Lia Meyer, Class of 2015, still feels that way
Lia, a member of SelfDesign® Learning Community’s Class of 2015, came to Canada and Wondertree, SelfDesign’s predecessor in-person school, with her mother, River Meyer.
They were living in Colorado when River met Brent Cameron, the founder of Wondertree and SelfDesign, and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2004 so River could work with Brent and SelfDesign. River joined SelfDesign’s leadership team, and Lia enrolled with Wondertree, beginning an 11-year journey with SelfDesign.
Here is Lia’s story.
▶️ SelfDesign (SD): What brought you to SelfDesign?
Lia: In Colorado, I had tried the traditional school system for a few weeks, but I discovered very quickly that it did not work for me. I had so many interests I wanted to explore, and the things that were expected of me to learn there didn’t fit for me.
Wondertree and SelfDesign gave me the freedom and support to pursue my own interests and learn in a way that worked for me. I had a really great learning consultant, and I wrote learning plans that were about what I wanted to do each year. When I was 15, I tried the local high school in Nelson for a couple weeks but didn’t enjoy it at all, so I came back to SelfDesign and graduated from there in 2015.
▶️ SD: What have you been doing since you graduated?
Lia: Since I graduated, I have been through cooking school. Food has always been a passion of mine. After I completed that program, I went up to the northern areas of B.C. to work in reforestation as a camp cook for a few years.
I left the forestry industry to work closer to home, which has led me to my current career in healthcare. I work in my local hospital as a lab assistant, and I really enjoy it. Working there has helped me decide to go further in this field, so I’ve applied to nursing school and am waiting to hear.
▶️ SD: What are some of your interests, passions and goals?
Lia: When I’m not being creative in the kitchen or playing a wild game of Catan (a multi-player board game), I enjoy my time outdoors mountain biking, working out at the gym, or just being active in my community. I have always been super passionate about whatever I do, and in Nelson, where I live, I have lots of friends who share my interests.
▶️ SD: Describe some of the projects or activities that you took part in with SelfDesign.
Lia: All the way through, I was able to do lots of art, outdoor activities like camping, and plays, and to be with my friends there. I started to get really interested in both math and reading and spent time learning about those in different ways. There was always something different to do, and we got to decide what it would be.
When I was in my high school years, I decided to pursue math more, as well as other subjects that I would need to get a diploma. My family and different learning consultants supported the things I wanted to learn and the ways I wanted to do it, so that really helped.
▶️ SD: What is your favourite memory of SelfDesign?
Lia: My beginning days at the Wondertree Learning Centre in Vancouver were some of my favourite memories. I really got to experience and enjoy exploring and discovering what really sparked my interest with other learners.
▶️ SD: What are you most proud of from your learning at SelfDesign?
Lia: I have the ability to love what I’m learning, to be curious, and the ambition to try new things.
▶️ SD: How have your SelfDesign experiences helped you meet your goals since?
Lia: SelfDesign always made learning fun and engaging in every aspect. As I have continued with my education into adulthood, I still feel that way.
▶️ SD: What did your experience with SelfDesign teach you more generally?
Lia: Life is all about learning. It’s not always happening in a classroom.
▶️ SD: What’s next for you?
Lia: I have applied to nursing school through the University of Victoria. Now that I have had some pretty neat experiences and some amazing adventures, I am ready to take on this nursing degree!
▶️ SD: What advice would you share with today’s SelfDesign learners and recent SelfDesign grads?
Lia: You’ll learn the things you need to know when you need to know them. Trust in yourself.
Meet other SelfDesign learners, past and present
Meet other members of SelfDesign’s community, past and present
