Dear 18-year-old Dawn,

Stop doubting yourself.

Your parents just dropped you off in Calgary, and I know the SAIT campus is bigger and more populated than the town you came from, but donB次元官网网址檛 be scared. You are going to love that place, and once you meet people, the city isnB次元官网网址檛 going to seem as big and unfamiliar.

For reasons unknown, one of your new best pals, Andy, is going to be a die-hard Floyd Mayweather fan. IB次元官网网址檓 serious. Almost everything in his wardrobe says TMT on it (The Money Team, MayweatherB次元官网网址檚 brand), and he has pants that are patterned with dollar bills.

On Sept. 12, 2015, you and some friends will go to a bar with Andy to watch Floyd MayweatherB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渓ast fightB次元官网网址� against Andre Berto. You guys are going to have a blast, get all fired up and be throwing fake punches in the air all night.

Remember those drunk, shadow boxing moves, young Dawn. They might become useful some day.

Your class sizes at SAIT will be small, and youB次元官网网址檙e going to absolutely gobble up everything you learn in school. Within the first week, youB次元官网网址檙e going to realize you want to major in photojournalism in the second year, but there are only 16 spots available and about 80 people competing for it.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no way IB次元官网网址檒l get in, these people have learned photography before, theyB次元官网网址檙e older than me, more talented than me,B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檒l think.

YouB次元官网网址檙e going to lose a lot of sleep thinking like that for the next eight months.

And now hereB次元官网网址檚 a curve ball in case you thought worrying would be your only problem: in November, youB次元官网网址檙e going to tear your ACL and both menisci, and itB次元官网网址檚 going to hurtB次元官网网址� A LOT. I mean the worst pain youB次元官网网址檝e ever felt, and your knee is going to be stuck at a 90 degree angle for over a month.

Now youB次元官网网址檙e thinking, B次元官网网址淗ow am I going to get from place to place, and shoot photos at events if I canB次元官网网址檛 even stand up? Now IB次元官网网址檓 for sure not going to get in the photo major.B次元官网网址�

But remember that time you played fastball provincials with torn ligaments in your ankle? See, youB次元官网网址檝e practiced for this.

YouB次元官网网址檙e going to get a wheelchair, and you are going to work that thing like a runway. YouB次元官网网址檙e going to wheel yourself through a lot of snow trying to get places: photography events, class, the grocery store, and then eventually youB次元官网网址檒l get crutches.

Just keep limping forward, you skinny little warrior. Everything is going to change.

In May 2016 youB次元官网网址檙e going to get an email from SAIT. Congratulations, you earned one of those 16 spots in the photojournalism major.

Why did you doubt yourself so much?

By May 2017, when youB次元官网网址檝e lost all possible muscle tone and weigh about 110 pounds, youB次元官网网址檒l finally get surgery. And not even two weeks later, youB次元官网网址檙e going to move yourself out to B.C. B次元官网网址� Vancouver Island actually, to find work.

Luckily, youB次元官网网址檒l snag a job writing for the Sooke B次元官网网址 Mirror, and man, you are going to like it there.

After about six months, your boss is going to ask you to start boxing. Yes, you read that right, Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather B次元官网网址� BOXING B次元官网网址� and youB次元官网网址檒l be writing a column about it.

I know what youB次元官网网址檙e thinking. B次元官网网址�ABSOLUTELY NOT. Over my dead body. No way will I do that. Too much work, I just had knee surgery, IB次元官网网址檓 not tough enough, I canB次元官网网址檛 do it, blah blah blahB次元官网网址� boxing is not for me.B次元官网网址�

But guess what sweet cheeks? You do it. Welcome to The Money Team.

YouB次元官网网址檙e going to learn all the basics, from throwing a punch, to moving around the ring, to defence, and more. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more to know in boxing than you would expect.

YouB次元官网网址檒l train at least five days a week for five months straight. I know right? IB次元官网网址檓 having a hard time believing it myself.

ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be one of the most challenging things youB次元官网网址檝e ever done. Your body is going to be so sore you can barely move. YouB次元官网网址檙e going to cry, youB次元官网网址檙e going to get punched in the face, youB次元官网网址檙e going to want to quit, but youB次元官网网址檙e going to stick to it.

Damn right you will.

Through all this self-discipline youB次元官网网址檙e going to gain back the muscle and weight you lost, and mentally, you are going to transform. YouB次元官网网址檙e going to learn how to remove your emotions from pain and push through workouts better, control your nerves and anxiety, and be able to fight back when someone pushes you around. Literally and figuratively.

Now hereB次元官网网址檚 where it gets really good, you sign up for a fight. A FIGHT. I warned you those drunk air punches would be put into action some day.

IB次元官网网址檒l give you a minute to let that sink inB次元官网网址�. Alright thatB次元官网网址檚 long enough.

When the day of the fight comes, you are going to wake up feeling numb.

When you show up to the community hall for weigh-ins, a wave of nerves is going to crash over you. B次元官网网址�Oh my god, I have to fight someone today in front of hundreds of people. IB次元官网网址檓 not ready.B次元官网网址�

Tell that voice in your head to shut up. You are ready.

YouB次元官网网址檙e going to fight a girl named Marissa Lai from Pacifica California, who has almost the exact same body type as you.

While waiting, the suspense will practically kill you. In your head will be a constant battle, B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think I can do this.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淥kay no, IB次元官网网址檓 fine, IB次元官网网址檝e trained for this.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲hat if IB次元官网网址檓 not prepared?B次元官网网址�

Just breathe.

Finally 6 p.m. rolls around. Time to start warming up.

When you get in the ring, I hate to tell you, but youB次元官网网址檙e going to forget everything youB次元官网网址檝e learned throughout training, and within 20 seconds of the first round sheB次元官网网址檚 going to get you with a hard jab right to the nose, and itB次元官网网址檚 going to start bleeding.

B次元官网网址�Damn-it.B次元官网网址�

The first round ends, and youB次元官网网址檒l have blood gushing from your nose. B次元官网网址�Oh no, everyone is going to think IB次元官网网址檓 hurt. They are going to call the fight. IB次元官网网址檓 going to lose.B次元官网网址�

Then second round starts, and suddenly, this new side of you that youB次元官网网址檝e been trying to channel for the last five months will kick in. B次元官网网址�Well if everyone thinks IB次元官网网址檓 losing because IB次元官网网址檓 bleeding, IB次元官网网址檓 just going to have to fight that much harder.B次元官网网址�

It will feel like only moments have gone by when you hear the bell to end the second round, and by this time youB次元官网网址檒l be drenched in blood. A doctor will pinch your nose while your coach, Ellen, shoves Vaseline up it to try and stop the bleeding.

B次元官网网址�Who cares, let me get back out there I am not giving up.B次元官网网址�

When the third round starts, you are going to be in the zone. And I mean THE ZONE. Punches wonB次元官网网址檛 hurt, you wonB次元官网网址檛 feel winded, and everything will be silent to you, except the voice in your head.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got this. Believe in yourself. Give it everything you have.B次元官网网址�

And before you know it, B次元官网网址淒ING!B次元官网网址�, the fight will be over.

You will be covered in your own blood. Seriously, head-to-toe covered, girl. On your legs. On your arms. Everywhere.

They will call you to the centre of the ring, and youB次元官网网址檙e going to feel like a finalist on American Idol.

Then youB次元官网网址檒l hear the announcer say, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a split decisionB次元官网网址� IN THE BLUE CORNER, DAAAAWN GIIIIBSON.B次元官网网址�

When your arm goes up, that same feeling you had when the letter came from SAIT will rush over you, a feeling of total self-pride. I hope you remember this moment and carry it with you for the rest of your life.

You did it. You WON! If this doesnB次元官网网址檛 finally open your eyes, I donB次元官网网址檛 know what will.

18-year-old Dawn, stop doubting yourself.

You are a lot tougher than you realize.