2006: The Year in Review

2006 marked a year of change and will go down as one of the more eventful set of 365 days that I have experienced thus far.

Academics have always been at the forefront of my life. Four years ago I was jumping at the chance for something new, to leave high school. And then, when I got to Schulich, there were many times where I wanted to take the express lane and get to graduation. Ironically, somewhere along the way things changed, as they do have a habit of doing in life, and I decided that I wasn't quite done with academia just yet. I quite enjoyed being an overage dependant, having 4 months off for summer holidays and living in a "bubble", sheltered from the realities of the working world and what it really means to be a productive member of society. To make a long story short, I decided to extend my stay in institutional life and signed up for a three year stint at the University of Ottawa in pursuit of a law degree.

As such, 2006 marked the year that I finally moved out of Hotel Mom & Dad and started having to do chores and fend for myself all the while being forced to actually do readings for the first time in my life. Gone were the days where I could function on "logic". It's true what they say, payback's a bitch. It's challenging and ridiculously frustrating at times when judgments seem to make absolutely no sense and they seem to be written in a foreign language, regardless of how much the text resembles the English language. But I think I'm finally getting into the groove of things (hopefully anyways, with the blip so far being the Crim exam which I still can't quite get over). I've got a great bunch of friends in law school (both at UO and elsewhere) that I bond and complain with over case briefs, summaries, case comments and 100% finals. Misery loves company LOL!

In the process of moving on from Schulich and graduating from business school, there are things, and more accurately, people missing in my life. Gone are the days where I get to hang out in the Marketplace and here the numerous and wildly entertainment exploits from the weekend's festivities or garb about the latest in celebrity gossip with my gals. I've been really fortunate in my life to be in the company of and befriend so many tremendous people. Cheers to the 2006 BBA class at Schulich, you guys made the past 4 years one hell of an amazing ride. But hey, it's true what they say about networking so we'll always be just a business rolodex flip away.

2006 wasn't all about school either. Some people go backpacking in Europe while others enjoy the sun and sand (among other things) in tropical destinations like Cuba. Me? I've always liked being different so I made a return trip to the Happiest Place on Earth for my grad trip. I'm happy to report that Mickey and the gang are still in great spirits and the main mouse hasn't aged a bit since the last I saw him! I also got the chance to revisit my favourite academic institution and the place that I would *almost* give a limb to go to (although it might actually cost a limb to go there), Harvard. In case anyone is wondering, I totally realized this year that as nice as it is to go on vacation, there's really no place like home. Toronto, I'm sorry that I took you for granted all these years. This is especially true when you're not on a real "vacation" and you're just away for school. This is especially true if that place is Ottawa, home of those blasted Senators! Oh yeah, I also took in a Leafs-Habs game last month with a glorious 5-1 result!

All in all, 2006 was a great year. But the challenge is out for 2007 to top it!