Alexis Weaver Interviewed Me About My Internship Experience

by | Barrel Race Internships

Alexis: So the first question is, what is your best tip for someone looking to do a internship?

Shelby: Oh boy, what a question.. there was so much I learnt and also so much I didn’t know going into it. My one piece of advice I would give to especially younger people is to be flexible with the work and always know your worth as a person. Internships are hard and you might feel efforts aren’t paying off, but try to see the positive in every situation and take advantage of the opportunity you have. You’re working with trainers, ask them a million questions, be curious but at the same time don’t devalue what you already know. Also one big thing is internships are known for being pretty rough and can leave some being treated poorly by their employers, remember just because they’re more successful right now doesn’t mean they’re on a high pedestal. We’re all human, understand it’s not normal to be treated unfairly just because you’re an intern. The work is tough but it can be one of the best, most educational experiences of your life. Oh, and network like crazy!

 Alexis: Wow! I totally get what you are saying! Now for question number two, What age would you say is the perfect age or ideal age to do a internship at?

 Shelby: I was 24 when I moved to the US to intern. I would say my maturity helped me a lot take advantage of the opportunity, and not not get taken advantage of. Like I said, interns are bottom of the totem pole and I had an instance where I had to put my foot down to unsafe, unsupervised work. If I was younger I might not be able to stand up for myself. I also was old enough to help in ways I wouldn’t have if I was younger. I think anything over 20 for a longer internship is ideal, you have a bit of life experience already to help you along the way through your internship journey. There’s ups and downs, at least I had ups and down during my trip and being an independent person before you go, I feel will help you through a lot better.

 

Alexis: And the last question is, What would you tell people to look for when searching for a good internship for their self?

 Shelby: Ask questions before you go! Figure out exactly the living and work situation. You want to be well prepared and know what you’re getting into before you dive head first and move there. What you though your plan was might not be what ends up happening, which is ok, always be flexible to change. Be professional! Show up as a positive ball of energy and prove yourself as an eager, driven, hard worker that you are.. that sort of stuff goes a long way.

 

Alexis: Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to chat with me, I really appreciate it!

 Shelby: You’re very welcome!

When People Aren’t Nice: What You Need To Know

by | Barrel Race Internships

This is about my intern stories since I’m celebrating! It’s been a full year since I was gone and came back.

Where I was pretty much one year ago, I was finishing up my time working for a trainer and it was the end of October,  I was going to head over to Ohio, meet my mom and from there, go to NBHA worlds in Georgia. We do that pretty much every year so it was good timing to go there for a race, then come home.

Within the last month, I definitely learned a lot.. It was probably the hardest month I think I had.

The one thing I took away from it would be the importance of when someone treats you a certain way, you can’t have that affect you personally. It’s really hard, but it’s just one of those things; it’s easy to feel bad for yourself when things just aren’t going right. Even more so, if there’s someone that is the cause of that and they’re acting a certain way, you need to remember this: you can’t really change how someone treats you. If they want to treat you terribly, they’re just not a nice person and there’s really nothing you can do about it.

The only thing you have control over, which is really important, is how you take it, how you handle it and how you move on.

For myself in the situation I was in, I felt pretty hopeless and well, I was helpless. I didn’t really have a lot of options on where to go so I was forced to just tough it out. yes, it was difficult but I just had to go day by day. I could have felt really bad for myself. Being stuck there with weird people who I busted my butt for, for practically nothing in return. I just had to take it for what it was. Just like the time my horse was stuck at a barrel race with no ride home. But, you learn. Some people aren’t the nicest in the world, and I mean, the horse industry is a totally different deal and you deal with so many different types of people. 

Some of them aren’t that nice and there’s really nothing we can do about it.

It’s just how people are. You just have to learn the lesson that they’re going to give you and move on, try to move past that the best of your ability and know that there’s nothing wrong with you! I repeat, nothing wrong with you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a top trainer or you’re just a stable person or you’re learning and you’re interning. It doesn’t change your level of humanity and it really shouldn’t. So if someone wants to treat you like a piece of garbage, that’s completely on them, and hopefully, you think “if it’s gonna make you happy to treat other people like that, then all the best. I hope you have a great life doing that and it’s very fulfilling for you.” But for yourself, you have to know that you can get through it, walk by and at the end, be a better person.

 

Thanks for reading! 

SOS. I Got Ditched at a Barrel Race

SOS. I Got Ditched at a Barrel Race

by | Barrel Race Internships

When I sit in my barn and do stalls, I always start thinking about things, as I’m shovelling away. One thing that I always go back to in my head is when I was interning. There are so many things that went on and I wish with some people that I could just have the last word and just say the last thing.

There were things that really bothered me and that were really tough; First of all, working for strangers and secondly, doing hard work in some conditions that weren’t ideal. The last little bit of my trip had conditions that weren’t the best. But I mean, when I think back to the last month, I learned the most. Maybe not necessarily about riding horses or training horses, which really bummed me out, but regardless.. life lessons here.

The one thing I realized is having people that offer you stuff is very valuable. I’m not the person to really ask for a lot of help and ask for people to do things that are going to inconvenience them, in order to help me. I’m just not like that and I feel uncomfortable doing it, so I just don’t usually.

I just take whatever someone’s going to give me or offer me, for what it is.

Example: When I was working and I didn’t have the proper equipment to handle, let’s say the temperature of the area I was in.

I was planning on staying in Oklahoma the whole time, so I brought all summer clothes. Then, I ended up going far North and I was there until the end of October.  I only had summer stuff and all of a sudden I’m working in the Northern States where it was going down to zero and I was not equipped for it. Also, I was running out of money. I couldn’t really just go buy new stuff when I knew I had my rubber boots and nice gloves and everything back waiting for me at home.

So I asked for some help. To me, if I had someone working for me that was from a different country, I would have totally just offered them anything they needed! If they need gloves or boots or coat, like 100% take whatever you need. But, that didn’t really happen for me and it was kind of shocking.

The one really good story; So this is where it gets good and this is pure story.

I went to a barrel race by myself and because I didn’t have a truck trailer, I got dropped off. It was about 25 minutes from where I was living and where my horse was at.

I made sure my draw later in the day so I had time to feed all the horses, do all the stalls, which took most of the day and then go into town where the show was, make sure my horse was all good, then go do my run! The one family that I knew were at the race as well.  So I asked them if they could take care of Marsh in the morning and make sure she was good and fed all day. So that was nice. Every morning, I didn’t have to go all the way there to just feed Marshmallow, then have to go all the way back to work, work all day and then go back to the race in the evening.

I was really just trusting them that they’re going to help me out and take care of her.

So Sunday rolls around and I didn’t ask the people I was working for to get picked up! They were home already I found out. Then, Sunday evening rolls around. I messaged him, “Hey, so the shows almost over, are you planning on picking up my horse?” I don’t know exactly what I said. I made it sound nicer than that, but I was really expecting him to offer to say, “Oh, when’s your show done? I can come and get your horse” considering I was working for them and they’re the ones that dropped me off in the first place.

And he didn’t offer at all.

So I started panicking because I’m in a different freakin’ country, I don’t really know many people and now all of a sudden I’m supposed to figure out who I can ask to take my horse back. So I messaged the people’s dad that lived on their property as well. I messaged him, seeing if he knew someone that I could take me home.  The dad said “well can’t you leave her there for the night?” I’m thinking, ya no, probably not. I’m not gonna leave her there, the show’s over! I’m not going to leave one horse in an abandoned barn, obviously!! 

I did find someone but it was the dad that connected me. It was an older lady that has 1 horse and a 3 horse trailer, she was going the same direction and was able to take my horse.

I was very, very thankful for her and I said, thank you a lot! But, the next day it still wasn’t enough. I got talked to about it, “well did you pay her?” he asked me. The look on my face was probably deer in headlights  like, “no, that didn’t even cross my mind.” She drove 20 minutes the same direction she had to go anyways. And also, I seriously do not have money to offer!

It’s kind of ironic. There was another thing that went on about me being their responsibility. “So if I’m your responsibility, why didn’t you pay her? Why are you getting mad at me thinking that I should have done it when you’re in that dropped me off at this show? Didn’t pick me up and got mad because I wasn’t thankful enough and didn’t give the girl money to drive me.” This is what I wish I said.

However, it did work out in the end. But that was a big shocker to the reality of what some people are like.

So with that, I think maybe I should put myself out there more and not just assume people are going to be nice people, because they’re not.  So, I learned something. It wasn’t about barrel racing but hey, it was about people and some people are just not who you want to be around. If someone doesn’t offer to do something for you, then maybe you don’t want to be around them anyway. That’s kinda what I think. If someone can’t offer something nice and just do it at decency, maybe you need to reevaluate that person.

So that’s what I learned and that’s my story. Hopefully, you can take something from it as well.

Internship With Barrel Horse Trainers: Be On Time

Internship With Barrel Horse Trainers: Be On Time

by | Barrel Race Internships

Hello everybody, this is Shelby Olyschlager. I have a topic that I want to share
and it has to do with my internship experience! This story is brought to you by the end of my
trip, October 2018.

I was living with a family in Wyoming for most of my time when I was in the States and it was awesome. They let me ride a really cool horse but, the only thing that I realized after once I was there, the purpose of me going on this trip was to learn from trainers and try to learn how I could be better. So that whole concept ended up leaving. I was with this family and I was just riding with them, but I wasn’t working alongside any trainers like I wanted.

So, when I was at the fizz bomb, I met a couple and I took the opportunity to go to South Dakota for 1 month. Within that month, I was doing more of the basic work that it takes to own a horse facility and have it running well. Anyone knows if you have a horse, what kind of work is involved. But with this, it was a little different and it was a challenge!

I felt like it really tested me and tested who I am as a person, a worker and a horse person.

I was living in a cabin just down the street from where I was working. The trainers set it up for me where they rented the cabin. It was a little weekender cabin that people would rent out as an Airbnb for the weekend. I lived there by myself and then I would drive a little side by side, like a ranger side by side to the barn; to their place. Every day I did that and I had to be there at seven 30 to start feeding. It wasn’t there at 7:30, it was the first horse was eating at 7:30.

 

The thing is, it is their own place, you have to understand that they’re really particular about how they want things done, which I respect. But my punctuality skills are not at par like they’re pretty bad. So the one day I think I got there a little bit after 7:30, maybe 7:33. I didn’t think even anyone was there that saw me, but I was definitely told later that I was late and so I was like, “okay, you’re right. I’m sorry. It won’t happen.” I’m thinking, it was a couple of minutes but I mean if they are strict on when the horses start eating, I need to respect that and get my butt out to bed earlier and make sure I am there.

Well, shortly after that I ended up being a few minutes late again. I was rushing to try to make it!

I thought because I was really close to their place, that I didn’t need a lot of time to get to work because I was literally down the street. But by the time I got on a side by side, drove down this street, went into the gates of their place, parked the thing, go to the hay bale and all that. It took at least five minutes. But it took me a while to really realize I needed that much time. I just like to give myself unnecessary anxiety by rushing and almost be late.

On one particular day, I ended up being late and I got scolded pretty good for it. I was so shocked because I was 1 minute late and I got bitched at for it. After that happened I was stunned and didn’t even realize what had happened.  Later on in the day, when none of them would talk to me, he ended up coming up to me and apologizing for how he acted, but not what he said.

I honestly, I thought about it and I was just thinking “you know what, like this guy has a point.”

My lesson that I learned was:

At the time your boss is going to get mad at you for something, but before you get in a huff,  if you actually think about it, they’re not saying anything else, they’re just saying that ONE point. In my case, his point was right. I was thinking to myself “honestly I am really bad at punctuality. If I’m going to be honest with myself, I’m not good at it and I don’t have good time management skills.” He totally called me out on it! It wasn’t the nicest way, but he still called me out and I had to take it for what it was and maybe learn from it.

I can tell you what, I was never late again.

I made sure that I was up! I gave myself at least five minutes to get over there and to get at the bale. I was at least early or on time and that’s what he wanted. So I just needed a bit of like that tough love I guess, or the discipline to actually be like, you know what, like I can show up on time, like don’t be lazy. And that was just one of the lessons I learned.

Looking back when I’ve had a boss get really mad at me and it’s so easy to get mad back

and feel hard done by, but they’re just saying one point.

They’re not saying you’re a terrible worker. He just said, “show up on time, don’t be late” (in a not so nice way). He wasn’t saying I didn’t work hard or anything, it was just the one point and I had to take that.  You got to take it for what it is and there might’ve made a mistake with the delivery, but at the same time he had a point and I had to accept it.

When you have someone tell you what’s what, you have to think about if you’re actually in the wrong or not, and if you were in the wrong, accept it and move forward and just take it as a lesson learned.

That was one of the lessons I learned while interning among many others. But stay tuned for those ones. If you have any questions about it, let me know.

 

Uh, yeah, there, there’s my story.

Internship Post – Working For Your Idols.

Internship Post – Working For Your Idols.

by | Barrel Race Internships

If you have a dream of becoming a professional anything, you need to learn from the best and if that’s what you’re after, I salute you. I think hardships and hard work are absolutely necessary to make it to the top in any sport or profession. Thus the reason for interning, it’s the best way possible to gain that experience.
Im sure different types of internships come with their own unique set of challenges but I’m gonna talk about my experience, working for barrel racing/horse trainers.
When you have any sort of employment, there are times you are working for them, which to mean measn working on your own tasks. Then on the flip side, you can work WITH someone. As an internship situation, working with them is what you’re after. It is only a small word, but it totally changes that statement. In case you’ve missed it, interning with someone is a lot better than working for them.
I have interned at a few different places in the span of four months. It is quite a lot of moving around but some of these internships weren’t very long. However, I still learned a lot during my time working for every each professional.

How to Get Started

Just a heads up, most of these positions you need to travel. When relocated and put in a very vulnerable position, you give up a lot of your independence. You are there to work and do what your boss says, no question. From the first placement, it felt like I was just dropped off on a farm and unable to choose anything. You don’t choose your hours or your work, where you sleep, or even when to eat for that matter. All you think you can say is “yes and I’ll do it.”

The Work

I’m assuming most of you are horse people and you already know what it takes to own a horse, take care of a horse, ride a horse etc.  You know it’s not easy to schedule a play by play of what you’re doing, how long it’ll take, when you’ll be done and you know you’re done when the job is done. As for me, I totally get that! I spend my summer nights after my 9-5 job in the barn riding, washing, mucking and just making sure my horses stay alive for another day and I don’t mind it at all. However, in that sense, I am working with myself (which is glorious). When you begin interning, in my experience you start working for someone and it changes that willingness to be doing what you love because you love it. Keep that in mind and never let someone make you hate something you love.
So with that being said, proceed with caution. I have heard many horror stories from other women that have gone through some pretty dehumanizing shit while working for people. Interns have always been the bottom of the totem pole and there’s no changing that. Just accept its where you’re at and move along your journey with you’re head held high. Like I said before, sometimes working your butt off is necessary to grow.
Through all the shit that you’re probably going to have to shovel, all the saddles you’re gonna have to throw, all the horses you’re going to warm up, hose off and walk around, you WILL be learning. You don’t know what it is right away but put in that position, you definitely will. Then you can look back on this and be like “oh ya, now I know what that weirdo online was talking about”.
Learning is a great thing to strive to do daily and there are so many forms of it.  Through my experience, other then the actial training horses part, i learnt the things I dont like and you know what girl? You take that and you can still apply it your life.
I said that so much while I was away, “hey I don’t like this person, I’m never going to act like that guy”. We all have said that! There’s always another side though. The flip side is you might learn things that you like and you want to do! You have the ability to take that knowledge and apply it to any aspect of your life. Yay for life experience.
For me, I honestly think I learn just as much about people and living somewhere foreign then I did about my actual riding skills. Which is totally ok.
I think to begin that journey of self-improvement by internship will be very beneficial , but you need to start with an open mind. You have no clue what these professionals are like; you know, in real life. And unfortunately for you, the only way you figure it out is when you 100% commit to work for them and move to their place!
They at least give you a warning by saying in their job description “need to have the ability to go with the flow” and they’re not joking. If that is a skill that you don’t think you have, being able to take things as they come is going to help you in your riding and just in life; so it’s something you should work on.
A few tips that I could give to you through my own internship experience
If you don’t want to feel totally stuck, like who really does? Take a vehicle with you! Reason being, I flew to Oklahoma at first, clearly didn’t have my own vehicle and it was really hard to adjust. All of a sudden your needs that you could easily go into town or take care of on your own are gone. You now have to rely on other people that you just met and unless they’re amazing, chances are your needs don’t get met the same way.
Another thing I learned early on is it OK to say no. Right off the bat, I was asked to do something with a horse that I wasn’t super comfortable with. The horse was hardly halter broke and I was supposed to start working with it without anyone else around. That was not part of our agreement and I was just plain worried for my safety. I said, “uhm, this seems dangerous to do alone, the horse wasy crazy so I’ll wait for you to show me.” I wasn’t actually rude about it but still, I said no.
It would’ve been different if that whole “working with or working for” someone came into play. I wouldn’t have had a problem if I was working alongside Ms.Bosslady and learning from their professional expertise. That was not the case and I said I’m not doing that. To me, it wasn’t safe and wasn’t worth me getting hurt and doing it all for no pay. Ya, I don’t think so.
As I just said, very few places will actually pay you! The agreement is for you to be housed for free, learn and be taken care of in exchange to work. For some weird reason, food was a big problem! My first month I swear I ate as much as I would in a week. I understand when you’re working you don’t just stop to eat, but at times the Hanger was real and it was a real problem. So if you have a car, problem solved. Go into town, buy yourself simple food that you would probably bring to a horse show weekend and snack on that when you can. And I only speak from my experience. I did not have a car, therefore, I could not provide the food I needed and wanted that would be easy to ease the hanger.

Pack Accordingly

Due to the events of moving around the country a little; and by a little I mean Oklahoma up to Wyoming. Very South to very North and there is a big weather difference. And me, living out of a suitcase thinking I was going to be in the hottest state possible all summer, I only brought summer clothes..like a romper? which was evidence I was way too optimistic about my trip. Needless to say, the romper did not make it home with me. When you’re not getting paid, which is fine and all, you just cannot deny you still will have expenses. Having to buy warm clothes or season appropriate clothing should not be one of them. So Take it from me, pack for all weather but if you have to, a thrift store is your best friend and will have perfect barn clothes you can destroy.

Last but not least

Take advantage of this incredible opportunity! Interning is usually only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so fricken embrace it. This is your chance to meet like-minded people and learn about the culture of the sport. Again, this is only from my experience. I came from Canada and move to the USA. It is a whole different world! Through it all, I stayed focused and tried to stay positive by taking it all for what it was and not letting certain situations get me down.
Going into an internship was a blind move and you can only try to plan what’s going to happen, but chances are you’re wrong (sorry).  Your greatest tool will be your ability go with the flow and keep an mind open! Learn as much as you can by the people around you and walk away from it a more well-rounded person. It will probably suck at times but power through, I promise it will be worth it.
Have as much fun as you can and I wish you absolutely all the best in your adventures.
Meeting Your Idols, The Cold Hard Truth

Meeting Your Idols, The Cold Hard Truth

by | Barrel Race Internships

Starting this off with the overlooked facts; professional athletes are not valued based on their level of humanity. They’re literally ranked based on their skill and resume in the sport.  Sure these people are talented in whatever it is they specialize in. It’s easy to look up to them, fantasize about meeting them and hoping their talents will rub off on you. However, in my non-professional opinion, these people can be dangerous to put on a pedestal.

Of course, it’s great to have an icon you want to be like one day but you have to realize that people can be a professional athlete, have millions of followers, look like a great person but that doesn’t mean they are.

You can ask “what do I know?” I only have my own experience to base this off of but I have been lucky enough to have worked with some of those pros. Unfortunately what I stated above seemed to be pretty accurate.

The nobodys, That’s right I’ll call myself a nobody(for now) has it rough, what do you do when you’re an underdog that can’t offer much to someone so much more successful than you.  I remind myself that everyone is a nobody until they become a somebody, right? And I think we all, even the pros need to remember that everyone started from the beginning. If someone isn’t as good or can’t offer anything right now, that it’s certain we all, including the best, have been at that point too.

Respected athletes take notes – Just because someone isn’t as skilled or knowledgeable now doesn’t make them any less of a person that you’re magically allowed to treat any less. If these people actually look up to you, give them something to really idolize! These “nobodys” are working on learning and gaining experience to help them become like you and they are looking at you for motivation!

This hit me hard while I was working for some of these athletes so please, just know your worth! I have heard stories of young nobodys getting taken advantage of due to their ability to idolize these people so much that they would do anything asked. This is a dangerous area and can leave you seriously taken advantage of! I’m more specifically talking about internships.

Interners are the people that are inexperienced, optimistic, and real glass half full type. They are willing to work, usually for free with some of the best in the industry. These jobs are a great way to gain knowledge and experience. You get to work alongside these guys and see what really happens in their day to day lives to get them where they are today. So why not go out there and learn? It’s a great opportunity no doubt, but you don’t really know these people and it can be quite alarming what you discover.

So here is what I learnt, Doing tough hours and hard work is obviously necessary in order to become a high-level athlete. There are no cutting corners in that department but always keep the goal in mind. Don’t say yes to terrible work if you don’t think it’s beneficial or progressing you towards your goals.  Remember what brought you there and if what you’re doing isn’t a step toward the goal then change it.

The Advice: If you’re interning and there’s something you’re not comfortable with, or you’re being asked way more then what was agreed upon, its ok to say no. I repeat, it is OK to just say no! Your happiness should be important and if what you’re doing is ruining the sport for you stop.

Remember you are just as capable as the pros, were all humans and you can make it to that level of greatness by starting and always learning. No doubt you will get there one day if you really push yourself and strive to learn every day.

Thanks for reading, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Why I Moved to The USA for a Summer

Why I Moved to The USA for a Summer

by | Barrel Race Internships, Performance Mindset

Growing up brings so many hard questions society asks us. Ultimately, what are we going to do with our life? Who honestly knows.. cause well, I’d actually really like to figure it out! My mom told me to get done school so I could “start my life” sorry mom to call you out on this, but I have been starting my life. My life has begun! 24 years ago to be exact and guess what happened? I did the normal college thing and I finished..Barely. I was not excited about my program and it showed. The people and experiences were great. The education, on the other hand, I didn’t grasp because the interest and passion were just not there. So I got all my credits, again barely and left school to get ma life all started up like I was told to do.

I was probably only told that once but it just resonated with me because I totally disagreed with that statement said to me many months ago. Anyways, I go home pretty well student broke as could be and start working at a family run business, ah I can finally put my education to work! Well, I believe it was 6 months later, I’m here learning how the operation goes and my role in the grand scheme of things. I think constantly, “is this what I’m going to do for the rest of my life? Is this what I would have chosen for a career if it wasn’t exposed to me throughout my whole life? Would I decide on this type of work any other way?” The answer was no. I have a “now or never” mentality to take action and though those 6 months, I decided now!

I’m sure some of you have been lucky to get an opportunity like mine and it be a field you truly are passionate about. Me, however, couldn’t imagine this being the end of my career journey. I felt no personal growth in those 6 months. I want to feel challenged and feel I am exposing myself to the unfamiliar in exchange to grow as a person of this planet.

I knew what my deepest passion was and I researched it, thinking of ideas; next steps for me to dip my toes into it. Of course, the focus was on horses, specifically becoming a better horsewoman and barrel racer. So naturally I abruptly, in a matter of 2 weeks got on an airplane to Oklahoma with no date of return. Just a gentle test of the waters, you know, nice and casual. Since I chose now, now I can say I have no regrets. However, during my time in the USA I thought I had some real ones. I moved around quite a bit and for some Canadian barrel racer dragging her poor 4-year-old futurity horse wherever she goes; we got through it pretty well. Throughout the early stages and several wake up calls. I managed to travel to 4 states and I was feeling very unsure of my choices.

Looking back I can’t say I regret anything, even if I felt it temporarily. I have met some freaking incredible people, (if you like to hear about someone’s story on meeting people to encourage you to do it even though it freaks you out a little, I agree! But I will talk about that later on here) every place has brought a little more light to my life journey and for that, the regrets are done to a low zero!

So, what do I want to do as this trip dwindles down to the last few weeks? I definitely have been reflecting a lot on this crazy thing I did and I’ve been stopping for a few moments to take it all in. I know my time is almost done and I noticed today as I stopped and looked at it all. Looking at where I  was, what I was doing. The beautiful black hills of South Dakota all around me and know soon enough this whole experience is about to be in the past.

It freaks me out knowing inevitably, all things come to an end. Everything does it and I bet you can’t think of one thing that won’t eventually come to an end in your life. The time flies and it’s such a short amount we are allowed to live through it all. We don’t even know how much time we get to waste here; it’s scary! Embrace all of life’s mess and questionable regrets as we go through this journey. Because it has started, officially!