When I was 16, I signed up to volunteer for the kids’ snowboard school at Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver. I had been snowboarding for a few years and was completely hooked, and this seemed like a good way to get a free season pass. I didn’t really know what I was getting into, but it felt like a great way to spend time outside during winter break. I helped out with lessons, wrangled kids in the lift lines, and tried to keep things fun and safe for them on the hill. I was nervous at first—there’s a lot going on when you’re helping a bunch of young kids navigate a ski hill—but I quickly found out how much I loved it. I enjoyed not just being on the hill, but helping people do something that was hard, and the look on their faces when it “clicked” That experience opened up a new path for me.

The following season, I got my Snowboard Instructor Certification (CASI Level 1) and started teaching lessons at both Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour. It wasn’t a glamorous job and the pay was terrible, but I loved being out in the snow every day, teaching people something new and being part of the mountain community. Looking back, that was the first time I really stepped into a leadership role without even realizing it. I learned how to connect with different types of learners, how to guide a group, and how rewarding it can be to help someone grow. That foundation stuck with me and made doing something I already loved even more meaningful.

My best student ever was a 6-year-old girl. She went from strapping in for the first time to linking turns on blue runs within a couple of hours! What made her progress so fast had nothing to do with her physical ability—it was her attitude. She jumped in with optimism, excitement, and decided to try things that were hard. I think I learned more from her that day, than she did from me.

What hard thing would you thank yourself for trying?