Hello! I’m Stephanie (she/her)! I’m from St. John’s and I was diagnosed with AML in February 2016. I was 31 and living and teaching ESL in South Korea for almost a decade. It was a really terrible time and having to quickly uproot myself from the life I made and loved was incredibly heartbreaking. Going though treatment was really tough, and being unable to work and travel, and having to move back in with my parents in my 30s after having so much freedom and independence has really been a struggle.
I’m happy to say that I’ve been in remission since the summer of 2016! I’m 34 now and still picking up the pieces and working on making a life for myself here. It’s sometimes still really challenging, but I’m working through it!
I currently work at a daycare in the city, primarily working in an after-school program, but I love working with kids of all ages. In my spare time, I watch movies and television, and I love Archie Comics (I’m a lifelong Jughead geek!). I love learning about different cultures as well as local traditions (I studied Social Cultural Anthropology and Folklore at MUN). I also volunteer teaching ESL and I enjoy trying all the plant-based food in the city!
Getting connected to YACC has been such a blessing in so many ways. Since I lived away for so many years, there are so many things about this city that I don’t know about, and it’s been great so far getting to explore with other Localifers. I’m so excited to be able to help foster new connections though our Localife!
