The End.

Because every new beginning has to start with the end of the before, this story starts with an ending. The end of childhood will allow this narrative to be about adulthood and all the decisions, easy and hard that come with it. And so, allow me to introduce you to the last chapter of the before, my last day of summer break. This beautiful sunny day was the last one for me to chose if I went back to school and tried to be an educated and useful member of society or if I lived my life in the present and tried to become, by myself, a person who achieves her day to day dreams.

Choice 1 : Go to my first Cegep day

Choice 2 : Stay home

The Path of the Present.

Some might dread the extraordinary amount of choices the present hold, but for me it has always been a wonderful gift. I was now free from school but not from worries because I had to decide what would become of my future. After a few days of research, I finally narrowed my options to two that really represented my interests.

Choice 1 : Leave the country and travel

Choice 2 : Contact a local volunteering organization

The Path of the Future.

Five years after my first Cegep day, I finally had my bachelor's degree in biology. University was overwhelming but after I graduated, I was really proud of my accomplishment. I also wasn't sure what to do, so I applied to a dead-end job and surprisingly they wanted to hire me. A part of me also wanted to be a marine biologist and there was an interesting job opening in British Columbia. I could also continue my school journey or try to get an internship.

Choice 1 : Accept the offer

Choice 2 : Apply for a job in British Columbia

Choice 3 : Go back to school and get a master's degree

Choice 4 : Apply to an internship

The Selfish Dream.

Since I can remember, I always wanted to discover the world. When I was in school I set aside a bit of money and now was the time to spend it. I started with Australia, then New Zealand and my plan was to go to the Philippines next, but the lack of income caught up too fast, and I was soon out of money to travel more.

Choice 1 : Decide to go back home

Choice 2 : Decide to stay

The Selfless Dream.

The organization I contacted was more than happy to accept me as a part of their crew and as easily as that I was a volunteer who helped homeless people get food, a warm place to sleep and hope in the future. I had no salary but the feeling of fulfillment was so strong I could easily forget all the disadvantages of my boring part-time job. After a year of good work, an employee left, and they offered me the vacant position.

Choice 1 : Accept the offer

Choice 2 : Refuse the offer and volunteer abroad

A Life of Simple Good.

It was maddening to see how time went fast. It had already been six years since I was officially hired. All the overtime I did during these years was absolutely worthwhile because helping these powerless people really was my purpose. Even though this job wasn't easy it still was the job I loved and that I was certain to do for many more years.

Choice 1 : Continue to work there for many years

A Life of Larger Good.

I refused the offer because I wasn't sure if I was ready to get settled, but I didn't want to stop volunteering after I saw what good it could bring. The bit of experience I had in the matter allowed me to go volunteer abroad.

Choice 1 : Jump in a plane and help people abroad

The Ultimate End.

Unfortunately, one day I was walking down the street on my way to the grocery store when a driver lost control of his car and hit me at high speed. I died on the spot. And so, just like that, death is the end of the story to make sure there will be no new beginning. Death is unavoidable.

Choice 1 : Back to the beginning

Back at the Beginning.

No money meant the end of my journey, I had to go back home and find a job. However, there was something ingrained in me that couldn't stop being bored by normality. I had to do something to make myself better than the one I already was, so I decided to start writing a novel.

Choice 1 : Start writing a novel

Only Forward.

It was obvious, I couldn't let money deterred my dream of traveling, so I found myself a minimum wage job in New Zealand, and managed to continue traveling while working in a foreign country.

Choice 1 : Wait until I have enough money to go to the Philippines

Forever the Same.

I got sucked up in the routine of this dead-end job very rapidly. After the three days of on-the-job-training during which I learned the ropes of the job, the HR explained to me the benefits of the job, I wasn't paid a premium wage but I had three weeks of vacation every year, compensation for overtime and a pension when I would retire. I was doing the leg work, but it was fine, everything can become fine with time.

Choice 1 : Continue to work there for many years

When Hope Wins.

Unfortunately I wasn't hired, they told me I was unqualified for the job.

Choice 1 : Accept the offer from the dead-end job

Choice 2 : Go back to school to get a master's degree

Choice 3 : Apply to an internship

The Quest to the Better.

I realized a master's degree could be really useful in life, especially since I thought I wanted to become a marine biologist, so I went to university and worked hard to get my diploma. Unfortunately, it was way harder than a bachelor's degree, and my boyfriend wanted to have a family soon.

Choice 1 : Get a master's degree and try to be a local marine biologist

Choice 2 : Drop out of school to have a family

Choice 3 : Get a master's degree and try another time to get the job in British Columbia

A Foot in the door.

I was hired for the internship I applied for, but being a biologist wasn't exactly what I thought it was, it was way harder.

Choice 1 : Drop out because it is too hard

Choice 2 : Decide to keep the internship and work harder

A Second Chance.

I couldn't believe it, they hired me! I moved to British Columbia and after all these years of studying, I finally became a marine biologist.

Choice 1 : Work for many years at the same company

A Simple Happiness.

My boyfriend asked me to marry him and I said yes, soon after I got pregnant and I realized I couldn't study and raise a child at the same time, so I dropped out. My husband was making a lot of money, so I could've stayed at home if I wanted, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to throw away the bachelor's degree I worked hard to get.

Choice 1 : Try to find a good job with just a bachelor's degree

Choice 2 : Become a housewife

What was Always Wanted.

I was hired by a local research center. Every day, I got to do research about marine life and shared my discoveries with my colleagues. I was really happy with this job.

Choice 1 : Work hard to keep the job

The Easy Way Out.

After I dropped out of the internship because it was way too hard, I could either live on my savings or find an easier job.

Choice 1 : Live on my savings for a while

Choice 2 : Find an easy job

The Unpleasant Truth.

I realized this wasn't the job for me, but a part of me wanted to give it another shot, to see if it became easier and better with time.

Choice 1 : Continue the internship for some time

Choice 2 : Try to find a better internship

The Other Way.

The second internship I did was the one, I liked it so much, every day was enjoyable. I knew I wanted to work for this company.

Choice 1 : Decide to work for this company