After high school I worked the summer away and then headed to the University of Calgary to work towards a Bachelor of Commerce, funnily enough enrolled in Tourism Management. What is also funny and something I sometimes forget, is that when I was applying to post-secondary institutions I was considering the Eco-Tourism and Outdoor Leadership Diploma at Mount Royal College. It is now a degree program but at the time it was only a diploma program and alas I had the marks so I felt I should get a degree.
My first year of university was quite spectacular. Lived in dorm style res which meant eating dinning center food (ick) because there was no kitchen, shared the bathroom with 12 other people (can you say gross) and drank more in one year than in my whole life to that point. I also joined a club known as the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and the Economy Students' Association (ISEEESA).
So at the end of my first year, from my experiences with ISEEESA and my environmental views I changed my concentration from Tourism Management to Energy Management. I was preparing myself for a career in energy (oil & gas or sustainable/ alternative energy) companies.
In the summer between first and second year I started doing longer hikes. Dragging anyone who was willing to come up with me up some mountain or other. I remember standing at Buller Pass in Kananaskis and having a very clear thought about belonging up there among the peaks.
Second year was full of ups and downs, I was working between 15-20 hours each week, on the executive of ISEEESA doing some really cool programming, joined WUSC coordinating some stuff Bike for AIDS and was taking four classes per semester. Oh and dare I say try and have a social life? Through the events we ran for ISEEESA I started to see the big corporate world I felt like I was heading towards. All I saw was the office towers and offices in downtown Calgary and the crazy rat race that is full of ambitious and driven people. I didn't feel like I was cut out for the rat race nor belonged in an office on the 30th floor. Regardless this year was probably the beginning of the quarter life crisis. Stress was put on current friendships and I think overall I wasn't happy or satisfied with life.
The summer between second and third year was full of internal turmoil. I remember having conversations with Angela and Ryan about leaving the University of Calgary and pursuing something else, something in the outdoors. But me being me, I didn't want to make a BIG change, like changing my life direction, without being certain I wasn't acting in haste. This led me to return to the University of Calgary in the fall and having another go at university life, changing my concentration back to Tourism Management. Needless to say, mere months after school started I knew I was not going to be returning for the winter semester.
The summer of turmoil was also the summer I started scrambling mountains in the Rockies and upon returning to the University of Calgary I started climbing seriously after an introduction to the sport by Chris in the summer. I am so very, very thankful for Geoff who introduced me to Brendan. Brendan really gave me the opportunities to challenge myself and progress quickly with climbing. Through climbing I also started to find my network of like minded people who wanted to get out there and give er in the wilderness. I wouldn't be where I am today without Jackie, JP, Matt and Colin, my adventuring partners. I also wouldn't be where I am today with out Janice. We had been on the ISEEESA executive in my first year and then not been in contact until we both desired to climb regularly in my third year. We started out as climbing partners once or twice a week but we then became adventuring partners and support for each other in life.
So instead of returning to the university in the winter semester I picked up more hours at TD Canada Trust, made the most of the winter with x-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding with Jackie and Janice and I applied to the Adventure Management Diploma at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.
In April I found out I would be moving to Kamloops for the beginning of September!
This past summer I prepared for the big move and change in lifestyle with much anticipation. The summer was also filled with work, hiking, quality time with friends and joining an awesome ultimate frisbee team thanks to Aaron. I took a trip down to Colorado to visit Janice in her new home and we took Colorado by storm hiking Long's Peak (12 hours), climbing only one route and visiting the Celestial Seasonings headquarters. I also had the opportunity to do an overnight backpack trip through Guinn's Pass to Ribbon Lake and out through Bullers Pass. It was a great experience to stand in the exact spot I stood two summers before and still feeling like I belonged among the peaks.
To close this post, I have to acknowledge my parents, Doug and Laurie. Without them I wouldn't be able to do much of what I do in life. They have always encouraged and supported me through every endeavor I have taken on. I am sure watching me quit the University of Calgary to go to adventure school was not easy. However, they never said no or questioned it, they helped me pack my stuff and drove me out to Kamloops. The hardest part is probably not being able to see me on a monthly basis anymore. I love you Mom and Dad and am super grateful for your support.
Cheers,
K
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| Buller Pass, Kananaskis, 2008 |
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| Buller Pass, Kananaskis, 2010 |
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