I grew up in a small town. They type of place where everyone knew everyone else, and you had to have a driver’s license to be able to go anywhere. When I left for university it was a big change to leave behind all that was familiar and move to a bigger town, but the challenge of starting over somewhere new was exhilarating.
When I graduated I was lucky enough to get a job in the film industry right away, which meant moving back in the family and taking a 2 hour commute to work (and home too, yikes). That works out to 20 hours a week – basically a part-time job. After eight months I decided to make the big move to Toronto. I found a great apartment through a friend that was actually within my budget, and I before I knew it I was shopping for a new couch.
The day we packed up the trailer and moved me down to my new place, an insane blizzard hit on the way. We thankfully made it down there, parked on a massive snowdrift, trekked everything over snow and sludge to the house, and then up 3 flights of stairs. To say that my family and friends were unbelievable in helping me would be an understatement. But that night once all the dust had settled and I was alone by myself, I was giddy. This was my own place – no siblings, no roommates, no boyfriends. I could do anything I wanted at any time, and there was an entire city just waiting for me to explore it.
Now almost 2 years later I still love being down here. Don’t get me wrong – I miss the farmland, the trees, going down to the lake, the slow quiet pace of life. But being in the city has been an incredible experience. The people who I have met, and the things that I have done would never have been possible if I stayed with the familiar. Pushing your boundaries and forcing yourself to experience new things is so important for growing. I’ve had many firsts since I’ve been here, like the first time I tried Indian food…we just didn’t have that where I grew up. How did I ever live without it before? There is still so much more to explore, and I look forward to the adventure, because who knows where it will lead you next?
