Thousands entered in The Buried Life & Contiki’s Most #EpicBucketList Contest (ever) competition. Only the Top 25 point earners have a chance at the grand prize (an epic adventure from Contiki) and are vying for that “Congratulations!” email we are all anticipating on Friday. We were charged to create a 1-minute video detailing who we are/why we want to win. Sure, this is a competition, but we’re people with aligned passions & positive hearts – we’ve found camaraderie & encouragement through this amazing World Wide Web.
We aren’t just dreamers & wanderlusters, we’re doers who plan to embrace life with stars in our eyes & goals in our pockets. Who are we? Introducing the Top 25 #EpicBucketList finalists & our video submissions (pay attention, you might make a new amigo):
Samantha B. – Hamilton, Ontario
Mini Bio: I recently graduated from McMaster University and work as a Sales & Marketing rep at Rocket SEO & run kids sports programs for the City of Hamilton Recreation Division. I love coaching and playing soccer, but pretty much enjoy any activity that is high energy. I am a complete optimist & romantic and always see the silver lining in every situation. I have been blessed with an amazingly supportive family and friendships that have already lasted decades. They really mean the world to me and I work hard every day to make em all proud: P! Most would say I am easily excited & energetic, but I really just want to see it all and try everything at least once, maybe twice!
Words You Live By: Don’t sweat the small stuff!
Your Superpower: Planning, although that seems boring I am always the individual to plan trips & activities and always want everyone around me to be having the time of their life. It is very rewarding to see everyone having a blast.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: I just recently ran the Run for Hope Marathon with my best friend and although I am an active individual running for long periods of time seemed terrible. I dedicated my race to a special individual that unfortunately was taken from us way too young and her strength and endurance motivated me to keep trucking through the rain and snow.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? I really want to go to Australia, live out of my car and live the carefree life, oh and of course learn to surf.
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Bucket List Samantha B.
Francesca B. – New Jersey
Mini Bio: I’m a Fashion Merchandising student graduating THIS MAY and still not mentally ready for it. I have an absolute love for travel ever since I studied abroad for a semester my sophomore year in London. I left a little (giant) piece of my heart there. I love getting involved with as many things as possible and that’s a major drive for my bucket list. Why not do as many awesome things as you can before you die?
Words You Live By: “Life is really just beautiful moments one after right another.” -Zach Sobiech
Your Superpower: panics Uhm, I’m really good at responding to emails….BUT I WISH I COULD FLY.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Riding an elephant!
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Go on the Rickshaw Run!
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Bucket List Challenge Video!
Trish B. – Toronto, Ontario
Mini Bio: 25 y/o Canadian. Collector of stories, maker of memories. I’ll probably convince you to come on a last minute adventure, and even call in sick for you.. My passport is my favourite accessory.
Words You Live By: Always play.
Your Superpower: Flight.
Favourite Bucket List Item Completed: Saw Red Bull Rampage in person this fall. If you don’t know what that is, google it. It’s unreal.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? I’ve decided I’m heading to New Zealand this winter (for their summer), I just haven’t figured out how…
#EpicBucketList Video: Trish B’s Epic Bucket List
Amanda C. – Metro Detroit, Michigan
Mini Bio: Graduated with a degree in marketing, international studies & Spanish. Formerly president of the student body at my university, now president of my cubicle. I do marketing for a company in the insurance/banking industry but I fill my free time with blogging, learning, singing in a chorale, being a local tourist, finding adventures & enjoying craft beers (I’m looking at you, Final Absolution). I’m also obsessed with my cat. And chocolate. And travel. Definitely travel. It’s my destiny to get my own Travel Channel show.
Words You Live By: “I’d rather be ashes than dust.”
Your Superpower: Smiling. It’s contagious. And powerful.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Volunteering in China to teach English.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Go streaking in Antarctica. And collect my family history.
#EpicBucketList Video: Amanda’s Epic Rap
Tanya C. – Ottawa, Ontario – WINNER
Mini Bio: Full time Barber/Stylist/Bar industry worker. Dancer for 10yrs traveling big cities such as DC, San Diego, performing for dance showcases. Past 3yrs have been performing/entertaining onstage with big DJs such as Swedish house mafia and nervo for music festivals in home town. Past two years teaching hiphop to youth outreach programs getting kids to share the stage at out yearly showcase. Cutting hair for 3yrs, also traveling to cities such as Toronto and New York to learn new cutting techniques. I also work the front door at local clubs helping out in the industry once every week or two. If I’m not working I’m overall still being a pretty active human being; gym, rollerblading, hiking, skating.
Words You Live By: Just be. Can’t stop won’t stop.
Superpower: Having fun, making new friends, socially interacting with people by keeping them positive and happy
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: I have 3. Bartended for 3years, Traveled and seen half of Canada, Taught a hiphop class where I took my first class.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Travel to, teach and do adventures in places other than big cities.
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Bucket List Challenge (day in the life)
Christina G. – Toronto, Ontario
Mini Bio: Hello! My name is Christina and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto studying Global Health and Physiology. I am a well-rounded and adventurous person; you can find me either helping the homeless and at my local hospital in the community, or attending a music festival or winter camping with my friends. I love to try new things, and most importantly, work on completing my bucketlist, which I am constantly working at completing.
Words You Live By: Seize the day.
Your Superpower: Flying.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Volunteer Trip to Kenya
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Attend Tomorrowland
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Entry for An Epic Contest
Peyton L. – Fort Wayne, Indiana – WINNER
Mini Bio: I’m 20 years old studying journalism at Indiana University.
Words You Live By: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs
Your Superpower: beer pong
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Pull the horn on a train.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? See the Northern Lights.
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Bucket List With Buried Life Contiki
Amanda M. – Ile des Chenes, Manitoba
Mini Bio: 24 years old, going to University of Manitoba, taking environmental science, love to travel, and volunteer with animals.
Words You Live By: The more you travel the more you learn who you are.
Your Superpower: Having an animal instantly fall in love with me.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Going to Africa and hanging out with cheetahs.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Too many, most recently i want to go to Costa Rica to surf and save turtles, or go to Thailand and volunteer with elephants and also surf.
#EpicBucketList Video: bucket list
Justin M. – Sacramento, California – WINNER
Mini Bio: I love music, making videos and doing rad things.
Words You Live By: Live In The Moment.
Your Superpower: I’m Batman, so I have none.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Be part of a devinsupertramp video.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Make a living doing something I love.
#EpicBucketList Video: Justin’s #EpicBucketList Entry
Elizabeth P. – Utica, New York
Mini Bio: I’m a Junior Nursing student at Binghamton University- set to graduate in May 2016! I already have a degree in neuroscience- it is clear that I have a passion for science and health care. I would like to volunteer in the Peace Corps and become a traveling nurse full time. In my spare time I love to draw and paint-most recently picked up welding for sculpture. I’m also planning on starting my yoga certification so I can teach. It is my goal to help people by teaching yoga and as a nurse manage stress and help people through anxiety and depression through healthy habits.
Words You Live By: “Something good is going to happen to you.” My Dad always says it to remind me that things are not so bad, and there’s always something around the corner.
Your Superpower: Teleportation
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Visited Normandy- the beaches and the cemetery and memorial.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? It’s a tie between. Strike a yoga pose in every major city and country I visit! Headstands all over the globe- And write a pet friendly travel handbook- list all the pet friendly hotels and hostels as well as places to visit with your furry best friend!
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Bucket List Contest Finalist Movie
Kim P. – Napa, California
Mini Bio: Well, I have been able to do a lot on my list, like my video says. But after graduating university and getting my dream job doing what I love for an awesome company, I’ve had to put my dreaming on hold. Rent, bills, insurance, taxes, I can’t do much else right now. I love travel (I’ve been to 19 countries). I love learning. I love racing my family’s old 356 Porsche (I’m actually kinda good!). I used to be able to squat 150 pounds. I still hold two swimming records at my home pool from when I was seven. I appreciate art in unusual places and well crafted things. I also knit, weld, and can run in heels.
Words You Live By: There is always something new to learn about a culture and yourself and travel is the best way to bring it out! Superpower: Flight. To be like a bird. I just want to run off something high, jump, and soar!
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Living abroad for a year. I studied abroad in London 2011-12 and it was the best year of my life. Made amazing friends and memories.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? I would love to be a surrogate. I am kinda scared of children, but to bring a life into the word and add to someone’s family which wouldn’t otherwise be complete would be really fulfilling.
#EpicBucketList Video: Kim’s Epic Bucket List Finalist Video AKA #SolidBronzeWalken
Stephen “Bob” S. – Fleming Island, Florida
Mini Bio: So clearly my name is Stephen Bob Shapeshifter Schaefer! Haha but no actually it’s just Stephen Michael Schaefer but EVERYONE calls me Bob! I’m from Fleming Island, Florida. I’ve lived in Florida my whole life and graduated from UCF. I work with kids in an after school program being a role model for them and I’m about to become a teacher. But hopefully soon I’m going to go back to school to be a commercial pilot!
Words You Live By: I literally use this quote all the time to help motivate me to be myself and it’s by Robert Downey Jr. “Listen, Smile, Agree. And then do whatever the fuck you were gonna do anyway.”
Your Superpower: is being a wizard a super power cause EXPELLIARMUS!! If not then I’ll go with Flying.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Complete an Olympic Triathlon (1 mile swim, 26 mile bike, 6 mile run.. I did very little training haha).
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? (so hard to pick!!!) either play a real life game of where’s Waldo in a city or act in a movie with Adam Sandler.
#EpicBucketList Video: The Most Epic Bucket List Ever!
Natalya S. – Cleveland, Ohio
Mini Bio: My entire family is from Ukraine, but I was born in Rome. Came to the USA when I was a baby. Have my bachelors in biochemistry. My dream job is to become a physical therapist for a professional soccer team (Liverpool FC <3).
Words You Live By: “If they respect you, respect them. If they disrespect you, still respect them. Do not allow the actions of others to decrease your good manners, because you represent yourself, not others.”
Your Superpower: Making surprises or pulling pranks on people.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Flew to Miami just to see my favorite soccer player and England play.
What do you want to do before you die? Celebrate New Years in every major city in the world (at least Sydney, Paris, and London).
#EpicBucketList Video: The Most Epic Bucket List Contest (France) The Buried Life
Carolyn S. – New York
Mini Bio: I’m a first year emergency veterinarian learning something new every day; it’s definitely been a transformational year. I grew up in Florida and went to UF for undergrad. Between undergrad and vet school I spent time interning at a phenomenal wildlife center in Texas with cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes and a ton of other beautiful and unique animals. I got to take care of an emu named Einstein. My two biggest passions in life are traveling and animals. I’ve been to some beautiful places (Sri Lanka, India, Galapagos Islands) but there are so many more places and people I want to see and meet in this world.
Words You Live By: “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.” George Bernard Shaw
Your Superpower: If I could pick one – teleportation. In real life – being able to read people.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Traveling to Sri Lanka and working with elephants.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? Volunteer at a penguin conservation in South Africa (SANCCOB) and an Olympic Opening ceremony, hoping for Brazil 2016!
#EpicBucketList Video: Epic Bucket List Buried Life Video
Shaylee Z. – Denver, Colorado
Mini Bio: I’m a person who loves to fully explore life. I am exceptionally curious and, therefore, learning is probably my favorite activity after adventuring. I graduated from the University of Denver one year ago, and I currently work for 2 non-profits and lead middle schoolers in Wyld Life. I love books, Nutella, geocaching, and the movie UP. I have 2 pet mice named Poppet and Widget. I can chirp like a little bird. I am imperfect.
Words You Live By: Measure your wealth in smiles.
Your Superpower: I can instantly detect if something is crooked on a wall.
Favorite Bucket List Item Completed: Surfing on sand – which I completed this summer with my adventure buddies at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
What Do You Want To Do Before You Die? This is a toss up between two of my favorite list items. It’s my dream to go on my “Great No Directions Road Trip” across North America, but I also really want to get shot out of a cannon before I die.
#EpicBucketList Video: Shaylee’s EpicBucketList
** If you’ve been counting, you probably noticed that there aren’t 25 on this list. This was just a ‘for fun’ community thing we put together and not everyone participated. These finalists are like Pokemon. But enjoy anyway! **
