Coming to McGill introduced me to a world of possibility. I was surrounded by peers who came from all over the world and from such diverse backgrounds, each with a unique story to tell. It left a strong impression on me that there are so many ways to live a life.
In the summer of my third year, I did an exchange program in Florence, Italy and, with that opportunity, I first experienced a sustaining love for travel. After finishing my program, I continued onwards through Europe, backpacking solo and discovering even more stories of the human experience.
After graduation, I moved to Japan to run a homestay program in Kamikatsu, the first village in the country to declare for zero waste. At INOW, we focus on sharing stories and giving our guests a chance to learn through experience what sustainability means to them.
Living here in Japan and building a business that ties into my first love of hearing and sharing stories, I can trace the inspiration for such a dramatic shift in my life’s direction back to that first travel experience at McGill. The environment and community I first encountered at school has since helped me prepare to face the world, and to listen and share the stories that inspire me.