Time to Get My Head Out of My Ass
- Ryley Remedios
- May 4, 2017
- 3 min read
"Just call me an Asian Grandma - seen rolling my buggy around to carry my groceries home: Adulting 101."
(as seen on Snapchat)
Eight months ago I moved 615km away from home - a 7 hour drive, a 5 hour train ride, a 1 hour plane ride, and a 127 hour walk out of the comfort of good ol' Guelph. Eight months ago I began a new chapter of my life at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Eight months ago I left behind the sport I've been training my whole life for. Eight months ago I took a leap of faith in a city knowing absolutely no one or nothing around me. I cut my hair, adapted a new style, threw away all my science textbooks, packed up my parent's cars and headed off to art school in a big city.
A big part of moving away was accepting the fact that I would grow away from people; people that I've had significant relationships with. It was important to understand that letting them go was a part of growing up. I would never let someone hinder my growth. I was stuck in the mindset that my life eight months ago was the best life was going to get, and I was pretty content. However, moving away was the best decision I have ever made and I'm not looking back.
Today, I am still scared shitless. Over the past eight months, I have grown as a person the most I ever have in such a short amount of time (not height wise, I wish though). I have met life-long friends, expanded my artistic abilities, and learned not to take life too seriously. After hundreds of dollars spent on film development, all-nighters finishing history essays, a few computer crashes, too many harsh critiques, and constant dark circles under my eyes (my mom likes to call them "racoon eyes").. I successfully finished my first year of University. Crazy, right? I still look like I'm 12.
Living in student residence for eight months was.. an experience to say the least. Communal washrooms, cafeteria food, noisy hallways and the unusual amount of dust in my dorm room are a few things I will not miss but at the same time, I am also grateful for. Less than 48 hours ago, I moved into my first apartment in Le Plateau with my best friend, Em, thanks to student residence. Our parents spent a few days with us - packing up and moving in, getting us settled. If you asked me what I'm feeling right now, I would say scarcited (scared + excited).. but more excited. Playing house and decorating is all fun and games, until I realized I'm really on my own this time. Today was our first real day without our parents helping us out in our new place - Em and I didn't know what to do with ourselves and we literally ended up just staring at each other saying, "Now What?" Triple checking we locked the doors every night, turning off the lights every room we exit, only doing laundry in the middle of the night.. the list goes on. It's a huge reality check - I'm an adult now and life is about to get even crazier.
It's time to get my head out of my ass. I don't totally know what I'm doing or where I'm going but that's never stopped me before. The sun rises every morning and the sun sets every night - and that's all I know for sure.
- R
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ryleyremedios
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