This time next week...

This time next week I’ll be back at Mount Allison. I don’t think it’s really hit me yet. I’m excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time. I can’t wait to see everyone, and yet I don’t know if I’m ready to go back to reality. But, then again, I’m sooo excited to meet all of the new Frosh and give them the best and biggest welcome possible. Hmph, what a strange mix of emotions. I guess the only thing to do is to go back, welcome change and go from there. I can do that.

Liz, Me and Tejas during a classy night out in downtown Ottawa.

I’m writing this from the airport in Montreal while I wait for my flight back to Moncton. I’ve just left Ottawa this morning, but said most of my goodbyes last night at a farewell beach party. I can’t believe that I won’t be seeing many of the guides for a very long time... That hasn’t hit me yet either. It’s amazing and frustrating how you get closest to people near the end of your time together – it’s so sad to say goodbye to so many wonderful friends. The more great experiences I have, the more my life seems to get torn into a dozen different pieces. It’s overwhelming to think of how I could possibly try to stay in touch with everyone from this summer. It’s sad to realize and know that I just won’t be able to. But what’s great about these people is that I feel that we have the kind of relationships where even if we don’t talk for a month or a year, we can meet up at some point in time and pick up right where we left off. I guess that’s what living, working, partying, celebrating, crying, laughing and learning together for four months does to you. I’m so, so thankful to have had this opportunity and to have met these 40 amazing people. I love and miss you all.

Team Timbit at the Green Door Restaurant for our last Team gathering of the summer.

(Fun fact: Peter McKay, the newly appointed Minister of Defence, is sitting a few seats away. Pretty pretty cool, haha.)

So, what have I learned this summer? I don’t even know where to begin. Well, most obviously, I’ve learned to live on my own in a new and big city. I’ve never done either – lived on my own or in a big city – before, so that was certainly a big learning curve for me. I feel great about that experience. I’ve made friends with forty of the most different people you could ever encounter. I’ve realized that you take and learn different things from different people, that there are people you can go to to laugh with, to cry with, to work with, to grow with, to share with, to confide in, but always, always to learn from. Everyone is a teacher and everyone has something equally wonderful to offer to the people they meet. Just because they or what they have to offer may be different or new doesn’t make it worth any less. In fact, it may make it even better, because it’s allowed you to see things from a completely new perspective. To embrace that and learn from that is one of the things I’m most grateful to have learned this summer.

Ben and I and a few other guides at Acadian Day Celebrations!

But what else? What have I learned about myself? I’ve learned that I am an independent person, but not as independent as I once thought. I’ve realized that I depend on other people at times, and that that’s not a bad thing. In fact, that’s what makes us human, normal. We thrive on the relationships we develop with other people, but with that comes a price: we have then put ourselves in a position where we can be hurt. But, that is a risk we have to take because if not, we would be missing out on so many wonderful relationships. I have, unfortunately, been hurt by a relationship this summer, but the support, love and advice that has been offered to me by others in my life has been truly amazing and humbling. Again, I am so grateful to have learned this, but more importantly, to have learned to appreciate all of the wonderful people in my life.

A few of the guides at Westboro Beach in Ottawa for a bit of a farewell celebration.

So, a very deep discussion has happened here, haha. But, that's okay... I feel that the end of the summer is really a good time for reflection, a time when certain things are coming to a close and other things are getting started. I'm getting more and more excited to get back to MTA the more I think about it, and I hope that everyone reading this blog is too :) For all the Frosh out there, I can't possibly convey how excited you should be... MTA and MTA's Frosh Week is extraordinary and I can't wait to meet you all and join in the fun with you :) And hey, if you recognize me around campus, please don't be shy to come and introduce yourself! I'd love to meet the people who read this blog and see what you think about it!

Weooooo, here come the best four years of your life!!!

Much love,

Sue

sjhumphrey@mta.ca