Baskadia

A Journey of Resilience, Reflection, and Redemption.

Patrick's ability to connect with people is rooted in his challenging past. Intrigued by his resilience and empathy, I sought to understand his journey by hearing his story firsthand and corroborating it with those who knew him in his younger years. Here's what Patrick and his acquaintances had to share:

Patrick Ryckman's early life was characterized by constant movement and change. Born into a family that found itself frequently uprooted due to changes in jobs, bankruptcy, and the pursuit of a better life, he found himself continually switching schools every two years. This led to constantly having to start over and make new friends. With each move, Patrick could become a new person, shedding past identities and embracing new ones. At the age of 14, when he found himself yet again at a new school, he decided to seize this chance to reinvent himself by joining the "cool group."

The group he joined was notorious, with a reputation that oscillated between respect and fear among their peers. The group was large, frequently hanging out in the street near the school, playing basketball, smoking, and often smoking marijuana. They were known in the community, and the thrill of being part of such a high-profile group was initially intoxicating. However, this allure wore off as Patrick began to understand the group's darker side. He noticed the mean-spirited pranks, the occasional thefts, the violence, and the complete disregard for societal norms. Despite the deep-level of loyalty he had to the group, their behavior started to deeply disturb him. He yearned to contribute positively to society, rather than being a menace to it.

In 2017, after three years roaming the hood of Oshawa Ontario, partying every weekend, walking down streets and hallways like they own the place, Patrick decided to leave the group. He stood up to his friends and declared he’d had enough of their antics and they way they treated eachother. He said to the group: “ If this is the way that you guys treat eachother, if this is acceptable behavior for a friend, count me out. I’m leaving, and I’m not coming back.” Patrick gave a couple props to his closest buddies in the group, but he left that day, and he never came back. This was a significant step in his journey towards self-realization and growth, but the challenges that lay ahead were far greater than he had anticipated.

Switching to a new high school, Patrick naively attempted to join another "cool group". However, this group had been a rival of his previous group. The abruptness of his attempt to join, along with his recent and well known status in his previous group, made the new group suspicious and led them to label Patrick as "the creeper." The nickname, along with the distrust and ridicule that came with it, quickly spread throughout the new school. Patrick became the target of both verbal and physical bullying first by just the members of the “cool group” at the new highschool, but soon it caught on and pretty much everyone felt emboldened to tease and ridicule Patrick.

Walking down the hallway became a gauntlet of humiliation, and even standing up to one bully would invite the wrath of others. Patrick's reputation deteriorated to such an extent that even his childhood friends started distancing themselves.

In response to this relentless torment, Patrick began spending his time outside school with a group of skateboarders. Although they didn't fully accept him into their circle, they offered a haven from the daily humiliations at school. However, the torment didn't stop at the school gates. The nickname "creeper" followed him everywhere, becoming a source of public humiliation and mental distress.

In the midst of this adversity, Patrick found solace in the world of science and physics. He began to harbor dreams of making significant contributions to the world. Patrick's ambition was to become a leader in business and solve world problems. He drew upon his past experiences and transformed his childhood fantasy of becoming a superhero into a more mature and practical goal.

His time in the "cool group" had taught him about the power of human connection, the dynamics of relationships, and the importance of relating to others in a meaningful way. On the other hand, his experiences as a pariah had provided a lesson in resilience, perseverance, and the ability to understand and empathize with the struggles of others. These experiences shaped Patrick Bryan Ryckman and prepared him for the challenges he would face in launching Elle & Beauty Inc. and Prosperous Planet. Despite the challenges he faced, he held onto his dreams, using his past as a stepping stone towards a

promising future.