Find Your Happiness

Have you ever been involved in a group or team just because other people thought you should? Or have you been doing something that you really didn’t like but thought it would bring you happiness? That’s what was going on in my life prior to ACTIVATE and through the experience of ACTIVATE it gave me a new and improved outlook and life and actually brought me the greatest joy I’ve ever had.

I had gone to a certain high school out of my school division to go and play basketball because the level of basketball was higher, that’s what my older brother did, and that’s what people expected me to do. Grade ten went by and things weren’t bad. Our team didn’t do so well and that was okay but at the same time I wasn’t quite enjoying basketball as much. I pushed it off and went with it because that was my name at that school and that’s what everybody wanted me to do. Grade eleven came in and I was the starting point guard on the senior team and this made me popular, gave me a name in the school and the city, and I thought it was making me happy, all was well right? But the atmosphere at practices and in the locker room was not a good one. I dreaded going to practices for a few different reasons but the main one was I didn’t feel my opinion was respected and that I wasn’t respected as a player by the coaches. Halfway through the season I decided I couldn’t do it anymore and I quit the team. It shocked everybody but it was something I had to do. A week later my mom got an e-mail about the ACTIVATE Conference and said I should apply. So I thought, “Hey what the heck”. A little while after I got selected to go and I had no idea what I was in for.

ACTIVATE gave me a new purpose in life and instead of just playing sports it was to help other people play sports and become more physically active. I love it! The atmosphere at the conference was one that I’ve never felt before. It was one of pure unity, motivation, inspiration and activation! Even though basketball didn’t work out something else came into my life that makes me feel a lot better as a person and I know that I’m actually making a difference in other people’s lives. So if something doesn’t work out don’t be afraid to take a turn in your road but race for it and try new things until you find something that you really love doing.

Posted by Brian Sloan

Brian was a delegate at the ACTIVATE 2009 National Youth Leadership Conference and is a member of the volunteer team for ACTIVATE 2010, which takes place from May 12 to 16 at Carleton University.