In the Beginning...

I've always loved to travel, but never had it in my mind to travel solo. 

The adventure begins back when I decided to change my career path from Advertising to Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in 2016. 

Funnily enough, it wasn't a decision that I initially made on my own — I had been terminated from my copywriting job at an advertising agency and had to think about what I wanted to do next. I knew that I needed to remove myself from the advertising industry, as I had found that I just didn't fit the persona necessary for the cutthroat nature that permeates any agency. 

What I did know about myself was:

• I'm a creative individual, and needed to do a job that allowed me to think differently
• I enjoyed reading and writing enough that I could do that professionally in some way
• I did not want to go back to school for another couple of years to enter a new career path

A few years prior, I was in a relationship during my late-high school and university days, and my boyfriend at the time had suggested we get certified to teach English in Asia. I was in my early-20s, and I wasn't ready to up and leave my friends and family in Canada at such a young age, yet so nothing manifested then.

However, it was after being let go that the idea to teach overseas came back into my life again, and I researched the necessary requirements and certifications needed to go into teaching ESL.  

Completing my certification only took the summer. 

I chose to take the course at an independent school in Toronto, and enjoyed every single second! Learning the techniques used in a classroom mixed with a little bit of grammar study, unbeknownst to me, had carved a path that I wasn't aware of until 2017. 

By July 2017, I had acquired a teaching position within an English school in Toronto. I was simultaneously excited and nervous, but ready to take a crack at this. As with anything new, it was a period of experimentation, getting used to understanding the different English proficiency levels and learning how best to teach. 

The job was initially supposed to last until mid-August, but student numbers remained high enough that I was able to stay on longer...one entire year, in fact. I honestly appreciated every single day, and absolutely loved the job! I was given the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and help them on their language-learning journey. Despite being challenging at times, I really felt like I made the right decision for myself in changing careers. 

Another idea pops into my head. 

It was about February 2018 when the thought of teaching overseas came into fruition; however, it was very specific: go to the UK. I'm unsure what possessed me to want to go to the UK so strongly, but it was as if I had already made up my mind. It most likely could have been the fact that one of my colleagues did the same thing, but for Ireland... 

Something else I knew about me:

• I'm super stubborn, and act on instinct - when I want something, I go for it

So, I looked up the Tier 5 visa requirements for working and travelling in the UK and knew that I wanted to go for it. In May, I completed the online application, and $1000 later, submitted it with a September date of entry in mind. Next, I booked the required appointment with the visa office for June. 

After sending off my application and passport at the visa office, it was just a matter of waiting for the visa request to be approved. About four weeks go by and I finally get the notification that my application was available for pick-up. I nervously get to the visa office, and tear open the envelope before even leaving the reception area: I have been approved! 

If you'd like more information about the Working Holiday Visa, visit my post.