For me home has been a few different places from a very young age. When I was fourteen years old I moved away from the place I called home at the time to further my career in hockey. Moving away from home at such a young age made me not only realize how important home is, or home important a place that feels at home is. Family and home have always been an important part of my life, so taking this step was not the easiest thing to do in grade 9. I remember crying the night before I was going to move; I wasn’t just scared of leaving my family, but also leaving the place where I felt most comfortable on the farm with the people I loved the most. For me, 3 different places have felt like home to me and I am very grateful for that.

The first place I would call home would be the home I was raised in. This place for me is on a farm near Balcarres. This is a place I would call home because I was raised here, I can be myself here, and most of all my family the people I love the most are there. This place specifically feels like home to me because of the farming. Living in the city is very different. I am so used to smelling the cows, hearing the machinery, and waiting for my dad to come in at late hours to talk because that’s the only time I’ll see him in harvest season. I am very fortunate to have a close family. Not everyone can say they grew up just a few steps from their grandparents, and cousins as we all shared the farm. One place that feels like home to me is my billets house and this I am so grateful for. In my grade 10 years I moved in with a family that I will forever cherish, and love forever. I didn’t realize that it was possible to feel so comfortable away from home. I had 3 billet children and another girl on my team that I shared bunk beds with till I graduate; talk about getting to know someone. This family made me feel so loved, appreciated, and welcomed. Their house will forever be my second home, and I know I will always be welcomed with open and loving arms whenever I need.

The final place that I would have to call home to me would be the hockey rink. When I moved away from home I spent the majority of my time at the rink, and I can say is at the rink made me feel safe. Having the hockey team there to help you through hard times, love you no matter what, and respect your decisions was truly amazing. The bond I shared with these girls as they were also moving away was unbreakable, and I can truly say these friendships will last forever because of the rink my third home. The rink was a place I could get away from anything; the second I stepped on the ice everything that worried me was gone. I now only play hockey on the side as I wanted to focus on my schooling, so it is defiantly hard for me not having that outing. I now still get this outing when I watch my younger brother play. He has just moved away from home to peruse his career in hockey and I am so proud. When I go watch him I feel at home again, I feel so proud, it’s like I never left. This will forever be my final home; I hope when I’m ninety years old I can still feel at home watching the game I love.

This story may sound a little different then everyone else’s as I have had experience that not everyone gets, and for this, I am so thankful. Writing this paper truly made me realize how many places I do call home, and where I feel safe. Feeling safe and at home is also a big reason why I want to become a teacher. I have had the opportunity to be loved and have a place to call home, and I would like to give that to children at school that may not feel that way at the place they call home. Everyone deserves to have a place they can be themselves, be listened to, and treated equally.