Recap of Part One

In the first part of this story, I shared the beginning of my journey, marker by an early diagnosis, the loss of a beloved sport, and the first adjustments brought on by my health condition. I spoke about how, despite the losses and all the questioning, I found ways to reinvent myself and carve a path that felt true to who I am. Now, I’d like to share a more delicate chapter, one where my health challenges intensified, once again calling me to readjust.

A Relapse That Changes Everything

After my second year of university and my very first internship in physical education – a three-week placement in a school – I went through one of the most unsettling episodes of my life. I had a major relapse of my condition that led to a hospitalization, during which my health was seriously tested. While I had experienced a few minor relapses before (without hospitalization), this one marked a real turning point. As a result, I couldn’t work that summer, and the physical consequences, along with the side effects of the medication, lingered for a long time. That’s when doubts about my professional future began to arise, even though I didn’t yet see a clear alternative.

That September, I moved to Moncton to continue my studies in physical education. The practical classes were becoming harder to follow, mainly because of back pain, but also due to the side effects of the medication. It was hard to accept my physical limitations, especially out of fear of how others would see me.

Because my illness is invisible, I constantly had to explain myself, because I didn’t “look sick” or “look like I was in pain.” I felt incompetent, like my efforts were never enough to keep up with the expected pace. I’ve always been driven by resilience and a desire to do well, but I realized at that point that I had to start listening to my body first.

Even as I write this, I still feel some hesitation. Putting my experience into words also means exposing myself to what others might think. Like many people living with a health condition, I fear that it will overshadow everything else and that it will define me in others’ eyes, even though I’m so much more than that.

Redirecting Your Career by Listening to Your Limits

Resilience has always been part of my journey. So, I completed my bachelor’s degree, despite the challenges I faced. The questioning had already started, but it was during my final internship that I truly realized that, if I wanted to really listen to my body, I had to consider a change in direction. That internship was tough, and it forced me to confront my limits.

It wasn’t until the very end of my program that a new possibility appeared: a master’s degree in career counseling. And this time, I didn’t hesitate. I felt clearly that it was the natural next step in my path, so I jumped in without doubt. Once again, the need to make a choice became unavoidable, a response to the reality that physical education was no longer something I could sustain. This change allowed me to open a new door, one I might never have considered otherwise. I often hold onto the phrase “everything happens for a reason,” and I try, as much as possible, to keep a positive perspective in the face of these changes, even when they take up a lot of space and bring their own share of challenges.

Turning Detours into Strength, Personally and Professionally

Looking back, I realize that even though my journey has been far from simple or predictable, it has helped me develop strengths I never thought I could access so early. I’ve had to constantly adapt, learning to live with a changing reality, to readjust my plans along the way, and most importantly, to listen to myself in a new way. Every detour, every forced pause has made me rethink my reference points and cultivate flexibility, while staying connected to what truly motivates me.

That said, not everything is always bleak. There are also gentler days, touched by moments of clarity, calm, or even joy, reminding me that I am more than my challenges. I move forward one day at a time, adjusting to the pace the day demands, with confidence in my ability to adapt.

This journey has also taught me that hope isn’t always found in big wins or dramatic breakthroughs, but often in small steps forward, and in the ability to keep going despite uncertainty. There’s something profoundly bright in the belief that, even if things don’t go as planned, we can still build a future that feels right for us.

As for resilience, it’s become like a second skin. It doesn’t mean ignoring pain or denying hardship, it means learning to move forward with them, to transform obstacles into learning moments, and to rise again with a little more gentleness, a little more clarity.

Sharing this story has never been easy or obvious for me, as it requires me to be vulnerable and set aside the fear of judgment. But I feel it’s a way to contribute differently, by offering a sincere space where others might see themselves reflected. In my role as a future career counselor, whether at Nxcareer or elsewhere, my lived experience allows me to meet people with more empathy, nuance, and respect for their own pace. Truly understanding from the inside what it means to adapt, to let go, and to reinvent oneself gives me concrete tools to support those whose paths don’t follow the beaten track. Even though I don’t know exactly what the future holds, I now know I have the resources within me to welcome it in my own way.

My story is just one among many, but if it can bring a bit of light or recognition to those moving forward in the shadows, then it will already have made a difference.