I just finished Cegep!

It was the end of my school years at Cegep. Graduation caps were flying in the sky as I was descending into a full-blown existential crisis. The end of this chapter felt as if I was at the edge of a cliff with no way of knowing if I would be fine or not. I didn't know what to do. Should I go to university and pretend I have a plan, or throw myself in the world by traveling around the world?

Choice 1 : Go to university.

Choice 2 : Travel.

Go to university.

When I arrived on the campus of my new beginning, everything felt strange and different. There was a lingering smell of instant noodles and ambition. Students were rushing around while I was trying to look confident. Now a new choice was presented to me, one that would impact how I live the rest of my life. Will I choose the serious path of law, the world of biology, or the mysterious life of art history?

Choice 1 : University: go into law school.

Choice 2 : University: go into a Science or Biology program.

Choice 3 : University: go into Art History.

Travel.

I bought a backpack, quit my job at the grocery store, and said goodbye to my beautiful cats. The goal of this journey is to explore the world and maybe myself along the way. But where should I begin? Should I volunteer, hop from one continent to another, or visit friends that live in Europe?

Choice 1 : Travel: backpacking trip around the world.

Choice 2 : Travel: volunteering abroad.

Choice 3 : Travel: visit friends in Europe.

University: Go into law school.

Law school was definitely not like Legally Blonde. There were no pink suits or courtroom drama. Just a lot of all-nighters fueled by energy drinks and endless cases and debates that made me question my decisions. Was I destined for the merciless boardrooms of corporate enterprise or the chaotic lifestyle of human rights?

Choice 1 : Law school: corporate law.

Choice 2 : law school: human rights.

University: Go into a science or biology program.

I felt like a crazy scientist that wore a lab coat two sizes too big and was treating my microscope like it was a holy relic. The world of science was fun until I set off accidentally the fire alarm twice during a chemistry lab. Now that research was out of the way, I had two choices left. Would I become a doctor treating patients or an environmentalist?

Choice 1 : Science program: medicine.

Choice 2 : Science program: environmental science.

University: Go into Art History.

I always felt like an artist. Every time I went to the museum, I fell even more in love with paintings and sculptures. Art history was full of mystery and drama about how one single brushstroke could redefine the world of art. I was so passionate that only one option seemed right to me. It was becoming a teacher to give that passion to other people.

Choice 1 : Art History: become a professor.

Travel: Backpacking trip around the world.

I want to hop from one hostel to another. Sleep on buses, hammocks, or any other comfortable surfaces. I want to tell people how my backpack became my best friend and about the incredible people I met along the way. But where should this spontaneous decision of adventure begin?

Choice 1 : Backpacking trip: you decided to start by the United States.

Choice 2 : Backpacking trip: you decided to start by going to Europe.

Travel: volunteering abroad.

One day, I was walking and saw an advertisement made by a charity to help build houses in countries. I always wanted to help people in need, and it seemed to me to be a good opportunity to do so. I called them, prepared all the paperwork, quit my part-time job, and hopped on a plane to Costa Rica.

Choice 1 : Volunteering abroad: you went to Costa Rica to build houses.

Travel: visit friends in Europe.

It had been such a long time since I last saw my friends. Reiko and Charli are people I met during my high school years and who I enjoy having a good time with. We traveled together all across Europe. We laughed, we partied, and we even made some interesting encounters. When we went to Rome, I met someone that offered me an internship in their fashion company, but I also met an English man that I can't seem to keep out of my mind. What should I do?

Choice 1 : Visiting friends in Europe: fell in love with an English man.

Choice 2 : Visiting friends in Europe: accept an internship into the fashion world in Rome.

Law school: corporate law.

By going into corporate law, I spent the rest of my twenties becoming a sleep-deprived legal robot in designer shoes. I created a deep attachment to my espresso machine and became a hermit because I had no time to see anyone, even on the weekend. Even though I make a lot of money, I became lonely. It was definitely not the right choice for me.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

law school: human rights.

By going into human rights, I became a prominent figure in activist movements. I helped in fighting for justice, and my name was written in history books. I was the recipient of many peace awards, but I spent the rest of my life eating instant noodles.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Science program: medicine.

I spent twelve years learning how to hold a scalpel and pronounce the scientific words for parts of the human body without crying. I learned to survive on four hours of sleep while saving lives and curing diseases. I met a senior doctor that interns renamed McDreamy, and I am now married to him.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Science program: environmental science.

By making that choice, I became part of Greenpeace. I made friends with Greta Thunberg, hugged trees, and, well, accidentally adopted three raccoons. I finished my life by living in the woods in a self-sustainable, off-grid cabin.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Art History: Become a professor.

I guess we could say I became an eccentric professor. I wore scarves inside, gave my students lectures on the symbolism of the banana, and quoted Baudelaire in every casual conversation. Students found me weird, but at the same time, they adored me. I had multiple cats with all names of painters.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Backpacking trip: I decided to start in the United States.

Now that the USA is ruled by an orange man called Donald Trump, I was detained by ICE and sent back to Canada. The officers with serious faces told me that "Anyway, they are better at hockey," and I answered back that "Anyway, the USA teams are made of Canadian players and coaches." I am now banned from the United States.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Backpacking trip: you decided to start by going to Europe.

I really missed my friends, so I decided to start my trip in Europe and see them.

Choice 1 : Travel: visit friends in Europe.

Volunteering abroad: You went to Costa Rica to build houses.

I had a farmer's tan from building houses, my Spanish was chaotic, but I never felt more accomplished. Goats followed me everywhere, and even one called Greg started sleeping next to me. I felt like the goats respected me a bit too much, and I began to suspect I had a new purpose waiting for me...

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Choice 2 : I became a goat whisperer.

Visiting friends in Europe: fell in love with an English man.

One night my friends and I decided to go to London to party in the clubs. When I arrived at a club, I made a fool of myself by falling down some stairs. Luckily for me, a beautiful gentleman helped me up, and we hit it off pretty quickly. Since then, we have been together, and I live in his castle because he is part of the nobility in England.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

Visiting friends in Europe: accept an internship in the fashion world in Rome.

By doing this internship, I was able to learn the ropes of the fashion industry. The on-the-job-training gave me a good opportunity to see if I could be happy working in the fashion world. However, I discovered that more often than not this world revolves around gossip and flirtation. So, I decided to go back to Canada.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.

I became a goat whisperer.

I decided to stay in Costa Rica and bought a farm. I thought goats about poetry and math. One of them is now so advanced that he is now running for mayor of the village I live in. I am the mother of barnyard animals.

Choice 1 : Go back to the beginning.