b'BUILDING BETTER FUTUREStechniques. Meeting the community was so worth-while: colleagues, professors, mentors. It reignited in me that even though I will probably have to get a full-time job again, which I now have, I dont want to let it go. I want to put effort and energy into my art so maybe one day I dont have to have my full-time gig and can pursue my art full-time. But the world were living in right now doesnt really afford that.Now Im working for the University of Saskatchewan. Its a great place to be. Im still on campusI love it. I would be a perpetual student if I could. I fully intend to continue my practice; its just going to be about carving out the time and making sure I still can and will.I love that you went back to school and made that decision for yourself. Its never too late. I tell my mom and anyone: if you dont like what youre doing, change it. This is your lifethis is the rest of your life youre looking at. What was the exact moment for you when you said, No, I need to do this. I cant just think about it?It sounds silly, but it was [that] awful manager. I didnt mind the job, but I did not like my manager. I thought: I can get another job and go through this again, or I can do something Im passionate about. Is that terrifying? Hell yes. Whats the worst that could happen? I go slightly into debtthats OK. I know I can get a job eventually to pay it off.The experience I got, the people I met, the skills I gained: it was all worth it, even though it was terrifying to leave the comfort of a pay cheque. The world runs on money. You need money. I hadnt served when I was youngerI went straight into An example of Strombergs vibrant university and worked at the bankbut a lot of myartwork: her painting Where To Nextgirlfriends had, and they loved it. I decided to try serving while I was in this degree [program]. I loved it. The social aspect was so much fun. Youre on your feet all nightnothing wrong with that for me, because Im used to a desk job.It was the polar opposite in every way and ended up being the best experience. Im very happy I did it. Even though Im backPROUD TO SUPPORT INDIGENOUS EDUCATIONto a job now, its OK. Ive met a whole community and a host of people, and Ive had opportunities come out of itstill coming [and] hopefully more to come.PAIR BRONZE IndigenousProcurementThat would never have happened if IdCHAMPIONstayed in that job and dealt with that terrible manager.2025indspiration43'