This one goes out to...

As we approach the end of this very strange journey we've all been on, I turn a little introspective. I think of the ways I've grown, and I wonder what of my old self has stayed with me still. I also think of how all the people I've met in the past year have helped shape the person I've become. More specifically, I was thinking about all the women I've met and the effect they've had.

Now, I'm not a girly girl. Or I didn't used to be. I've been a tomboy all my life, I've had mostly guy friends, and save for a select few (read: 3 or 4) girl friends, I tend to stay away from women. Women are unpredictable, hard to read and yes, sometimes, just plain bitchy. And I'm sure, statistically speaking, those women exist here too. But forget those. Here is a tribute to the ones that I am proud to know.

The first woman I ever met around here was Sema. She was in my 5150 group, an engineer by trade, with an ex-Schulich grad for a husband and a 2 year old daughter. We clicked almost immediately and we've been in at least one group together ever since. She taught me that a little conscientiousness makes all the difference.

The second person I met was Steff Rota. I didn't get close to her right away, we went to Deerhurst in '06 together, but barely hung out. But I was warmed when she and Dee took the trouble to get to know me and take me out one night after the Chinese new year thing. We've been friendly ever since and she never ceases to amaze me with her ability to out of her way to do things for people. She's taught me more things than I can possibly count.

Then there's Jen. She's like 5 foot nothing, but I have seen pictorial proof that she carried a dude that is 6'3" or something and weighs easily 200 lbs, if not more. She taught me that you CAN be organized and smart and get your stuff done, and still take the time to be fun and have a life.

Steph Marshall is one of the strongest people I know, and I don't need to get into why. I can't remember where we met, but I'm fairly sure it had something to do with mutual disdain for that arts and media class we were both in. Whatever it was, I'm glad for it, because even though I've never had so many readings for a single, pointless class, I got to know someone that became very important to me. Also, she has a really cool dog.

Karen is also one of the strongest people I've ever met and I learned that no matter how drunk she may be, when she talks, I'd do well to listen.

Aruna rounds off the list, simply because she is warm and kind and open hearted, and always good for a hug when I need one. I will miss her dearly when she pushes off for oil country.

There are of course, so many other amazing women that are and were in this program, and I realise that I'm not giving full justice to the ones I do know like Juhi, Natalia, Michon, etc., but not as well as I should. I also realise this is politically incorrect, and there are many men that have also made significant differences to the way I look at life, but this is just my own train of thought, and this is what I was thinking tonight.

They say... actually they don't. I say. I say that there is no one in this world that you can't learn something from and that is especially true of those that make a difference somehow to your life. So this is to all those women, I am glad that I know you and if, after April, we never meet again, I will be glad that I had the chance to for this short, surreal little chunk of our lives.