Social Media & Digital Communications with the Joseph Richard Group: Jessica Wiser on Responsible Hedonism, Skipping Class, & Pet Peeves.

What is your definition of “happiness” or “success”?
Spending time with my daughter/ being able to spend time with my daughter & show her the world!
What is your most memorable travel experience?
Oh geez! You wouldn’t believe me if I told you but there’s one story involving a prostitute, a monkey, two singing dogs and some arak… Another spontaneous 3 month camping trip across the middle & western states with nothing but a tent, a chevy cavalier, $2000, and 4 people.  I lived in Beijing for a few months.  Got on a plane to Paris… had a stopover in Toronto, ended up coming home and never made it back to Paris.
What is your most embarrassing moment?
No.  It’s unspeakable!
If you could possess one super-human power, what would it be?
More time! I’d create some sort of loophole so I could work a 90 hour week, stay home with my little one full time, & have endless time for travel, reading, & relaxation.
What do you think happens after death?
I’m pretty sure we turn into grass.  Maybe a tree if we are lucky.
What are the main lessons you’ve learned in life?
Just focus on today.  Enjoy it.  Don’t try to predict the future.  The only constant is change. Nothing feels better than giving.  I practice responsible hedonism.  Pretty sure that’s a thing.
What advice would you give your 20 year old self?
Stop being such an idiot!!
Do you have any pet peeves?
Hahaha soooo many.  Chewing, tapping, food smells, cigarettes, Caillou, grammatical errors, broken phones, bad customer service, scratchy socks, & nail biting on the shallow scale.  Then there’s bigotry, cruelty, closed minds, closed hearts and closed wallets.
What inspires you to do good?
If feels good to do good. There are so many causes I am passionate about.  The world is such a brutiful place.  Even a small gesture helps me feel a little bit stronger in a totally powerless situation.
Is there a teacher that you remember having been particularly influential?
Steve Garland and Martin Place!  They recognized I faced some emotionally challenging situations at home, and that I needed support.  They found a way to give it to me, and helped me direct my energy into writing and art, which was highly therapeutic. Steve put me ahead a grade in English, and Martin opened his classroom to me whenever I was skipping another subject, to just sit and create.  I believe they trusted that I knew what I needed to be successful.
How would you describe yourself as a student, both socially and academically?
I was that troubled smoke-pit Nirvana loving class skipping straight A girl…  remember her!?
What sort of extracurricular activities did you participate in as a teen?
Ballet.  I’d be at the dance school from right after school until 9pm most nights.  I lived and breathed dance.  After suffering a career preventing spinal fracture, I moved my attention to boys and parties.
Did you attend college?
Absolutely! Cap U then SFU and spent almost 9 years on my 4 year degree.  I’d probably stay enrolled in University forever if there was a way to make a living doing so!
Did you get a degree?
Eventually!! I was in my last semester when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter & graduated with a Criminology (law focus) & Psychology (neuroscience focus) JMA, and a minor in Sociology & Anthropology.  You remember I love University, right?
How would your child describe you as a parent?
Well, I just asked her to finish the sentence “My Mom is______” and she screamed “I can’t answer that!” and then started to cry.  So…..  (in my defense My Little Pony is on).
How do you describe yourself as a parent?
Crazy affectionate, loving, kind, respectful, fun, empathetic, resourceful, always worried, and STRICT! Being a single parent is definitely a challenge, but I can’t imagine my life any other way.  Maybe one day that will change.
Have you had your heart broken?
A million times over.  Every day.  But it also explodes with love every day, so it’s all good.
Have you broken any hearts?
Probably.  I hope not.
Have you ever been married?
Welllll… I’ve been engaged a couple of  times, but no, never married.
Where do you see yourself in 2 years?
Right now I am focusing on living for the now and trusting that the future will land exactly as it should.  If my past is any indication, it is impossible to predict the future!