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| Original image by the talented Meagan. We like to style things and she likes to take pictures. |
While I have no need to prove to my dad I’m not a fool, and
I really really don’t intend on getting in any fights, I am most definitely
heading back to school!
My “back to school” journey really began a couple years ago…
During my stint with Not For Sale I had really become sold
on the idea of Open Source Activism—the idea of using your own skill set and
talents to create positive world change. Everyone is good at something, and
normally everyone is good at quite a few things. The goal is to take those things
you are good at, and use them for good. Using your talents for good could be
anything from playing music with a positive message, making crafts you sell for
fundraising purposes, sewing clothes or knitting warm scarves and mitts to give
to shelters, cooking meals for families with new babies, the list really does
go on and on…
While with NFS I had a few ideas on how I wanted to pursue
and implement in my life the ideals of open source activism. One idea was to
become a career counselor— when survivors of human trafficking would be going
through their rehabilitation programs, I would be there to provide career
assistance. This would be everything from assessing their current skill sets and
passions to working on interview skills, interview outfit shopping and bringing
confidence to the forefront. It was an awesome idea and combined my love for
helping others succeed and flourish with my passion of ending human
trafficking. While it was a great idea, and while I’m sure I would have enjoyed
it immensely, there was another passion I knew I needed to feed.
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| My "I'm going to school" announcement on Instagram. Follow me: @LoveInspiresChange |
I had (and still have) this growing love for baking. It’s
amazing the joy that comes from creating something delicious, attractive and
shareable. Baking had been a past time and hobby for me for quite a
while—especially once moving to Winkler, Manitoba. After being creative on my
own time with baking basics and ambitious decorating adventures, I thought it
was time to perhaps take this passion to a new level and pursue it as a career.
You see, open source activism can really accommodate any skill or passion you
have. For myself, baking is going to be how I positively influence and change the
world.
Upon the decision of my wonderful husband and I to move to
Ontario was also the decision that I was going to actively pursue baking as a
career. I was leaving broadcasting behind trading the microphone for the
spatula. My goal was to work in the field for one year. If during that year I
liked it as much as I thought I would, I would plan to attend school at the
year mark to really learn about what I was doing!
We are now entering August of 2014 with my first job in a
bakery having started in September of 2013. Needless to say, I still love it.
Ontario does this awesome Apprenticeship program. You spend four months of the
year receiving in school training and the rest of the year working in a bakery
that sponsors you and ensures you are putting your newly gained skills from
school to use in a professional setting. It’s a great way to get the best of
both worlds—school and work.
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| My "For the Love of Cake" board on Pinterest. Just the first few pins... slightly cake obsessed. Follow me: Pinterest.com/aeleas |
September 2nd is my first day of school and I
don’t know if I could be more excited. It’s been seven years since I graduated from
college and I am looking forward to the challenges I will face, the knowledge I
will gain, the frustrations I am sure I will face and overcoming those
frustrations to be able to do things I could only image doing after pinning
flawless images on Pinterest for the past few years. The Baker-Patissier
Apprenticeship program at George Brown College in Toronto is about to receive a
student who is not only excited to learn, but who is eager to apply and partner
those learned skills with her dreams to be a force of positive change. Piping
bag in hand, I can change the world.
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