Choosing my field of study and university.

I am only a couple months away from making one of the biggest decisions of my life. Since I was not really sure what I wanted to for a living, I have made a few academic requests for many programs of many universities that I found interesting. My first choice is to go in podiatric medicine in Trois-Rivières and my second choice is to go in veterinary medicine in Sainte-Hyacinthe. What is nice about my second choice is that I could follow my boyfriend who will become a veterinarian. We have been together for a long time now, and I am afraid that distance could separate us on a long term. That is not what I want, I love him. The good thing, or the not good thing, is that I have been accepted in both programs. Now, I have to choose between my dream job and the love of my life. I’m so confused!

Choice 1 : My dream job.

Choice 2 : The love of my life.

My dream job.

I have settled down in my new apartment not far from UQTR. I am glad that I have chosen my dream job and even more glad to be out of my parents’ house, but I am already missing him… Today is my first day of class to become a podiatrist. I enter the physic classroom, a little bit stressed, not knowing anyone of my program and not knowing how to approach people. But the laps of time left to deal with this problem is not long. I have to choose where to sit, and by the way, choosing my partner for my first school project. There are two half desks left. Do I sit up front just next to the boy comfortably sitting, just waiting for the class to begin or in the last row, next to the guy loudly chewing a gum?

Choice 1 : Sitting up front.

Choice 2 : Sitting in the last row.

The love of my life.

My boyfriend and I have moved in a small apartment next to university. I have decided to give a try to my long-term relationship. I just hope I won’t regret it. I kissed goodbye my number one field. Was it a bad decision? I don’t know. Life is going to tell me. I think that veterinary also sounds a lot interesting. What is not to like about animals, I have always loved them. This is just another field where I can practice another type of medicine.

Choice 1 : Loving veterinary medicine.

Choice 2 : Not loving veterinary medicine.

Sitting up front.

Henry, the actual name of the boy, happened to be an unexpected encounter. He is a wonderful person and became my official study partner until we graduated four years after we met. It turned out that we became best friends and also business partners. We have actually opened our own podiatric clinic in Quebec City, a few buildings away from my boyfriend’s veterinary clinic.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

Sitting in the last row.

Clifford is an attractive man. I feel like cheating just thinking about him. He had the grades to enter in podiatric medicine, but he does not give much effort in his studies because he is not sure to become a podiatrist. About a month after we first met, instead of working on our team project as we had planned, he took me to a bar. That night, I made one of the worst mistakes of my entire life: I slept with Clifford. But that is not the end of the story, I got pregnant. I never thought of what I would do if ever I had to face this situation, but now I have to ask myself: do I keep the baby or get abortion?

Choice 1 : Keeping the baby.

Choice 2 : Getting abortion.

Loving veterinary medicine.

It has been two years and a half since we started our doctorate in Sainte-Hyacinthe and I love becoming a veterinarian. I didn’t think I would love it so much. On my way to the animals’ hospital this morning, I stopped to the convenience store to get myself a lottery ticket. In fact, the jackpot is up to 70 million dollars. It would be nice to win this amount of money. I could accomplish so many dreams like opening a refuge for example. I keep touching wood, I hope life will be in my favour.

Choice 1 : I win the lottery.

Choice 2 : I do not win the lottery.

Not loving veterinary medicine.

After a half schooling year in veterinary medicine, I have had enough. This field of study was not made for me. I left the doctorate and found a job in Montreal to stay close to my boyfriend. It has been almost two years now that I became a dance teacher in a small school like I used to be in my teenage years. I love it. Yesterday, I got promoted, I was asked to become the coordinator and my boss told me that he also has a big surprise for me tomorrow. My friends want to celebrate for my promotion, but I know the night might get tipsy.

Choice 1 : Why not celebrate? A promotion does not often happen in a lifetime.

Choice 2 : I refuse to celebrate because I have to wake up early tomorrow for my big surprise.

Keeping the baby.

This is a game changer for me: having a baby one my own, because obviously, my boyfriend was not happy when he learned that I have cheated on him, so he broke up with me. I had to end my studies even though my first year was not even completed. My parents did not agree with my decision of raising a kid at that young age and ruining my potential to succeed. But they had no choice to take me back home because I will need help to take care of a baby and I could not afford an apartment on my own. So here I am, back in the nest with no degree completed.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

Getting abortion.

Even though I did not keep the baby, my boyfriend broke up with me because of my infidelity. I understand how he feels, I would have done the same. It has been two weeks now, and it is still hard on me. I have difficulties concentrating on my studies. But it is time more than ever to focus if I want to get to my dream. Right now, I am driving to the podiatric building. Should I turn left to get me a cup of coffee and a donut at Tim Hortons to cheer myself up, or I turn right to go straight to school and to start getting ready for my radiology test?

Choice 1 : Turn to the left.

Choice 2 : Turn to the right.

Turn to the left.

Bang! [onomatopoeia-car accident] I don’t know what happened! Why can I see myself up from the sky? I see my car, upside-down in the street, I am covered of blood and spilled coffee. What have I done? I am dead because I have chosen to get a good coffee. I won’t become a successful podiatrist in heaven.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

Turn to the right.

I am now a month away from graduation. In the past three years, I have strongly focused on my schooling, and it has been beneficial for me because my grades are looking good. I have started to make applications to different private clinics in which I have practiced internships during my doctorate. A place has already responded to me that they would be grateful to have me in its team.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

Why not celebrate? A promotion does not often happen in a lifetime.

This morning, my boss had a big surprise for me at the dance school, and I have missed it. Last night, I came back so late. I did not hear my alarm clock this morning, so I did not wake up. My boss was not really proud of me, he also told me that I have missed a big opportunity and that this opportunity would have given me a real reason to celebrate. I have missed my chance to start a real career in dance business because I got drunk. I am ashamed, I feel like an uncontrollable teenager right now.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

I refuse to celebrate because I have to wake up early tomorrow for my big surprise.

I have decided to refuse my friends’ invitation to celebrate. I first wanted to know what the big surprise was. Vincent Desjardins, a choreographer of Cirque du Soleil, came in person to ask me to become a permanent member of the show. I accepted of course. This opportunity will give me the chance to travel like I always wanted. Now, I have a real reason to celebrate. I just hope that my boyfriend will support my decision.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

I win the lottery.

I cannot believe that the 21-year-old me has won 70 million dollars. But now, ten years later, I wish I didn’t win that much money. It looks enormous, but it spends itself so fast. I was giving money to my friends and family, I was lending money, I was travelling, buying, profiting and even gambling with no limit. I was out of control. After three years of hard work to become a veterinarian, I even stopped my studies because I thought I would never have to earn money again. It results of me having to pay enormous debts, even though this is kind of ironic [irony] because I have never had that much money in my bank account, and that has increased my debts because I was not ready to control a huge pot like this.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.

I do not win the lottery.

Today is our graduation day. My high school boyfriend and I are now ready to take care of animals’ health. I can say that I am proud of us: we have made it through 5 years of studies and late-night work. I am even thinking of completing a master in veterinary pathology. With my organization and his comforting aspect, we will be able to excel in this field.

Choice 1 : Choosing my field of study and university.