How Do You Measure A Year

Quantifying my years through such things as pictures and music to remember the important things

[howdoyoumeasureayear]

2018

In looking back at my text posts from throughout 2018 and thinking about the year as a general whole, I’d have to say that the one word I would use to describe it is lovely. 

2018 was busy. There was a lot going on with classes, but I knew it’s where I needed to be and that all the annoyances would eventually be worth it. There were lots of great moments in going through my first clinical experiences, and having it starting to sink in that this is what I get to do. So much learning happened and I’m so excited about how far I’ve come already. Thank goodness I had the people in my life that I do to help me get through it. My friends have truly made my year, and I’m absolutely thrilled to have spent so much time being with them through the good and the bad. I know I have found friendships with people that will last forever, even though I will scarcely see some of them from now on. It’s crazy to think that the end of the year brought about the end of school, but here we are. 

And so I look forward to 2019. I know 2019 will be a year where things change more for me, since in 7 months time I’ll be fully employable in a career that I feel has chosen me. I will get to spend more time with my favourite people and I’m looking forward to everything that 2019 brings.

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2018 in song

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2018 in photos

Part 8/8

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2018 in photos

Part 7/8

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2018 in photos

Part 6/8

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2018 in photos

Part 5/8

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2018 in photos

Part 4/8

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2018 in photos

Part 3/8

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2018 in photos

Part 2/8

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2018 in photos

Part 1/8

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2018 in books

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December

December absolutely flew by, and was filled with many good and bittersweet things.

The end of classes was definitely welcome, but also incredibly strange and did not feel real that we were no longer needing to take another class. We had our grad photos, our last practical exam, and last times stuck sitting in the same classroom for too many hours on end. Bitches Get Snitches did our last HP trivia night together and crushed it, as per usual. Exams started happening and I found I really didn’t care, so long as I passed which wasn’t really a concern. We had our last typical night out of line dancing and Funky Buddha, and it was absolutely a blast. We watched so many movies and had so many tea parties it was super chill. Many Christmas joy gift exchanges happened, and they reminded me of how much I love my friends and how sad I’ll be when they’re not constantly around (and also how much I’ll be happy not to see the people that annoy me everyday). Finally there was our Holiday Party, which was perfect. We had a great pre with my favourite people, and the dinner was actually delicious. Dancing at the venue was a little random because the speakers weren’t working quite properly, but we nonetheless had a blast all hanging out and laughing and chatting and hugging everyone. And I didn’t cry! So that’s good. Afterward we went to Funky Buddha and so many people came it was a blast. Sure I spent a good chunk of time flirting shamelessly to get free drinks, but it was so much fun dancing with everyone, then ending the night with the classic trip to Steel Wheels. Afterwards Riley and I of course had a sleepover that took unexpected but good turns. The next day was exhausting, from lack of sleep and needing to pack everything up to drive to Calgary. And again another sleepless night to make it to my very early flight to the airport, but worth it. Coming back home was nice, and it was great to be able to make it to most of the family Christmas festivities. Overall Christmas was lovely, though I ended up absolutely exhausted and was really done with having to socialize. My birthday was the usual, and I’m so pleased my cake turned out and everyone was super impressed. The days until New Year’s were very chill and consisted of much movie watching and book reading, which is exactly how I like it. New Year’s was a lovely way to end the year, with friends having a chill fun night together. 

So December: lots of endings and overall whirlwinds, but rather nice.

[howdoyoumeasureayear]

November

No point in making excuses cause I’ve been behind so much but anyway NOVEMBER. There were a lot of really frustrating things in November but a lot of really great things too.

The month started off with the deadline of the 900 projects looming. We spent so many hours trying to wrap everything up and being ready to go for the presentation. And then the presentation finally happened and it was probably one of the happiest moments of this program. The whole project was a very frustrating experience, but thanks to my amazing partners we made it through and I’m so proud of us. Also going for brunch with them to celebrate after the fact was truly perfect. I also had my solo session in clinic, which was definitely tough with those clients but I was seeing really great things as well, so that was good. Finally reading week came, and my mum came to visit. Although I was definitely thinking that a full week with my mum was a LOT of time, it was a really nice week. We were pretty chill and did at least one thing a day, plus got to eat lots of delicious food. I got a car (!!!!!) which is wild and I am very grateful to my parents for these things. I’m also loving the car so that’s fab. My mum and I had a great chat on her last night (which also consisted of me incidentally practicing motivational interviewing skills on her) where we talked about how I feel very spoiled, but I am completely and utterly grateful for the ways they are supporting me, and she was talking about how she doesn’t care about how she’s supporting me and she’s thrilled I’m finding my place (though would prefer it not to be Edmonton). The last couple weeks of November were mostly pretty chill, with nothing too exciting happening, and continued annoyances from before. We had a great meeting with our department head where she was looking for feedback on the program, and though we were all balls of rage going into it, it was actually really productive (we think at least). We also wrapped up clinic, which was bittersweet cause it’s nice to be done, but the only thing I cared about at that point. I got really great feedback from my CE though and it makes me really excited going into my other placements. 

So November: lots of feel good moments and wrapping up things, both good and bad. 

[howdoyoumeasureayear]

October

October was overall a relatively good month. Lots of busy things, but also lots of good moments. The annoyance from September remained, but with other positive things to help get through.

The first weekend of October was Thanksgiving, and I got to spend it in Canmore with Charlotte and her family, and it was absolutely wonderful. The weather was beautiful and everyone was so lovely it made for a fantastic weekend. Coming back I had my midpoint check in meeting with my CE, and everything was going fine and it was super chill. Nearly every night was spent watching a spooky something with Riley, which also involved bingeing much TV. We spent a day out at the corn maze just basking in the fall aesthetic and it was beautiful. We also got THIRD PLACE in a Harry Potter trivia night, which is a credential I will hold on to forever. Our crowning achievement was planning and executing a Harry Potter themed murder mystery party, which was so so so much fun and everyone loved it! We’re already thinking of how we can do another and make sure to work out some of the small kinks (though it was fabulous as it was). We also got to hand over OASIS, which although isn’t completely off my plate now, is nice that it’s moving along. Even though the first years are really annoying about the whole thing. Hanging out with the new co-presidents and our faculty liaison was a super fun hang, and overall I’m glad they’re the ones taking it over. Halloween was also a great, chill way to end the month, with watching more spooky things and handing out candy and rescuing a dog. Overall the school aspect of October was not ideal, with many frustrations and annoyances, but we’re making it through.

So October: a lovely fall month with many overwhelming things, but lots of feel good moments.

[howdoyoumeasureayear]

September

September was a very strange, long, busy, overwhelming, odd month and I can’t believe how fast it passed. 

The month started very interestingly, with the after-effects of an emotional night and a day spent in bed. A few friends got together for a marathon of The Handmaid’s Tale, which we successfully accomplished in a single day with many treats and friendly support. Classes started and we were all pretty much not ready for that. The time spent sitting in class, having to pay attention, doing prep work? Not on our minds at all. Clinic was off to a lowkey start as well, so we felt very eased-in to the year in a weird sense of false security. A fun trip to the humane society resulted in an impromptu cat adoption, which has truly made our lives better just to snuggle with Merlin on a regular basis. (He truly is an angel cat). On the eve of our only free Saturday of the month, we went out partying and it was such a solid night of dancing and fun. It seemed like everyday there were things happening in the month that took up so much time, but it really was taking it day by day. It was also strange too how angry I felt, along with pretty much the whole class, about literally anything and everything. There were also really frustrating personal relationship things that made some days worse than others and made me really annoyed with a particular individual, but it seems to be mostly okay now. A lot of the month’s anger was triggered by things like Saturday classes and 900 project, but that anger seeped into just about everything and it was felt by the entire class. This was super frustrating as well cause we were all angry with ourselves for being so angry all the time. Luckily we have each other and we know who our people are and that we can turn to them. The month ended with the OASIS Conference, which was a great time, followed by Riley’s housewarming party, which actually turned out fantastically. It was so much fun and we had a lot of lols about things during and after the party. On the last day we spent most of it in bed, but we also got to attend the National Indigenous Cultural Expo (though the session we were supposed to run was cancelled anyway), which was super cool and interesting. 

So September: and angry and busy month but shared with my favourite people to make it better.

[howdoyoumeasureayear]

August

August was both a whirlwind and so relaxing at the same time it was actually rather lovely.

The month began with heading back to Toronto, where I spent most of the time lying in bed doing nothing and watching tv and crafting. But also getting to catch up with people which was lovely. Then heading to New Brunswick was also a really nice week. It was good to see my parents and have no responsibilities and have some chill times at the cottage eating good views and taking in nice views. In Halifax I also had a lovely time wandering and sitting and reading and enjoying my time there. Overall those three weeks were perfect for relaxing and reading and not worrying about anything. Heading back west I was stoked to see all my friends again and I didn’t realize how much I’d miss them over our break. AAC camp was super fun but also a mess but still a great time for hanging and giving the campers and their families a great time. Then Riley and I had a couple of days to run through the beautiful majestic mountains before heading back to Edmonton for the first year orientation. It was so fun and also so weird to welcome in the first years to this amazing time they’re about to experience but also thinking about where I was a year ago. The month ended with an emotional night but I was with my gyals which made it lovely and supportive.

So August: actually lovely and a nice relaxing end to the summer.