The Graduate.

I was 17 years old when I first started attending the University of Victoria and I was just a rookie on the Vikes Field Hockey team. The only thing I was sure of when I graduated from High School was that I wanted to wear the powder blue uniform and be like "Greg" from CSI: Las Vegas, a Forensic Geneticist. So, seven years later I have a CIS Gold Medal and a Bachelors of Science (Biochemistry) degree, ready to pursue the career of a Geneticist. There's only one problem, three years ago, I am pretty sure that I realize that Biochemistry wasn't what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. When you are in high school they imply that if you are good at a certain subject that you enjoy that. The two are not mutually exclusive. I think that if you enjoy a subject, chances are you are pretty good at it because you are interested enough to put the time and effort into it. Just because you are good at something doesn't mean you enjoy it. I found that out. Science was always my strong subject - Biology, Chemistry, Math, etc. I found out though, that Biochemistry doesn't really spark me! SO... like every new Undergraduate with a degree, I'm not going to pursue the world of Biochemistry much further. There is always the potential to still right the MCAT and apply for Medical school but that's still not a top option!

I have a few ideas but for now, I'm going to stick with one of my first dreams - playing for Canada! The young 17 year-old that could only dream as far as the powder blue uniforms of the Vikes now has the opportunity to help "change a culture" and "create a legacy" to quote our team's mantra for our run for the 2012 Olympics. It's going to take a lot of hard work but I am nearing the final months of recovery from my labral tear surgery in my shoulder and I'm getting a lot stronger. My priorities now are to focus on maintaining and increasing my physical fitness and just strengthening all my rotator cuff muscles. Our next trip is to the Champions Challenge II in Vienna, Austria! The team has a chance to gain some ranking points where we re-face Belgium (beat us for 3rd place last year at the World Cup qualifier in San Diego, CA) and our Pan American rivals, Chile (we just tied them in a series 2-2-1 in Santiago, CHL). In our pool we face Italy, Austria and Chile with our biggest competition in the cross over being Belgium and Malaysia.

Currently, I am staying at a Holiday Inn Express  in the Comox Valley and it has been a great stay so far! I drove up island last night because the Comox/Courtenay field hockey program wanted to have someone come give them some coaching for their U14 and U16s. It is going to be fun to help promote myself, the national team and see what up-island girls have been up to in field hockey! They will be training on grass but hopefully I can help them get some turf time in Duncan next time and run a skills camp for them on the turf. I would love to help promote hockey on the island so, I am glad (and impressed) that the Comox Valley has reached out!

The sun is shining and I'm feeling pretty good about the weekend before heading to Vancouver again to check-in with my surgeon for my 3-month check up!