Dear Glendonites:

I'm counting down the days to the adventures that await! Convocation is less than a week away and it's time to say good bye (or should I say "Au revoir") to Glendon. 

Sure, I've got a student debt the size of Mt Kilimanjaro.  And sure, I've undergone more stress than anyone should undergo (in fact, it should be illegal).  I've experienced what it means to be "Yorked" and had to live through a 3-month strike. I'm bilingual "with excellence" but still feel uncomfortable speaking French with native speakers (:S).  And sure, I've discovered that teaching is not an easy endeavour (now I understand why 2 months vacation are so necessary!)

However, I've also fallen in love with Glendon. I've mastered Glendon's death stairs (non-Glendon readers, I assure you that this is a noteworthy feat). I've lived to eat the pierogies at the Bistro (all you young Glendonites, that's the restaurant we used to have at the GAC) and I've lived to see the opening of Glendon's Lunik cafe.  I've made friends with Glendon *wildlife* - squirrels, racoons and Minou, oh my!  I've gone on a real ghost-hunt in the manor, organized murder mysteries, met Miss Canada and took part in a potlatch here. I've co-wrote songs, parodies, a joke harlequin and annual b-day party films here. I've slept in, danced in, played in, studied, snow-shoed through, suntanned in, picnicked in and am about to graduate in the quad.  I've laughed till I cried and I've danced so much that I had to walk home barefoot.   I've explored Toronto and I've gotten lost in Toronto.  I've protested in Queen's Park and I've protested with snowmen. I've been a Don for three years and made friends that will last a lifetime.  I've discovered a love for food and cooking.  I've discovered a passion for languages and renewed my passion for writing. I've learned how to love and appreciate the little things in life.  My eyes have been opened to so much more than I could have imagined. I've learned that I will never stop learning. There's so much that the world has to offer. I've experienced warm fuzzies.  I've experienced what it is to make a difference.  I've learned that teaching can be more rewarding than anything else.  I've learned that I'm getting into the right profession.   I've made a million memories with amazing people.

 It's hard to believe that it's time to leave Glendon and I'm not sure how a few speeches and a few seconds of walking across a stage is supposed to do justice to the last five amazing years of my life. Yet, there's something about it that brings a certain finality to it all.  Bittersweet, mostly sweet. 

Sincerely,

Leana.