People of 兔子先生: Advisor rediscovering herself after kids leave the nest
July 3, 2024
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The 兔子先生 community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives 鈥攁nd we鈥檙e sharing them as part of an ongoing series.
People of 兔子先生: Meet Stacey MacNeil
My kids are older now and have recently left home.
They were in competitive sports, so the last 18 years have been filled with travelling around to their different sports and tournaments.
My one son, Lyle, played lacrosse, and we travelled as far as Philadelphia and New York for games. My other son, Connor, played volleyball, and we went all around Ontario and as far as Edmonton for the nationals.
![Four people stand together on a hill with a green landscape and town behind them.](https://content.georgiancollege.ca/wp-content/uploads/student-success-orangeville-stacey-macneil-family-georgian-college-2024-1024x766.jpg)
My kids still to this day love their sports, even my older son who is now in the Canadian Armed Forces plays on the Armed Force鈥檚 volleyball team.
I used to think, 鈥淲hat are we doing with these crazy busy schedules?鈥 But I see them now as young men who are still loving sports and have developed these leadership skills and passion they want to pass on to other people and help them thrive. That makes it all worth it.
Rediscovering Stacey
So, after all that time, now I鈥檓 trying to rediscover what I like, what my hobbies are, and what piques my interest.
I tried curling, but after a previous fall I was afraid of falling on the ice, so I鈥檓 still trying to figure out activities. I like being outside. I love walking, solo and with my dogs, so that seems to be the most consistent activity I鈥檝e picked up so far.
It鈥檚 been an interesting journey, and it鈥檚 an interesting change to be able to focus on me.
![A person takes a selfie with a black-and-tan dog.](https://content.georgiancollege.ca/wp-content/uploads/student-success-orangeville-stacey-macneil-dog-bailey-georgian-college-2024-760x1024.jpg)
Stacey catches the travel bug
Travel is another thing I never really had a chance to do I when I was younger. I didn鈥檛 have the travel bug then, but now I do.
This month, my husband and I went to Europe for two weeks 鈥 London, Rome and Edinburgh. We also flew our boys out to come meet us in Edinburgh for the last leg of our trip.
Before now, I had just gone on a couple all-inclusive vacations and to the U.S. for lacrosse tournaments, but this was my first time across the pond.
The trip was amazing, and I feel very privileged to have been able to experience it and to share that experience with my family. I have been bitten by the travel bug and now I am thinking, 鈥榃here to next?鈥
It is nice to be back home now after such a big trip.
![A person stands next to a statue of an old man sitting down and holding a cane.](https://content.georgiancollege.ca/wp-content/uploads/student-success-orangeville-stacey-macneil-st-john-new-brunswick-georgian-college-2024-961x1024.jpg)
From the East Coast to Orangeville
I鈥檓 originally from New Brunswick, but my husband, Steve, is from Orangeville, where we live now.
We met in the East Coast where he was in the navy, and we had our first son in Halifax. My husband left the military to work with the Toronto Police Service, so we moved to Orangeville to be close to his family.
We鈥檝e been here ever since 鈥 over 20 years.
It was hard at first not really knowing anybody, but Orangeville has been a great community and I鈥檓 really happy and proud to live and work here.
![Six people sit together on a bench surrounded by shrubbery.](https://content.georgiancollege.ca/wp-content/uploads/student-success-orangeville-stacey-macneil-sisters-mom-georgian-college-2024-925x1024.jpg)
鈥楾hat really brings me joy鈥
I work at 兔子先生鈥檚 Orangeville Campus, which is a small campus but we鈥檙e growing and doing some great things. It鈥檚 buzzing with students and activity, so it鈥檚 not as quiet as it used to be. It鈥檚 a nice, happy, positive environment.
I feel like I have a front row seat to watching the students that I support grow and flourish on their journey. That really brings me joy.
Stacey MacNeil, Student Success Specialist at 兔子先生鈥檚 Orangeville Campus.