Today in Planning class, we started looking at what we want to do when we get out of school. I have been thinking of this a lot lately! I have a few ideas.
1. Author- Ever since i was little, I have loved to write stories. They have to be funny stories! When I was in Grade 6, my best friend Grace Brulotte and I wrote a book together. It was about two bunnies that got stuck in Hawaii. This was based on a true story. My family and I went to Hawaii one year and our flight time got messed up. We got to stay in Hawaii for 5 more days! Lucky us! When I got back home my best friend Grace met an author Bonita Forsyth that helped us write a book based on the trip to Maui. I wrote and Grace drew the pictures. It was a lot of work but it sure was fun! I love writing in English! Writing stories has always been a favorite hobby of mine so I definitely might look to it as a career in the future
2. Reporter- Last year, Grace and I also got to go to the Paralympics to be reporters. It was amazing! We got so many once in a lifetime opportunities. Two magical weeks for sure! While I was there I got to report on what people thought of the games. I really like reporting and getting to know people! When I came home, I got in touch with Dave Lazzerino from our local newspaper, Valley Echo, and he helped me go further with reporting. I interviewed Many Osborne, an Olympic skier. He was such a nice guy! it was a joy to talk to him! in school, we have a club called Free Press. Ive written a few articles so far. The more i report, the more i love it!
3. Work with Special needs- Ever since I was little, Ive had aids help me with school! I get so inspired by them. I love what they do! I would love to work with little kids with special needs. Maybe do a summer or out of school program like one of my aids does with me. I would love to be part of meetings about how kids are doing and how to help them succeed! I'm not sure physically how that would work. I have trouble walking so I will see how much I can do to help little kids. I am determined to do anything I want to do for an enjoyable career for me!
4. Work with Cannasist- Cannasist is a group of people that make different contraptions for kids with Special needs! They work out of University of Victoria, where I really want to go to school! I met a few people from Cannasist when I went to Ottawa to do some public speaking. i loved being with them! They are wonderful people! I would love to come to work each day with them. I'm not sure if i will with the actual building of different contraptions. I might just go see the disabled person and talk about their needs and think of something that could help make their life easier. I love coming up with those kind of ideas. Making someones life easier is can always make you feel better.
5. Motivational Speaker- I love making people feel better, and push them to have a positive attitude. I've done some public speaking before and I love it! I do have a little speech impairment. Sometimes its hard for people to understand what I am saying. However, If i really want to do this, that's just something i need to work at!
Whatever I choose to do in the future, i don't want to think too much about it! i want to enjoy life, do well in school, and take it one day at a time. If you don't do that you miss stuff you wish you did not. Every day has new adventures and you cant miss them. All I want to do is live my life... one day at a time!
Lately, Ive been getting asked a lot about if i do any sports. Now, I can say, I ski! Ive been skiing up at beautiful Panorama Ski hill for three years! It all started in grade seven. All the students in grade seven get to go on a school Field trip up to Panorama Ski hill for five Fridays in January. I wasn't sure if i would be able to go. Having Cerebral Palsy, I have trouble balancing, so it would be hard for me to stand up on skis. I kept thinking about it for quite a while, sad that I maybe wouldn't be doing what the other kids were doing Then, the day after my birthday, I was told I could ski with everyone else! I was thrilled! I'll never forget that day! That Friday I got all dressed up for the day on the hill. I don't think I've ever had so many layers of clothing on! When I got up to the hill, I was so excited! I was bouncing around all over the place! I ski in a sit ski. It is like a sled on skis.. There is someone holding the ski, and someone holding tethering rope as the brake man. I use an outrigger to help steer and lean and look the way I'm going. Ive only fallen 3 times, but that makes me a true skier. The People who ski with me are some of the nicest people I've met! My friend Katrien was the first person I skied with. I loved zipping down the hill and going really fast, but mostly, I loved seeing all my other classmates go down the hill beside me. Now, three years later, Panorama has started a Disabled Skiing group (CADS). There is about ten or so skiers that have a physical or mental disability that come out every Sunday to ski. They have even have three sit skis now. Its a wonderful thing they have going on. Even my best friend Grace Brulotte from Fernie came down skiing with me. This has been one of our dreams to ski together and we fulfilled it! Grace has Arthrogriposis and is confined to a wheelchair. My ski nickname is Skibunny and hers is mighty mouse! She loves the to ski. Grace has said she has never felt so free This program has helped so many people feel like they belong to a group and I'm so glad to be a part of the program! Well doneCADS volunteers! See ya on the hill next Sunday!
