My interest in communications dates back to elementary school, though I didn’t recognize it as such at the time. I had always been fascinated with sharing ideas and opinions. I spent years on the debate team, and found joy in typing key points across countless index cards. Any possible argument and counter-argument was concisely outlined and neatly filed in an old brown recipe box festooned with sparkly stickers. I was equally happy being ‘pro’ or ‘con’, much to the chagrin of my family when I couldn’t contain rebuttals to the classroom.
As I logged debate after debate, I found I could empathize with almost any point of view. I had begun to understand that even the most contentious subjects were never completely black and white. In order to defend a point of I learned to put myself the shoes of the opposing side and listen to their motivations and concerns, as opposed to arguing for the sake of arguing. …show more content…
I worked full-time at McDonalds while finishing high school in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and believed I had no shot at college (this being the pre-internet years). After graduation, I instead followed a lifelong dream and travelled to Europe where I spent six years backpacking through dozens of countries. Even two decades later I still consider this period as my formative years. The person I am today was created amidst the art, history and culture of Europe. Most importantly, visiting other cultures reinforced that understanding different perspectives, and communicating with people accordingly, was the key to success in almost any situation.
Two months before my 29th birthday, as I stood pouring a pint of Guinness in a Dublin pub, I realized that if I didn’t want to be a transient 30-year old barmaid I needed to start planning a future for myself. Six months later I arrived back in Edmonton with the intention of securing a stable job and apartment, and to later pursue a university
As I logged debate after debate, I found I could empathize with almost any point of view. I had begun to understand that even the most contentious subjects were never completely black and white. In order to defend a point of I learned to put myself the shoes of the opposing side and listen to their motivations and concerns, as opposed to arguing for the sake of arguing. …show more content…
I worked full-time at McDonalds while finishing high school in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and believed I had no shot at college (this being the pre-internet years). After graduation, I instead followed a lifelong dream and travelled to Europe where I spent six years backpacking through dozens of countries. Even two decades later I still consider this period as my formative years. The person I am today was created amidst the art, history and culture of Europe. Most importantly, visiting other cultures reinforced that understanding different perspectives, and communicating with people accordingly, was the key to success in almost any situation.
Two months before my 29th birthday, as I stood pouring a pint of Guinness in a Dublin pub, I realized that if I didn’t want to be a transient 30-year old barmaid I needed to start planning a future for myself. Six months later I arrived back in Edmonton with the intention of securing a stable job and apartment, and to later pursue a university