To Live A Life I Am Proud Of

Pursuing Passion

My name is Robyn Webster and I grew up in small town, Merritt, B.C. In the last 10 years, since high school,I have been pursuing my goals of being the best athlete I can be. As well finding a career I am crazy about. By day, I am an Award Officer for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award; by night I am a competitive national level pole vaulter and coach.

It’s intimidating trying to figure out what you want to do when you grow up! As I was approaching graduation from high school, all I knew was: I wanted to be an athlete. I found joy in helping others- a pretty broad start. There were so many options- should I take a year off, what school should I go to, what program would I be interested in, how can I keep training for track and field? I started applying to universities, toying around with ideas of nursing and anthropology, before coming across the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Communication and Culture. I liked communication, I liked culture, so it seemed like a great place to start; plus they had a strong women’s track and field team.

You never know where you’re going to end up.

Despite being keen on sprints and jumps, my distance-runner Dad recommended I go out to the UofC cross-country practice and get some base mileage in. I showed up the first day as the walk-on, small town girl, prepared to make a good first impression and prove myself. I very quickly realized that the occasional run I did up our hilly dirt driveway during August was not quite enough to prepare me for a 5km warm up prior to the actual workout! However, after the first set of bounding drills, the endurance coaches saw some other strengths in me, and recommended I join the speed-power training group instead.

The next few years were filled with dabbling in different events- including trying pole vault for the first time, learning how to be an athlete and a leader, and the best memories and friendships I could have ever asked for. I went from being a walk-on small town girl, to making my first varsity team, to becoming a captain for the team, to being a Can-West and CIS medalist. Achievements I never would have thought possible.

The nick-name my training partners quickly gave me was ‘roids,’ and not because I was taking anything, I promise! My defining feature has always been my work ethic.  While it can be my nemesis at times- causing me to over-think and over-work- I also know that it is my strongest asset. I have come to realize that I am quite an all-or-nothing person in this sense; if I am passionate about something, I’m all in.

What I Have Also Realized

What I have also realized, is that choosing to follow my passions, continually leads to happiness in my life; and when you put work ethic, passion and happiness together, opportunity and success can’t help but follow. Happiness and fulfillment are more important to me than stability and prestige. I have chosen the former over the latter time and time again.

Upon graduation from university, after years of waitressing, coaching, and working at the gym, I took my first ‘big-girl’ job downtown in Calgary. On paper it was my dream role. It was a balance of passion, professional experience, stability and more money than I’d ever made. I learned SO much from this first position, both professionally and personally. But most importantly I learned the following. How to stand up for myself as a young women in an industry full of men, how to say ‘no,’ and that NOTHING is worth compromising your values.

Into My Dream Role

A year and a half into my ‘dream role,’ I was given the ultimatum of: my boss’ way, or the highway. Under my colleague’s advice, I should just come into work, and quietly do my job without asking questions. At 26 years old, I was the newest employee in the place. I decided there was no way I was signing up for a life like that- no passion, no say, and complying to operate in a way I didn’t ethically agree with. I had no back up plan in place, but decided to take the highway. It was the most vulnerable but liberated I have ever felt in my life. It was the best decision I ever made.

To Live A Life I Am Proud Of

That decision reiterated what was most important to me, and what will be my guiding principle for the rest of my life. To live a life I am proud of. The next job I took, the position I’m in now, was for half as much pay, but I fell in love with it instantly. The mandate of supporting youth development, by encouraging them to pursue their interests and goals, was right up my alley. While I may have forgone some extra cash, it gives me the flexibility to still pursue my training as a competitive pole vaulter.  This is a passion I was not willing to give up. I have found a great love in coaching as well.  This will be something I pursue further once my competitive days are behind me.

I am motivated in the work that I do now, and proud of the life I have chosen to live. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy living- I work hard, I train hard, and I get by financially. There are plenty of ups and downs, but I’m on my own terms. There are so many doors which have opened up to me. It is because I have stayed true to myself and let my motivation guide me. One of my favourite quotes is:

“Your work is to discover your world

and then with all your heart give yourself to it.”

-Buddha

I’m very grateful to be surrounded by an incredible support system with my family, boyfriend, friends and colleagues. These are all people I look up to.  For the goodness they bring to the world and their own pursuits of passion. I wish you the best with all of yours!

Readers can follow me at:

Instagram or Twitter: @robynwebster88 OR email me at: robynwebster88@gmail.com

If they are interested in following or getting involved with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, they can check out:

National website www.dukeofed.org OR our Division Facebook page @dukeofedAB

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