Dropping out of university at the age of 20 to work in a gym and pursue my own path was the bravest and most important decision I have ever made.
The choice was easy because I knew exactly how I wanted to help people with their fitness, just like fitness helped me not only transform my body but also, my mind. The hardest part would be telling my parents, who immigrated to Canada in the 1970’s, with one expectation from their kids: we would become University graduates.
I still remember the first gym I ever walked into when I was 10 years old. My older cousin was babysitting me that day and instead of skipping leg day, he brought me along for the ride. It was 1987 at the iconic Gold’s Gym on Dixie Rd in Mississauga. I was immediately mesmerized by all the movements and uplifted by the positivity and possibility. That experience stuck with me because nobody forgets their first time at Gold’s Gym!
Fitness and exercise soon after became a very integral part of my teenage and developmental years. The gym became my place of learning more than any classroom could. I decided to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition in year 2000 and switched over to boxing right after, finishing my amateur career undefeated and Ontario Champion.
However, my hardest battle being fought was internal as I felt so guilty for disappointing my parents. These feelings haunted me for many years and even turned into a form of imposture syndrome that would propel me into a whirlwind of over working and over training. I was trying to prove my worth through my work and it was killing me at times.
As it turns out, all those bouts with burnout and battles within myself became the lessons that I needed to learn so that I could be a mentor and source of inspiration for others.
26 years into this journey as a fitness entrepreneur, and I can say with great pride and confidence that I have touched, influenced, and inspired thousands of lives. Not only can I motivate people to move their bodies, but I can also move them with my story so that they too can become the Champion of their own lives.
As the first Canadian female professional boxing ring announcer, I am boldly paving new paths for other women to see what’s possible for themselves in male dominated industries.
This theme of possibility carries over into my work at the University of Toronto where I am currently teaching the first of its kind boxing movement & mindset program now heading into its 12th semester!
How ironic that I am now working within the same department: Kinesiology, that I dropped out of so many years ago. My students are at the same age when boxing and fitness saved me in so many ways. It was all meant to be.
And yes, my parents are very proud😊
I share my story so that you can feel inspired to think about your own very important story.
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