A crap ton happened when I was 20. From graduating to George brown, starting a post-graduate at Centennial, to coming back to my old workplace at Goodness Me! Most importantly, I learned a ton in the past 365 days. Here are the top 3 things I learned when I was 20:

1. Take a moment to reflect- I always bust my living balls off in the kitchen everyday for the last 3-4 years. But I never had the time to sit down and properly looked at all the work I did. This is like hiking on a mountain. We always look down because we never want to tripped over a branch or rock. Sadly, we never looked around us; the scenery, the view on the mountain. It’s all breathtaking. That’s just like me in the past. I never got the time to reflect and see all the things I accomplished. From helping out at Loblaws, Toronto Christmas Market, George Brown and Goodness Me!, I never really reward myself (It’s like “Ok. Just another day done. Into the bucket it goes”). Now, I’m starting to really appreciate all the hard-work I did. Because maybe someday, all the beautiful things we love, turn to the beautiful things we miss.
2. Taking a break- This is one of the most important things I should know, but I somehow I forgot all about it. I guess when I was working non-stop for 3 years straight, I never got a chance to take a break. And this really hurts my health because there was a time when I pushed myself too hard that I was rushed to the hospital due to a respiratory problem (don’t ask why or how). During late summer, I finally took a break. And for the first time in a long time, I went to the gym (sort of), reunited with some of my closest friends, and went on a week vacation to Montreal. I never felt so alive in a long time. Note to self: try to have a vacation once every year or so.
3. Ambition with no limits: This one I learned quite recently. I believe that if you find a passion in any industry, everything will come together. You will have a better life, career, family and relationship with your loved ones. Once I’m finished with the Food Media program at Centennial College, I really don’t want to go back to school. I want to start my job at Goodness Me! and work my way up through the ladder. I want to set high goals; something I know I will put my 100% everyday to make it happen. In 2-3 years, I want to become the youngest manager in Goodness Me! history to work in the eatery in the new location at downtown, Toronto. I’m surrounded with a whole heap of talented people at my workplace. My manager and supervisor; I sometimes call them my mentors because they taught me so much through the 16 months I worked there. They really want to help me and make this happen. They promised that they will give 100% effort to help me. I just hope that I can give it my all too (I also want to create a cookbook, but that’s in like 20 years or so).

Lastly, I want to say a huge thanks you to all my friends and family for all the birthday wishes and support for the last 3 years. I never imagined myself in this amazing part of my life. Having an incredible job while in school and this amazing blog is a dream come true. Here’s to another year of hard-working days and life-long lessons!

Alex