to discover. This is Real Life, and I’ve decided to spend it with my head in the clouds.”
Thank you for being so genunine and real with us!Wishing you all the best Kaitlyn!HCXO