Maniwaki sawmill intern Francis Perron’s second blogpost
Hello, dear readers!
Today, for my second blogpost, I’d like to tell you about a typical week in the life of an intern who balances work and sports. As a football player, I have a commitment to my team to continue my training during the summer. The team at Resolute Forest Products has been very accommodating; they’ve allowed me to adopt a schedule that is flexible enough to incorporate my workouts, and I’m very grateful for that.
I’m aware that many people have unfortunately lost their jobs during this global pandemic, so I feel extremely lucky to have the opportunity to develop professionally this summer, in a field that I’m passionate about.
The crisis has affected my football activities above all. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the East-West Bowl, a game bringing together a selection of football players who will be eligible for next year’s Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, but unfortunately the game was cancelled. And my fall football season won’t be taking place either. Football has taught me a few things; one of them is that you can’t control everything, and unfortunately these are good examples of events beyond my control. So I’m trying to focus on what I can do to develop as a person, a player and a young professional. My internship at Resolute and the time I invest in training outside work when I’m in Maniwaki play a very important role in my development process.
A promise made is a debt unpaid: now I’d like to take you with me for a week as an intern at at the Maniwaki (Quebec) sawmill.
First, to make the most of my time here in Maniwaki, I prepare all my lunches and dinners in advance on Sunday mornings. This way, I save a lot of time while making sure to eat healthy food during the week. I get in my car on Monday mornings at about 5:30 a.m. and go straight to work to start my week.
Right after work from Mondays to Thursdays, I go to Zone Concept Santé to train. It’s a beautiful renovated gym with a very welcoming and kind staff. Once I’ve completed my workout, which lasts from 1.5 to 2 hours, I often go to the artificial playing field at the Cité étudiante de la Haute-Gatineau, which is not far from the gym, to run for 30 to 45 minutes. I try to run at least two or three times during the week. Then it’s finally time for dinner! I also like to catch a TV show or call friends or family before I turn in.
The next day, the same routine starts again, until Friday, when I usually finish earlier, which allows me to have a longer weekend! Since arriving in Maniwaki, I go back to Sherbrooke or Gatineau almost every weekend to spend quality time with friends and family, which helps me maintain a good balance.
Despite my busy schedule and travelling, I still find time to explore the region, which is new to me. For example, I went fishing in the river not far from where I live and I loved the experience! I still have several places to discover, of course! I’ve heard a lot about Lac des 31 milles, and I make a solemn promise to discover this regional park and share my adventure with you.
On that note, see you next time, when I’ll talk about my various assignments at the Maniwaki sawmill.
Francis P.
