I was always the type of person who liked having my life planned out with very little unexpected changes. This all changed when I choose Brock university and the Sport Management Program.
I had only applied to four university programs out of high school, and Brock was the only one that was not based in my home city of Ottawa. I was sure that I would be sticking around Ottawa for the next four years, I didn’t really think much of Brock, I just threw in that last application because the idea of studying sport management was really intriguing. The more I sat down and thought about it, the more I started leaning towards Brock and choosing a program that was truly for me, rather than pick a safe option in my hometown.
Eventually I chose Brock, after probably way too long of debating with myself, and it has turned out to be one of the greatest decisions of my life. Moving away not only allowed me to fully embrace life on my own, but also follow an education path that I was very passionate about. It was scary at first. I had chosen to move over five hours away, commit to the next four years at a campus I had only visited once, and all without knowing anyone at Brock previously, but it could not have turned out better.
Living on my own and away from home for the past three and a half years has allowed me to develop life skills and meet a lot of new people. Not only did I get to learn how to live on my own (cooking, cleaning, organization, scheduling, etc.), but I developed a whole new network of people in my life. Since beginning at Brock, I have met some of my best friends, interesting academics, and industry professionals. Being connected to all these individuals in one way or another has greatly improved my life on both a personal and professional level, and it is all because I took a risk.
Being able to study something that I am truly passionate about is something I am thankful for every day. When I look back at making that decision, I was unsure that I was making the right choice. Everything about staying never home was more logical. It was familiar, it was cheaper, and they were more “traditional” programs. Now, when I look forward at the potential positions that I may work in moving forward, there is nothing that excites me more. People always say, “love what you do, and you never work a day in your life” and I believe I have found that in the field of Sport Management. I can feel it just working in part-time or volunteer positions, that I am meant to work in sports. Taking the leap of faith to move to St. Catharines and attend Brock University has allowed me to discover that.
As a piece of advice to take from this is never be afraid to take a risk or take a leap of faith if the decision feels right in your gut. At the end of the day, only you know what is best for you and acting on that should always be something you consider.
By: Ryan Hyndman
