It's been nearly a year since I've used this blog. You should follow me on Insta for more regular updates. Although it is hard to post something like this to Insta.
It feels like every year is completely different for me. 2013 saw me moving out for the first time, and moving to the big city. 2014 saw me in art school, and learning how to live on my own. 2015 I moved back to Alliston, and started working at Base Borden, had a slump. 2016 I got my own place, and worked at the Market, got healthy, and got another contract at the Base. I met Matt (current boyf) and finished my final semester at OCAD.
Nope I didn't graduate. I dropped out. (hopefully not forever, but for now). I love painting, and I love the intellectual stimulation of art school. But during my last semester (fall 2016), I kind of found my schtick. The military. My paintings started to sway towards that topic, and as I have been working there for nearly a year - my world has that lens on it all the time. Enough so, that I decided to apply. Last year I considered joining the Reserves while I finished my art degree, but I never ended up going back to school full time when I was re-hired at the Base Clinic.
I put my application in to become a Nursing Officer at the end of November 2016. By 15 December I had done my aptitude test, and interview for the Canadian Armed Forces. I applied to the University of New Brunswick for Nursing, and started taking the pre-requisites for a Bachelor of Nursing online.
At this point, I'm a third of the way through my pre-reqs, I've had my recruit medical, my application for both the military and UNB are outstanding with missing documents (hopefully to resolve soonest!). Hopefully they both fall into place, and 2017 will see me off to Basic Training in the summer, and to Fredericton, NB in September starting another 4 year degree.
Part of the reason that I think this will be so fulfilling for me, is the opportunity to continue learning throughout my entire career. If all goes well, I could get my Masters, and specialize in Mental Health. There are tons of courses, deployments, postings that are available as a Military Nurse that just aren't offered to Civilians - as I have seen during my time at the clinic.
So cross your fingers for me, I was told the Forces are only hiring 5 Nursing Officers in the country this year. I'll be freaking lucky if this happens for me, but I'm doing my best to be in the running.
Thanks for your support through the years, whoever you are reading all the way to the bottom.
I love you all, and growing up is hard - but also so exciting.
So many things to learn, and experiences to have. I feel like 2017 is going to be a good one for me.
xoxo
Hayley
