LDA Academy

In my experience completing the Live Different Academy was one of the best things I could have done at that point in my life. In my grade 12 year I knew exactly what school and program I wanted to do in University but something inside me told me I was meant to be doing something else. I had previously volunteered on Live Different builds and I had formed a strong connection with this organization, so I decided to go for it. I found that I got so much more out of the academy experience than I ever could have imagined. I gained experience volunteering abroad in old age homes, a women's shelter, an after school program, and I had the opportunity to teach English twice a week. Beyond this I was able to learn so much about myself through living in a different country in a new culture. I found that Live Different did an amazing job facilitating this experience through their strong communication skills prior to the academy and the level of safety that Live Different provided ensured that we all felt safe and comfortable throughout the experience. I also found that the Live Different staff throughout my experience did an exceptional job explaining the things we were doing, why we were doing them, and how what we do impacts other people. The biggest thing this experience taught me is that life is more important than the things you own, it is about who you are and the people you surround yourself with. My biggest take away is that there's always an opportunity to be kind to others, and do what you can to help those around you.