I was at a staff meeting and we were introducing ourselves because we had a few new faces. Most people were telling us a brief story of themselves and why they're proud to be apart of our organization. I didn't say much about myself because I tend to be closed off and I don't really like speaking about myself. But as I was listening to everyone, something struck me about myself.
I work at an organization where we help people that identify as Indigenous who are at risk of homelessness. My mom has been working here for 10 years but was volunteering before she got a job. Since I was a kid, I remember coming to this place because this was something she occupied herself with. Before, she would work as a cook at a school program at my school (this was separate from the school cafeteria). I volunteered at this organization a few times when I was in high school. My dad has worked here for odd jobs. My sister got a job here as the cook for the daycare. And I got a job here working in the admin department.
The reason I brought up the organization that I work for is that it is a place that not only helps Indigenous clients, it is also building community as we have events and workshops here. What if my mother didn't have an outlet to spend her free time at? What if I didn't have this job opportunity?
And after listening to what this place means to my colleagues, it really made me think of how different my life could have been. I want to say that I am grateful for being apart of this organization. Not everyone can go to work everyday seeing their family.
But I am also Indigenous. And statisticly, I am susceptible to violence, alcoholism, addiction, homelessness due to reasons you should be aware of. And it is true, I have dealt with these things in my life or people in my life had dealt with these issues.
I have thought about my age and where I am at in life. I am currently 27, I'm turning 28 the end of this month. I've thought about my maternal grandmother. She was 27 when she had my mom. But she was also 27 when she overdosed in the downtown eastside. She never got to see my mom grow up. She never got to grow old and meet her grandchildren. I think it's so tragic how she didn't have control of her fate.
Even though my upbringing was not perfect, I have learned what is acceptable and what is not. I've seen it when I was a child and I continue to see it today. There are people who just don't want to seek to better themselves. And I'm not tolerant of the decisions they made for themselves.
I have always wanted to do better for myself since I was a kid. I wanted to go to a better high school, I wanted to go to university and have a career. My family hasn't graduated from high school. So I am the first of my family to complete high school and even go to university. I've graduated with my Bachelor's degree in 2022. But I do still struggle even today with some things. Despite the fact that I am not exactly where I want to be in life right now, I am still grateful for the life I have and that I'm building for myself.