Start at Ahuntsic College.

I walked into Ahuntsic College with a heavy heart and a bad feeling. Back in high school, I was part of PEI. It was a program for the top students where I constantly felt challenged and was always driven for success. I had worked hard to get there, and it had shaped who I was. Unfortunately now, I was in a completely new environment, stuck in the Social Science program at Ahuntsic. Everything felt different less intense, less focused and less familiar. I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if I belonged here.

Choice 1 : Stay at Ahuntsic College.

Choice 2 : Drop out of school.

Stay at Ahuntsic College.

I decided to give Ahuntsic College a real chance. At first, I was not making much effort, and I was just showing up to class without any motivation to push myself or engage in this new environment. But after a few weeks, I started talking to people, and it reminded me of my first year in PEI. That sense of belonging slowly came back. I started paying more attention in class and for the first time in a while, I actually enjoyed going to school.

Choice 1 : Start working hard in school.

Choice 2 : Connect with new people at school.

Drop out of school.

I decided to drop out. I felt like I didn’t belong at Ahuntsic or in a cegep in general. I was also tired of pretending to care. So, I stopped going definitely. At first, it felt like a relief. No more stress, no more classes, no more pressure, and no more wake-ups at 6 am. I slept in, I relaxed, and I convinced myself it was the right decision. Unfortunately, after a few days, the silence got heavier, and I started questioning myself. I had no routine, no goals, and no idea what to do next. I started wondering if I had given up too fast. Maybe I just needed more time to adjust.

Choice 1 : Start a company from scratch.

Choice 2 : Work in a coffee shop.

Start working hard in school.

I decided to try my best at school. No more skipping class, no more zoning out and more participation and asking questions. I started sitting closer to the front, taking notes, and actually doing the readings. It wasn’t easy at first but little by little, I felt more confident. My grades improved, and I started feeling proud of the work I was doing. I now understood everything from supply and demand, micro economic behavior, market structures and financial literacy to sociological dynamics, equity, organizational culture, and how social capital and leadership theory influence success in both business and society. Even the teachers noticed and for the first time at Ahuntsic, I felt seen not just like a student in the crowd, but like someone who belonged at this place.

Choice 1 : Focus only on Straight A's.

Choice 2 : Connect with new people at school.

Connect with new people at school.

I realized that school was not just about grades. It was also about meeting new people. I started talking more with my classmates, joining group projects, and even going to a few student events. The more I opened up the more I felt connected to certain people. I met people with similar stories, struggles, and goals. It felt good to finally not feel alone anymore. Having good friends at school made everything easier even during the hardest days.

Choice 1 : Focus on creating a good friendship.

Choice 2 : Focus on finding love.

Start a company from scratch.

After dropping out, I knew I had no choice but to do something that truly excited me, and gave me a real purpose. I had always dreamed of starting my own clothing brand. A brand that reflected my style and the identity of people who resemble me. I began sketching designs on programs, researching manufacturers, and building an Instagram page. At first, it was slow, and hard because I had no capital. A few likes here, a few supportive messages there but soon, I got my first orders. It felt like a dream. I was working harder than ever, and I was proud of myself. It was my vision, my hustle and my identity. Next came the real question: Who was I designing for? Women buy more fashion, and that market is bigger, but I understand men better, because I am one.

Choice 1 : Start designing only for men.

Choice 2 : Start designing only for women.

Work in a coffee shop.

I needed money, so I took a full-time job at the local coffee shop. The on-the-job training came in handy helping me adapt quickly to the new environment.The hours were long, the work repetitive, and the customers weren’t always easy on me, but it felt good to have a stable paycheck. I started getting used to the routine. I opened early, cleaned tables, memorized orders, repeat. The job kept me busy, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel stuck. My goals were paused, and my energy was spent serving lattes and cappuccinos.

Choice 1 : Stay at the coffee shop.

Choice 2 : Start a company from scratch.

Focus only on Straight A's.

I decided to help focus on school. No more distractions! I stopped answering messages, declined invitations, and cut myself off from anyone who didn’t take school as seriously as I did. My schedule was strict. It was class, study, sleep, repeat. The good grades came one by one and the A’s stacked up. I felt powerful, focused, smart and unstoppable. But I also felt alone because I had no one to share the wins with and most importantly, no one to laugh with after class.

Choice 1 : Live alone until I finish school.

Choice 2 : Connect with new people at school.

Focus on creating a good friendship.

I had made a lot of friends since starting cegep. I found people to laugh with in class, to hang out with between classes, and It felt nice to be surrounded, but something was missing. I realized I didn’t need just a group. I needed one real friend that will stick with me for these two years of cegep that were coming. Then, I met a nice guy in my class, and we became friends instantly. We talked more deeply, spent real time together, did activities together and slowly, that connection grew into something solid. Having one person who truly listened and understood me made everything feel overall better.

Choice 1 : Focus on finding love.

Focus on finding love.

I wasn’t really looking for love, but then it happened. Not once, but twice. In two different classes, I met two girls who caught my attention for completely different reasons. One was calm, thoughtful, and easy to talk to. The other was confident, sharp, and full of energy. I found myself thinking about them even after class. Was this just a distraction, or the start of something real? And more importantly how do I know which path to follow?

Choice 1 : Getting to know the shy girl.

Choice 2 : Getting to know the confident girl.

Start designing only for men.

I decided to go all in and design clothes only for men. It just made more sense to me. I understood what guys liked in life and obviously in clothes, especially younger ones like me. I knew the cuts, the colors, and the vibe those men wanted. I wasn’t just guessing anymore based on random trends I saw on Instagram. I was creating for people who thought like me, dressed like me, and lived like me. After hours of effort, working overtime on my own project, and nights without any sleep, the results finally paid off. The brand started gaining attention. My followers grew, more orders came in, and people started tagging my clothes in their photos and stories (on Instagram). I started thinking bigger. New drops, better materials, even pop-up shops.

Choice 1 : Scale my clothing brand even more.

Choice 2 : Invest the business money in cryptocurrency.

Start designing only for women.

I decided to focus only on designing clothes for women. It looked like the smarter move was to choose the bigger market because there was more demand. But once I got started, things didn’t go as planned. I realized I didn’t fully understand what women wanted in terms of fit, details, or trends. I was guessing too much based on random trends of TikTok. The designs didn’t connect with women, and sales remained low. I kept trying to adjust, but it felt like I was building something that wasn’t truly mine. I started questioning everything like my capacity for the entrepreneurship. Was I chasing success and money, or was I doing this for something more personal. Something that truly mattered to me?

Choice 1 : Start again.

Choice 2 : Start designing only for men.

Stay at the coffee shop.

I decided to stay at the coffee shop. It was familiar, easy, and at the end, it paid the bills. I told myself I’d just stay for a few months until I would figure things out. Unfortunately, months turned into years. I got comfortable with the routine and the rhythm of the place. Eventually, the owner offered to sell me the shop. I surprised myself by accepting. Somehow, this little side job had become my full-time reality. I was now the boss of this coffee shop I had known all my life. I managed staff, handled supplies, created seasonal menus. It wasn’t what I had imagined for my life, but it was something solid, something mine.

Choice 1 : Start again.

Live alone until I finish school.

I moved into a small apartment, just me and my routine. Not any distractions, no noise and just silence and structure. I had to stay focused hoping that discipline would eventually lead to fulfillment. I studied, cooked, worked, and slept alone, and It worked! Semester after semester, I followed this track. Not any parties, no drama, no relationships, no wasted time. I finished my studies exactly as I had planned. Clean, efficient, and successful. But when it was over, I looked around and realized… I was all alone. No strong bonds and no real memories outside of high school. I hadn’t noticed it while I was working. I had achieved the goal, but I had also missed something. Years had passed, and I had no one to call.

Choice 1 : Start again.

Getting to know the shy girl.

Her name was Mariane. She always sat near the window and never really spoke unless spoken to. But there was something calming and mysterious about her presence. One day after class, I asked her a small question, just to break the ice. She smiled shyly, and answered. From there, our relationship grew slowly. Conversations about music, childhood, goals in our life. No rushing. No drama. Just real and simple connection. Being with her made me feel seen in a quiet way, like I didn’t have to perform or prove myself. But I also wondered. Was this enough for a long term relationship? Could something so quiet turn into something strong?

Choice 1 : Getting to know the confident girl.

Choice 2 : Marry this girl.

Getting to know the confident girl.

Her name was Marianne. She walked into class like she owned the place. She was confident, stylish, and always surrounded by people. Everyone seemed to know her, or at least wanted to. I wasn’t shy myself, so she didn’t bring me out of my shell, but she was different from anyone I had met before. The way she spoke and how she carried herself was attractive. She had this energy that made you want to level up and be the best version of yourself. We started talking more, sometimes after class and sometimes in group projects. She’d challenge my ideas, tease me when I hesitated, and push me to go further. We shared the same goals, and even if we were different, there was chemistry between us. I liked how she made me think faster, move sharper and overall be better. Still, I had to ask myself. Was something actually growing between us, or was it just a friendly relationship?

Choice 1 : Getting to know the shy girl.

Choice 2 : Marry this girl.

Marry this girl.

We got closer over time. Our conversations got deeper, our laughs more frequent, and our connection stronger. What started as simple moments in class slowly became something more meaningful. We supported each other, shared our dreams, and built a real bond. I didn’t expect it, but I ended up marrying her a couple years later. We built something solid step by step. It was not a fairy tale, but something real, and surprisingly there was no real drawback. We learned to handle life together through good and bad moments. She became my partner not just in love, but in everything I always wanted to build. Sometimes life takes you on unexpected paths and this one felt just right.

Choice 1 : Start again.

Invest the business money in cryptocurrency.

After building my clothing brand from nothing and making more money than I ever imagined, I started thinking about the next big move. Cryptocurrency! Cryptocurrency was everywhere. On the news, social media and even in conversations with friends. It felt like the future. So, I did it. I took all the profit I had made from my brand and invested it into cryptocurrency. At first, it looked like I had made the right choice because numbers were rising, and I felt like a genius. Then, without warning, the market crashed because of Trump and his stupid taxes. I watched my savings disappear in front of my eyes. Years of work… gone in days. It was like standing in the wreckage of something I had built with my own hands.

Choice 1 : Start again.

Scale my clothing brand even more.

My clothing brand was growing fast, and I knew it was time to take things to the next level. I started hiring a few people like designers, a social media manager, and even someone to handle customer service. I became a good leader and with more hands on the deck, I could finally focus on strategies and creativity. We released new collections more often and improved our packaging, our online store, and even started thinking about pop-up shops in Montreal. Every day felt like progress and it felt good! I wasn’t just running a brand anymore. I was building something real. At that moment, I was happy and, I was rich.

Choice 1 : Start again.

Work for a big company.

After finishing school, I got a job offer from a well-known company in Montreal. The wage was really good, the environment was really professional and welcoming, and I learned the ropes pretty quickly. I adapted to the ''9 to 5'' lifestyle. Meetings, deadlines, performance reviews, and it became my routine. I was respected, even promoted early on because of the great job I provided. But now and then, during a quiet lunch or a late evening at the office I would wonder... Was this success worth the years I spent alone?

Choice 1 : Start again.