Discover Year

They say it best... #Discoveryear

Before Discover Year, I felt lost. I have a learning challenge that hinders my academic performance. I would study my hardest and only get 70s. It felt like it didn’t matter what I did, I would get bad grades. When it came to choosing post secondary, all my friends were advising me not to go to universities or college because they saw me as ''wheelchair brain''. I couldn’t deal with the fact that I didn’t know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Everyone around me w...as telling me about all these PHD they were going to get, or how early they were going to be on the sunshine list. Now that I've done a Discover Year, I still have a little bit of uncertainty when it comes to the future. However, I am excited for the uncertainty. I can’t wait to see how life unfolds and how I will benefit from the strangeness that is life. I look forward to learning more about myself and the world. I’m not worried about a 5 or 10 year plan. Rhys FitzGerald - 2020 DY graduate

Today, we took a moment to remember those who have given their lives serving our country. We reflected on the many reasons we have to be grateful. We are thankful for those who bring peace to our lives. What are you grateful for? #gratitude

In honour of Remembrance day this week, our Discoverite Alex reflected on his application to the Canadian Armed Forces. Here's what he had to say: ''When Discover Year had me evaluate what it is I value, I discovered that I care much for responsibility. When I pictured what I could do with my life that would allow me to shoulder the most responsibility possible, the Canadian Armed Forces seemed, and still does seem like a no-brainer. Though I am terrified, I am looking forward to the person I will become. I am sure being put in an environment where danger and competition is high will be an effective catalyst to allow me to transform into a greater version of myself.''

The mental health crisis on Ontario post-secondary campuses is REAL. The number of people in post-secondary who identify having mental health challenges has more than DOUBLED since 2013. 46% of post-secondary students reported feeling too depressed to fully function in 2016 (2016, Ontario’s Universities).... 58% of post-secondary students reported feeling overwhelming anxiety (2016, Ontario’s Universities). 14% of Canadian university students drop out before the end of their first year (2016, ACHA). Discover Year enables young adults to build the skills required to handle the inevitable pressures they’ll face in their lives. Visit our website to learn how we can help you prepare for your next chapters. (www.discoveryear.ca)

This week, we dove deep into financial planning with financial advisor Tara Tennant. Budgeting means different things to different people. For Discoverite Aeverie, it means avoiding @Starbucks and putting that money towards a more meaningful goal; her DY travel period! What does budgeting mean to you?... #adulting See more

There's more to planning a travel period than you might think... Antonella, a current Discoverite, shares her thoughts on last week's Travel Planning Workshop!

"My mom, I remember before the year, would say 'you're not listening to me - let me talk!' And now she doesn't say that at all. She's like 'Wow, you're actually listening to me!' " - Ana, DY class of 2020. Sound familiar? Whether you're a young adult or a parent, I think we can all relate to what Ana was experiencing before her Discover Year... Most people don't realize that LISTENING is a skill that can be practiced and improved. ... At Discover Year, we work on listening skills every single week and we love to see the growth in our students in just one year! #Purpose #ExperientialEducation #Meaningful #SkillDevelopment

This is Noah, a current Discoverite! Here's what he told us when we asked him why he chose to do a gap year with Discover Year: "I decided to take a gap year with discover this year because It was a new opportunity to meet some amazing people and to learn new life skills."

"Although I'm accepted and appreciated for who I am, I'm also being pushed to grow." - Arielle Gatotos, DY grad '20. Discover Year creates an environment like no other. The program was founded for the sole purpose of enabling young adults to reach their full potential! Attend our Fall Open House on November 26th to discover how a purposeful gap year can benefit you or someone you know!... https://www.discoveryear.ca/events/

This week, we talked about TRAVEL! Whether travel is possible this winter, next summer, or next year - planning a trip is so exciting! Our Discoverites really benefitted from hearing each other’s travel plans and sharing their own with the group. ... So what are some of the basics when planning a trip? Figure out where you want to go and what type of trip it will be. Make a list of the things you’ll need to research, book, and purchase before your trip. Determine your budget & start saving if needed. So many different skills are tied into planning a trip, like critical thinking and problem solving. We’re excited to keep sharpening these skills this year!

MentorU Academy has put this FREE COVID Support program together specifically to help students, professionals and parents manage these uncertain times and come out of the pandemic ready to thrive. Click below for free course access on MentorU's new digital learning platform. Please share with people you think would benefit! https://mentoru.learnworlds.com/course

What are the benefits of being aware of our senses and surroundings? This week, students were led on a mindfulness nature walk by Adventure Coach, Author, and Speaker Dave Urichuk at the Dominion Arboretum near Dow's Lake. Being mindful of our experiences is a powerful habit. This activity reminded them that we can connect with nature even if we are not outdoors - for example by wearing a wooden bracelet, admiring house plants or looking at a picture of a sunset.

Meet Tia, a current Discoverite We asked her to tell us about her goals for her gap year with us this year I have many goals for my Discover Year. ... During this year of discovery, I would love to be able to gain more knowledge about myself and work experience. I also want to improve and create work and life skills. Finally, I want to gain some self-esteem and confidence in my public speaking skills. All of this while having fun and making new friends along the way! Thanks Tia! We’re excited to help you achieve your objectives

We asked Abby, a DY graduate from the class of 2019, what advice she would give a student considering a Discover Year: Just go for it! I learned a lot about myself and to experience life to the fullest while learning as much as possible. The biggest skill I learned is confidence within myself. I know I am capable of doing anything if I work hard enough. Thank you DY family!

What does it mean to be resilient? It’s the ability to bounce back after a failure or when times are hard. These days, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, resilience is a large part of our lives! During this week’s Discovery Day, we covered what it takes to be resilient when striving towards a goal. We took a deep dive in the 4 main factors of resilience: 1. Skills - What’s your level of expertise surrounding your goal?... 2. Interpersonal characteristics - What’s your mindset like when you think about your goal? 3. Interpersonal relationships - How will your relationships enable or disable you from achieving your goal? 4. System support - What systems are in place that can help you achieve your goal? With these factors of resilience in mind, challenges become easier to identify and overcome!

At Discover Year, we encourage everyone to pursue things that are meaningful to them. Understanding WHY you are drawn to certain things can make your career and life choices easier and more purposeful. What's something that brings purpose to your life?

Why is it sometimes so difficult to give or receive feedback? How should we tell colleagues, friends, or family members ways they can improve? How should we react when people share constructive feedback with us? Effective feedback is key when it comes to communicating and building meaningful relationships. This skill enables self-awareness which, in turn, can help individuals grow on many levels. This week, we discussed giving and receiving three types of feedback as well as... how to execute them: 1. Evaluation; 2. Coaching; and 3. Appreciation. What do you do to give and receive feedback effectively? Wishing you a day filled with action, openness, and authenticity!