22

This post was supposed to be live on my birthday, but it's not an easy one to sit down and write. Once or twice a year, since I started my blog in 2012, I’ve done a little recap of my year. I start to think about it between my birthday and the New Year. I just turned 22 in November and it gave me a little push to face the year I just had.

I spent my last year finishing my degree in Halifax. When I made the decision to go to Nova Scotia, I honestly didn’t think much about it. I wanted to finish school and Halifax was the quickest way to do it. If you know me at all, you’ll know that I can have fun doing just about anything, anywhere, so moving to Halifax didn’t seem like a bad idea at all and I was sure it would be an adventure. But, long story short, my year there was anything but fun. I started at a new school, excited to be with people who were just as in love with art and photography as I was and excited to make some new friends to hangout with on the weekends. One apartment, five different roommates moving in and out like revolving doors, and I realized,   man, was I ever wrong.

I’m really not a person that complains a lot, so this whole concept of being miserable was totally new to me and I didn’t really know how to handle it. I can usually make the best of everything – figure out what’s bothering me and try to change it. But, this was a whole different story: I didn't know what to do, so I just had to tough it out. Thankfully, after a few rough months I got a call while I was back home in New Brunswick for the weekend. The school called to say that they had miscalculated my credits and I could graduate early! Thank you universe. I couldn’t wait to move out and never ever go back. Sorry Hali folks.

On a little bit of a lighter note, I did hate Halifax, but the whole year wasn’t all bad, just mostly ;)

While in Hali, I showed in three different galleries, Khyber, Art Zone & Young Offenders. I shot for TenTree Apparel, Hanna BroerDesigns, Cassandra Elizabeth, Strong & Free Apparel, I participated in a film festival and got published in three new magazines, PhotoLife, Kaiouti & Eide Magazine. I got to collaborate with new brands like, PuraVida Bracelets, Triangl Swimwear, AlbionFit, CliqueShops & Roc Eyewear and work with new bloggers like, Alex-Closet, Blank Itinerary, Girl from Panama & Zorannah. I went to fashion week in New York and made even more connections then the last times, and gained the condifence back that I was lacking.

As soon as I moved back to my own city, I started to feel so much lighter again – and I did it! I drove away with that little piece of paper that we all pay thousands of dollars for.

Since moving home, I’ve really buckled down career-wise. My surroundings in Halifax were making me feel like the way I was doing things was wrong - that art is supposed to be a certain way and that it was not the way I was doing it. I challenged this concept in one of my gallery showings, Is this Art?

In a way, this drove me to have even more of a kick to do well when I got home. I applied for jobs all over the world and I considered moving back to Montreal or dipping my toes into Toronto. As I was trying to decide on a destination, I found an opportunity to work right here in my own city. I’m now doing what I love, have a full-time job, a new apartment with my best friend, an adorable little kitten to be our third roommate, and I just bought a new car. Finally, things are starting to fall into place. I feel great. It is unimaginable what you feel when you’re around the right kind of people. They lift you up, while negative people literally drag you down. The two are so tricky. Sometimes, you don’t realize your surroundings are even making a difference in your life, but they are.

The thing is, you can be surrounded by awesome people all the time. It’s a choice. Unless you’re in your last stretch of school and are forced to live with crazy people – but, again, that was only for one year. I knew it was only temporary and if there hadn’t been a definite end-point in sight, I would have left as soon as I realized it was bringing me down. Surround yourself with people who get it, who are pumped about YOU and are positive humans! It’s amazing what it can do for you.

I understand this one was a little depressing, but I can't sit and pretend that everything's always as awesome as it appears on Instagram. But now, back to awesomeness! 

xx

Allie




Edited by the wonderful, Sarah Peel x