A journey of self discovery.
After high school, I want to attend a university for something I love. Right now, I want to major in art and minor in creative writing. I want to become a visual artist, writer, architect or travelling food blogger (the best job in the world!). I know that my career goals will change in the future but this is what I want as of now. When I am done university, I want to travel the world and eventually settle down and have a family.
– Grade 10 Careers Reflection, summer 2015
Going to art school made me realize how much I couldn’t stand art school. I used to create art for myself with subject matters and themes that I enjoyed. Not that I wasn’t open to criticism, but I felt like the rigor of the program and expectations from instructors, the constant need to change what I had envisioned for the likes of my teachers – in order to receive the grades I needed – made me lose a part of myself and my personal creativity. I enjoy making art for myself, not adjusting to the needs of others. So that’s when I switched goals of studying art in the future.
– Diary entry, December 2017
“It’s hard when you’re 16, to essentially plan your whole life ahead of you. In grade 11 February, we were asked to choose our courses for grade 12. These grade 12 courses determine what prerequisites we need for our university programs. These university programs, while they don’t define us, make a huge impact on our future careers. But if you go even further back, many grade 11 courses are prerequisites as well, meaning we are making these choices as early as grade 10, when we are just 15. I think that’s too much to ask for from a child who should be stressing over what dress they are going to wear to their first semi instead of stressing over deciding their whole future in one night. “
– Reflection on Grade 12 Course Selection, January 2018
“In 2017, I went on a cruise for the first time, planned a trip to Disney World with my friends, and endeavored to China to teach English to underprivileged kids. I love travelling, because so often I find myself trapped in the bubble of Toronto and my inner-connections that I forget the bigger picture. There’s a whole world out there with caves to explore and delicacies to enjoy and people to love and nature to absorb. I think it all bottles down to one thing: people. I believe everyone has their own unique story to tell, and that’s why I love making connections. I wanna hear everyone’s individual stories because there is power in storytelling. My role as Junior Mayor and Clubs and Funds on the Student Activity Council, as well as a Youth Ambassador for World Vision Canada and my leaders-in-training at camp have given me opportunities to hear the stories of people around the world. As for myself, I love to tell stories as well. I grew up exposed to the beauties of art and mark making, developing my love for creativity and imagination from there. I’ve recently been exploring new mediums to connect with people, through blogs, vlogs, videography, and photography. Now I’m 18 and I still don’t know what I want to do with my life, or what I want my career to be. But I do know that I want something that allows me to connect with people and tell stories internationally through different platforms. I’ve always imagined myself doing something related to business because of the huge networking aspect.”
– UBC Application, January 2018
Ask anyone who knew Honbria from the past. High achiever, keen student, always on the lookout for opportunity after opportunity, going into business just made sense.
– Revision Assignment, Fall 2019
The biggest connection made between existentialism and my life would be just a few days ago when accepting my university offers. What made it such a difficult process was the fact that I didn’t know what I wanted in my life, what I want my future to look like or what my goals were. I was weighing the options between schools trying to see which one would allow me to leave a legacy, to make an impact on the world, give me the most wealth. How would I live with the choice I made? It was after I clicked the “accept” button that I realized I made the right choice. There were no wrong choices. Wherever I went, whatever school I chose, it would be up to me to take me where I desired to be, not the institution. I am free to become the person I want to be and give my life its own meaning.
– English Class Reflection, May 2018
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
– Anthony Bourdain
“Will you come back, please? I don’t know what I would do without the love and kindness you showed us the last two weeks.”
– Ingram, Huanjiang, summer 2017
“I can’t believe they (our parents) just let us go (to Disney). “
-Chris, March 2017
“It’s insane how fast you can speed-bond so quickly with people you have just met. And the crazy thing about Minerva is that you meet people from around the world and everyone just wants to get to know each other. And within a span of a weekend you are able to share so much about your lives and personal details and you never want to leave – that’s when you know you have made friends for life.”
– Ella, San Francisco, April 2018
“Don’t worry, we will be your tour guides! Whatever you want to do, wherever you want to go, we’ll take you.”
– Sunny, Qingdao, summer 2018
Stella and Christine (two Greek locals) offered me a hot spot and to give Sam and I a tour of the Acropolis, we quickly became friends and I spent a majority of my time in Athens with them!
“Of course, you can have a hot spot, why don’t we just take you to the Acropolis ourselves and save you some time?”
– Christine, Athens, summer 2019
“When in Rome is a real concept… we just live and behave like the people we are surrounded by, forget about our worries and live in the moment.”
– Giacomo, Rome, summer 2019
“There’s nothing to do in this city other than go shopping.”
– Steph, Milan, summer 2019
“Let’s meet in front of the park. We can meet you there and go to a coffee shop and walk around the town if you would like.”
– Makayla’s Tinder Dates, Florence, summer 2019
“This is your first-time hitchhiking? I better make it memorable!”
– Unknown Driver, Meteora, summer 2019
“No way, you’re from Canada too? I’m from Montreal, it’s crazy how Canadians can connect so easily on the other side of the world!“
– Felix, Mykonos, summer 2019
“Drink more, be merry! The climb is hard but worth every minute”
– Old men, Mt. Olympus, summer 2019
“Have you ever tried raki with honey? It’s my mother’s homemade recipe and you won’t find something like this at the convenience store! Drink more, drink more!”
– Unknown vendor shop owner, Crete, summer 2019
“Here, you can find the Temple of Poseidon, which is home to some of the best sunsets in the world.”
(Tour Guide, Sounion, summer 2019)
“Oui, oui, oui, non, non, non, baguette, baguette? That’s really what Canadians think of the French?”
– French police officers, Budapest, summer 2019
“It’s like we’re looking at stars on the ground.”
Alex, Santorini, summer 2019
Do I really want to be sitting at an office desk from 9-5 when there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored?
As I struggle again and again to understand the fundamental concepts of accounting, I can’t help but think that I find my joy in something other than this – that I would rather be spending time editing a video or starting a conversation with a stranger on the street, instead of tirelessly attempting, and failing to understand something that does not interest me.
– Honbria, Revision Assignment, Fall 2019
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