As 2011 slowly winds down, I can’t help but marvel that it has been 15 years since 1996, which was one of the most important years of my life.

It was in 1996 that I graduated from high school, took my first solo trip (to Quebec City), started college, represented Canada at an environmental youth summit in Colorado after being invited by Dr. Jane Goodall, and traveled to New York City (with my awesomely named history professor Dr. Jones!).

Seventeen was a great year for me!