blog - Chantal Cain

I survived week one

5/7/2021

I made it through the first week of semester three of Office Administration at Canadore College (13 more to go!). It was great to see my professor, Charmaine, again. She starts the class with a punny joke, I love her sense of humour.

My courses this semester are Human Relations: Group Dynamics; Computerized Bookkeeping; Office Procedures III; Medical Billing; Office Simulation; and we complete the program with a two week Field Placement Simulation (60 hours). I already got my credits for the other two courses, OAD216 and CMM230, so my schedule is slightly "easier" for me at this time. The schedule is different in this semester versus other semesters, as certain classes end, another class gets added into the schedule. Right now, I have three classes while my classmates in OAD would have five classes.

I'm very grateful that I have this opportunity to redeem myself, learn from my breakdown last spring, grow, learn, and earn my first college diploma. I made this image below with the information and tips from my professor in OAD227:

Back to school - spring semester edition

4/27/2021

Semester 3, Take 2. Photo by Katie. Hair by Sarah

The first Human Relations class was great, the professor is great. Small group today, we did that first day of class look over the program and grading is done for the this specific course. How our assignments, the tests, and the discussion board protocols to be successful for the semester.

such an aries

4/19/2021

As I complete each final essay for this closing semester, I keep getting distracted by "what's next". I've heard & read a few times this past semester, on podcasts and Pinterest , that Aries are very good at starting projects but not always following through to the finish. I feel that. I am that.

I am so anxious for the spring semester that I haven't focused 100% on my final tasks in the current semester. I have two final papers to complete by Friday; same thing happened last semester, one major paper so close to the deadline to turn it in. I don't know why I get myself into this situation each semester, I probably did something similar in the OAD program too. It's unnecessary stress. I am good at writing these papers, I love to write and research the subjects. I earn good grades, I am proud of my accomplishments in IWAP thus far.

I've been listening to empowering, girl power (mode), and self-loving music this month. Here's my Aries playlist.

The podcasts have come onto my radar this month:
Aries Today With Caitlin Keats
Mayim Bialik's Breakdown
They & Us
You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton
Your Magic

Since the start of April, I've been taking a new supplement: Adrenergyn. I was really struggling with fatigue from December to recently. When I did my adrenal testing in February, it shown that my adrenal are working but having troubles peaking. I'm basically functioning on a low-speed. I have found in the past two weeks that I've been sleeping better (not best, but better) and I can go most days without feeling like I need to sleep in the afternoon. I'm very grateful that the naturopathic doctor recommended this supplement. I'm excited to keep up this daily routine and adding more good things to this basket as I get stronger so I can have more energy and start feeling good.

Gratitude

10/12/2020

I am so grateful for my educational opportunities. I am happy, I was brave enough to start college at 39 years old (September 2019). I am grateful for the students I worked with last year and the teachers who were super supportive of my limitations. I worked as hard as I could and I am proud of those grades. I became overwhelm when COVID-19 restrictions come into place while I was trying to earn my diploma and homeschool my children. I had the right support team in my husband, my mom, my children, and my fibromyalgia coach. Sad I didn't graduate with the lovely ladies I got to know in OAD 2019-2020, something better came from this, it became the time to focus on my health and growth plan. I graduated my three month program to become a certified fibromyalgia advisor. Now to focus on the next goal IWAP, class of 2022!

September

9/30/2020

First day of school 09/08/2020

(Breathe in. Breathe out.) September was a crazy, busy month. I made it through my first month into my second program at Canadore College. I was surprised at the end of August when I enrolled for my courses to find out all course will be provided online (I was previously told it would be 50/50 in class and online) but I rolled with it.

I'm taking Indigenous Wellness and Addiction Prevention. My class are

Traditional Healing, Learning, and Teaching
Introduction to Substance Abuse Counselling and Teaching
Contemporary Challenges Facing Native Communities
Introduction to Cultural Specific Helping
Environmental Citizenship

During September 22 through 24, I participated in a Culture camp with my class. It was an amazing experience and wonderful to meet my classmates in person. I felt welcome and accepted by my peers and I learned so much about my family's culture. I was thrilled to make my own hand drum, it was hard work but I had so much fun working along side my new friends.

The "Back to School" pose for my Culture Camp trip 09/23/2020

September 30

Today was Orange Shirt day. I wore my GGC orange hoodie. After my morning class, I took Miley for a walk, the sun was shinning, and it has been a while since I routinely take my walk (October challenge). As we were finishing our stroll in the trails, the rain started to come down, I walked with my right hand out, catching the raindrops as we continued on, enjoying the crisp air and the fact that I am alive on this day. I could never imagine having my children taken away from me because someone thought they were savages. No one should have ever experience that trauma (parent, child, or anyone affected). When I homeschooled my (smallish) children, we had natives studies classes and they had nature days with their dad. I want my children to learn and love their culture. That's why I am where I am today. My educational path has crossed my passion for my family to learn about their heritage and I love how things are coming along for myself, my children, and for Kirk.

Happy Mail Day!

I love getting real good mail. This parcel I just couldn't wait for it... I needed it last week for my Culture camp, I'll be wearing my new ribbon skirts at the next camp or special ceremony with my class. My skirts were created by Alexa Eliza. I adore her shop, the skirts are so beautiful, and she has gorgeous items in her etsy store.

Indigenous Canada

8/19/2020

I was so thrilled last night when a girl guide leader/facebook friend shared a link that Dan Levy was encouraging the world to take this amazing course through University of Alberta.

I enrolled this afternoon! It's perfect for my continuing education goals. The course is available for free but I opted for the option to receive a certificate for completing the class for my portfolio.

The Rabbit Hole

8/18/2020

A few weeks ago, I noticed that a course I need to graduate the Office Administration program was moved from semester 3 to semester 1 in the upcoming school year. I was in a bit of a panic when I saw it, but it's not an issue to lose sleep over (I had to remind myself). That class is available (typically) every winter semester as a continuing education/online option. I can still meet my goal of completing OAD next spring after my first year of Indigenous Wellness and Addiction Prevention.

But while I was doing that research for that missing course, I found two continuing education programs that I would be interested in adding to my portfolio.

Goals

Class of 2020✔
Class of 2021
Class of 2022
Class of 2023
Class of 2024

I got this.

our wedding anniversary

8/5/2020

We love to say we grew our own wedding party.

Kirk and I started dating in September 1998, broke up for about five months, and got together again on March 6th (which we call kiss-aversary). We were engaged in the fall of 1999, but every time we started to plan our wedding, life would get in the way and we would put our plans aside. We had our first born daughter in 2002 and our only son born in 2006; in early 2008, we decided it would be our wedding year, no matter what challenges came at us.

We had invited our friends and family who lived in our town, and had our ceremony on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. We planned to be married by Lake Nipissing, it was a stormy day, and kind strangers invited us in their home so our guests and us would be dryer and not get electrocuted.

This year for our anniversary, Kirk offered to take me for a weekend away together. I joked about a road trip that we could do this summer because of quarantine and covid restrictions. He loved the idea and wanted to travel it this summer.

We've been together for 22 years (married for 12 years).

Kirk has been super supportive during the last few years: when my health was bad and through the doctors' appointments, medical tests, blood work, visits to specialists, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scan, MRI... speaking up for my health when I didn't have the words or the strength to express myself. I know it's been hard for him to see me at my worse, all he wants to do is "fix it" but he can't, and that's his greatest struggle.

He was encouraging when it was decided that I wanted to attend college and work on my future. He was supportive when it was time to step aside from my spring semester; he understood the stresses involved that lead me to put aside my dream to make sure our family would be able to cope with their new lifestyle during the pandemic. Kirk was understanding when it was time for me to focus on my healing and begin my journey IFCI: I started working with a fibromyalgia coach and I was accepted in the Certified Advisor program with IFCI. He is happy that I have a plan to return to school in the fall to continue my education.

I am grateful for our relationship, Kirk is my best friend & my support team when I need him most.

Class of 2020!

7/29/2020

Tonight, I found out my final exam marks were entered and I passed the Fibromyalgia Advisor Program with 96. 3%! The path I started on last summer is not exactly how my goal ended this school year. I am so proud of the decisions I had to make to get me here today. Graduation ceremony will be announced later on, I will share the link once available.

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

5/12/2020

Today is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and today, I started the Fibromyalgia Advisor program through The International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute.

I had my admissions interview with Tami Stacklehouse on May 1st and I was a little star struck. I did get over the awe and talking with her was like talking to an old friend and the conversation was wonderful. I discovered Tami through her amazing podcast last summer, when I was somewhere in my lowest moments: Tami's cheerful, encouraging, and inspiring podcasts helped me start believing in myself and big changes happened last August.

After my interview, I felt so positive and ready to celebrate my next achievement: we got Twiggs for dinner and enjoyed our patio and delicious foods.

Twiggs Cobb Salad & London Fog

I like to remember my timeline: that I had my admission interview on Friday, May 1, accepted and paid my tuition on May 4th, and started my program on Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. All (or most) milestone days in May!