Prologue

Hello and welcome. If you're reading this, you've found your way to the prologue. In this post, I'm hoping to share what the experiences are that I am embarking on. Before that though, here's a little bit about myself. My name is Ethan Russell and I am 17 years old from Vancouver, BC. I've always being a fan of the outdoors and have grown to appreciate that I am incredibly fortunate to be living in one of the most beautiful provinces in the world. Over the past few years though, I have started to push myself further and find opportunities that are just that one step further outside of my comfort zone. About a year ago, I came across a program called Class Afloat. Class Afloat is a high school and university program that is based out of Nova Scotia however operates off of a tall ship known as the Alexander Von Humboldt 2. You read that right, a tall ship. This unconventional form of schooling was something that immediately intrigued me and almost instantly I knew that this was something that I had to apply for. The program is a competitive one and I knew that I couldn't get my hopes up. I put my all into the application and after essays and interviews, I received an email in my inbox:

Acceptance to Class Afloat: 2022 - 2023

I still remember that day. It was at 6:13 AM when the email appeared and I can't think of a time that my eyes shot open quicker. Ecstatic, I went running to my parents to share the exciting news. This program was something that I put so much into already and I was at a loss for words to know that the work I put in had finally paid off. In the months to come, I began to realize the work that was required to make this happen. I knew that it was significant but that in the long run, it would be one of the best decisions of my life. One of the biggest barriers for me would be funding. I had to think about how I would financially be able to justify the program and how I would fund the trip. I am so grateful for the people who put money down for me including my parents and grand parents but even that wouldn't be enough. I researched jobs that I could do and in June, I came across a job working at Evans Lake in Squamish, BC. I ended up working there for the entirety of the summer and now will continue working for them for the fall. This experience was an incredible one that I feel I learnt so much from all the while bringing myself closer to my final goal.

Here's a photo that I think perfectly encapsulates my summer. All of the staff dressing up as aliens for our alien invasion!

The Months To Come

While lots of the work is behind me, There is still so much to do ahead. Between courses, work, and preparing, this fall is going to fly by. I am super excited for the opportunities to come but I know that in order for it all to come together, I still have to continue to put my all into it. I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter on the home page as that will be where you will get the first access to all of my updates. If you are in a position to donate to my cause, it would be incredibly appreciated and you can find the link to donate below.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this and I can't wait to share these experiences with you all!