University Experience

I've never gotten the university experience while I was at York.

1. I didn't live on campus.
2. Didn't spend any time on campus. Came to class and left.
3. I spent a lot of time at work.
4. Been to pub night twice. And maybe five times to a pub. This is in the four years.

I missed out. Sure, I joined the paper and was exposed to the politics of a very tight-knit club, but once the "kattiness" surfaced I tried to stear myself away from that.

I'm experiencing university life right now. The only thing that's lacking is me living on campus. But, Green College (the grad residence I really wanted to live in) was offering me a spot for October 1st. One bedroom, share a bathroom. Umm...I love my apartment. I can't share a bathroom after I've had a bathroom all to myself! You just don't go back.

I've met amazing people. They are all out here starting fresh and are looking to get to know Vancouver and knew souls. We are all doing the same thing. I'm in on everything social and I love it. I go out every weekend. We've established Thursday nights as our "new Vancouver restaurant" nights. We try a different restaurant - the best ones in the city. Every Tuesday is beer and wings night because Wednesday we don't have classes. It's amazing. I love Vancouver!

I've falled deeply in love with this city. It's the people. I can't stop smiling. I exit a store and I get smiles. I have to smile back! And people are not afraid to talk to me. I'm not afraid to talk to people.

I had doubts about Vancouver. I think most of them rested on: Am I good enough to be at UBC? Am I good enough to be in grad school? It wasn't fear of being in a new city, it was fear of failing.

Right now, all those fears are washed away. I'm sure when I see my first C they will surface again.

I'm living the life. I have a great apartment. Enrolled in an amazing program with a group of really interesting people from around the world and I'm living the life. I wanted to run away and I did it at the right time in my life. This was the right thing. I need this right now. I need new people in my life and I cannot be tied down to a gray 8x8 cubicle. When I'm 28, I might be ready, but right now I need to experience what I felt I was cheated out of for the longest time.

I don't regret getting my work experience, but I do feel I matured too quickly. I'm doing things backwards, but I know that when I am ready to stop, I can always find work. And it will most likely be in Toronto. Unfortunately, the publishing industry doesn't exist here in Vancouver and to really experience it all, I'm willing to go into debt and move either to London, U.K. or New York City to really experience life at a popular magazine. You only live once.