I Don’t Want to Grow Up!

“With great power comes great responsibility…” more like with great independence comes great responsibility

There was a time growing up when my parents used to love to tell me that I shouldn’t wish away my youth that I should enjoy it while I could.  How right they were. Since moving to Toronto in 2005, gradually I felt my chilhood slip away and the realities of life slip in.

It didn’t happen all at once, at first it was small things like doing my own laundry and cleaning my own room. Then came the realization that I couldn’t get Mum and Dad to fix my problems at the drop of a hat anymore. When I lost my purse on the first day of class, I was the one who had to go to the lost and found to see if it turned up. I was the one that had to email my professors to see if I had left it the classroom. Luckily, my purse was found and I didn’t have to cancel my credit cards and get a new T-Card. But in those few hours of sheer panic, I certainly learned that being an adult wasn’t all sugar and spice and everything nice, like I had imagined.

The learning curve becomes steeper when you have your own apartment. While there was this new sense of freedom of having place to decorate, host parties and a place to call ‘mine’, there were some definite initial difficulties. I had construct my new furniture, install internet, buy cleaning supplies, deal with the building superintendent etc. At first it was all very frustrating and time consuming, but eventually it became routine.  I found that things that were initially annoying became fun…who knew that I would enjoy cooking!

One of the things I hate most about being an adult is having to deal with people, especially on the phone. It seems like somewhere in my life there is always something that needs confirming, fixing or organizing – booking a meeting room, changing an incorrect phsyio appointment, terminating a lease. These little things seem to always cut into my days – weekends that I put aside for last minute exam cramming or relaxing often get partially filled with the nitty gritty of things that need to be done.

There are definitly days where I wish the rest of the world would not bother me and that everything could just be put off until tomorrow! But alas in the real, harsh adult world you can’t do that, so I like everyone else who lives in the world of adulthood will just have to deal with each day as it comes. At least I can be thankful that I still live in the somewhat sheltered university bubble and can blame my mistakes on youthful ignorance. I am dreading the day when I emerge from this and get a real job!

Fencing Year End Recap

Whew – what a season! I competed in 11 tournaments and earned five more medals to my name. I had best ever finishes at many of these tournament and managed to move up in the national rankings to at the peak of the season 19th in Canada. The best part of the year isn’t reflected in the numbers, but rather in moments of success. Defeating someone who I never thought possible with a score of 15-10 to advance to the gold medal match at the Brock Invitational Tournament. Making it through the first round of eliminations at Nationals in December.

Perhaps the icing on the cake was both the individual and team competitions at the Ontario University Championships. First in the morning, by bringing home the silver medal after some intense competition from Queen’s university and University of Western Ontario. Then again in the team matches in the afternoon, every member of UofT Women’s Epee gave a solid performance that earned us the silver medal after two close overtime matches.

This great season would not have been possible without great support from my teammates and even more importantly the encouragement and teaching of my coaches! I can’t wait to start my final year with the team next year and go for gold!