Welcome to my ePortfolio!

My name is Mariia, and I am in my first year of a Secondary Education after degree program. My goal is to teach Chemistry and Science to high school students, and I cannot wait to start this journey.

My home is Ukraine, and I am very proud of where I come from! I was born in a small town in western Ukraine. Throughout my school years, my family and I moved from one city to another due to my dad’s work. From Grade 1 to Grade 11 (we have an 11-grade education system in Ukraine), I changed 4 schools, and we lived in 5 different cities and the last city we settled in was Kyiv. In my experience, change is scary, but it is also an opportunity for growth. Moving to new places was challenging but it pushed me outside of my comfort zone because I had to start from scratch in a new city and make it my new home. Starting a new life in a new place is exciting, life-changing, and stressful at times, but it taught me how to communicate with others, find friends, get along with people, find new hobbies and it also helped me to never give up on things but keep moving forward.

Apart from my passion for education, I love learning about life through travelling and exploring new places. Travelling helps me to see the contrast and appreciate it.  It taught me so many things because it gives me an opportunity to experience people inside of their cultures and traditions, learn how to overcome problems, explore new ideas, beliefs, and most importantly it allows me to learn more about yourself. The more I travel, the more I realize that the world is so beautiful and there are so many more places to visit and so many more things to admire. Last summer, my partner and I visited Columbia, and it was such a unique experience. We got to meet a lot of local people, learn about their traditions, try their food, explore nature and wander around new cities. One of the places that we visited was Comuna 13 in Medellin which changed my perspective and made me appreciate the things I have in my life even more and not take them for granted. Travelling is one of the best ways of learning.

   

“Don’t tell me how educated you are. Tell me how much you have travelled.” – Mohammed

“Nothing develops intelligence like travel.” – Emile Zola

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read a page.” – St. Augustine

In addition, I love being outdoors, going on camping and hiking trips, and spending most of my summers exploring nature. When I lived in Vancouver, I went on hikes every weekend and it was the best therapy I could ask for. Every time I am in nature, I feel fulfilled, and it simply makes me feel alive. I enjoy breathing in the fresh air, connecting with nature, climbing the summits to experience the breathtaking views and the beauty of this world. Two of my favorite hikes are the Panorama Ridge hike in Garibaldi Provincial Park and the Mount McFarlane hike in Fraser Valley Park. During one of my hikes, I found a heart-shaped stone (top right picture), and it is now my keep’s sake! I thought it was very cool!

That is a little bit about myself and what I enjoy doing in my free time!