Growing up I was known both as the school athlete but also as the science kid. This meant when it was time to go to university I naturally gravitated towards the Life Sciences but also became a varsity athlete (chose a school based on the science program over its athletic prowess though!). I thrived in both but very quickly came to realize that being a life long academic was not in the stars for me. My whole life I’ve only truly felt alive when I was in the outdoors. There’s just something about nature and being immersed in it that makes me feel complete. I half grew up on the west coast of Canada either in the forest or on the water and spent the other half playing every sport that was available to me in Hong Kong. Life as an expatriate in Hong Kong is definitely not a life most would bemoan but as an “outdoorsophile” it was easy to feel out of place rather often. Not due to the lack of nature (most people are not aware that over 75% of Hong Kong is actually the equivalent of a national park) but more due to the people one comes in contact with, how they determine “success” and how they are quick to judge people based on their career.
Growing up I often heard people point at people who, in their eyes, had “less successful jobs” and tell me to “stay in school or that’s what you’ll end up doing”. Little did a lot of people know - those were the very jobs I’d always found inspiring and fulfilling. The kayak instructors, the tour guides, the adventure tourism folk, the people that get to live and work outdoors. However, when you’re raised and implanted with the notion that success is entirely determined based on how much wealth/material one acquires it was tough to try and fight back against that.
When it came time to get a summer job between my 3rd and 4th year at university I opted out of the usual job in a hospital and went back to what I love - the outdoors. I was a kayak instructor and tour guide for a summer and a lot of people looked down at that. They may have not said it out loud but it’s not difficult to read body language.
Growing up I often heard people point at people who, in their eyes, had “less successful jobs” and tell me to “stay in school or that’s what you’ll end up doing”. Little did a lot of people know - those were the very jobs I’d always found inspiring and fulfilling. The kayak instructors, the tour guides, the adventure tourism folk, the people that get to live and work outdoors. However, when you’re raised and implanted with the notion that success is entirely determined based on how much wealth/material one acquires it was tough to try and fight back against that.
When it came time to get a summer job between my 3rd and 4th year at university I opted out of the usual job in a hospital and went back to what I love - the outdoors. I was a kayak instructor and tour guide for a summer and a lot of people looked down at that. They may have not said it out loud but it’s not difficult to read body language.
I graduated from the University of Toronto this past June and when people hear I graduated with an Honours BSc but have opted to go do something I love (adventure tourism) versus make use the of the degree I have I get a lot of looks. I get a lot of “why would you do that, there’s no money in that!” or “you do know you will have to live paycheque to paycheque right?” or “so you went to one of the best universities in the world and aren’t going to do anything with the degree?”
Hearing things like that used to make me agitated, I’ve never understood why what someone else does with their life should matter to others. I’ve also never understood why everyone should have the same definition of “success”. To me, living my life and loving every part of it is success enough. Wealth isn’t just monetary gain, it’s also emotional gain and it’s how much of the world I’ve seen. In fact, I’ve opted to postpone the real world for 13 months to travel the world. I caught the travel bug when I was 5 and haven’t been able to shake it since
I feel like in the past year I’ve gone through something a lot of people have to go through, that “life determining” choice of what to do after graduation . I know people who pursued careers not because they want to but because their parents have told them to and it really does break my heart.
I cannot wait for the release of The20Project and see what people have to say about this. I think this affirmation that a degree doesn’t have to determine a life is something more people need to be made aware of. I’ve chosen my love for life over a paycheque and I’ve been told by many I’ll regret it, I don't think that my degree should determine my life. I love what I studied and always will, I just know it’s not a typical career path for me. I’ve heard fantastic things about The20Project already and can’t wait to read more!
- Caitlin, 22
Hearing things like that used to make me agitated, I’ve never understood why what someone else does with their life should matter to others. I’ve also never understood why everyone should have the same definition of “success”. To me, living my life and loving every part of it is success enough. Wealth isn’t just monetary gain, it’s also emotional gain and it’s how much of the world I’ve seen. In fact, I’ve opted to postpone the real world for 13 months to travel the world. I caught the travel bug when I was 5 and haven’t been able to shake it since
I feel like in the past year I’ve gone through something a lot of people have to go through, that “life determining” choice of what to do after graduation . I know people who pursued careers not because they want to but because their parents have told them to and it really does break my heart.
I cannot wait for the release of The20Project and see what people have to say about this. I think this affirmation that a degree doesn’t have to determine a life is something more people need to be made aware of. I’ve chosen my love for life over a paycheque and I’ve been told by many I’ll regret it, I don't think that my degree should determine my life. I love what I studied and always will, I just know it’s not a typical career path for me. I’ve heard fantastic things about The20Project already and can’t wait to read more!
- Caitlin, 22