Congratulations on finishing yet another year of school! Another grade over, and another gaping void that is known as summer. My family is not the type to go out for a long family getaway, so often, finding something to do in the summer can be a pain. Over the past few weeks, I tried in…
There’s nothing better than the feeling of being able to relax and watch a good, long movie without the ghosts of all the work you are not doing lurking in the back of your brain. Since I recently completed my grade 11 year, arguably the most difficult year of high school, I’ve accumulated a pretty…
Congratulations everyone! We have survived yet another school year, and as a reward, we have been freed for the summer! And as we shift into the miraculous bliss that is summer, I’d like to take a moment to just remind you all that if you are currently strong and healthy, appreciate it. I feel like…
Now that school is drawing to a close and summer is staring us straight in the face, we are presented with an opportunity to reflect on the past weeks and the struggle that is preparing for final exams. As a proud person of the internet, Tumblr is my main source of inspiration in situations like this.…
As we wind down to the end of the school year (collective cheer), it’s a great time to really look back at this past year and reflect. What are things that you were really happy about? What were things that didn’t really go your way? What things did you do really well? What do you…
Happy exam season everybody! If you are a youth anywhere in North America who is currently attending school, chances are you are in the midst of final exams. There are highs and lows to this season of the school year- the exhausting workload and stress of school is coming to an end once again, but before we are…
My experience as a Student Conductor A year ago, I was reflecting on my experience of getting to conduct my high school band and performing at our spring concert. Fast forward to now, a lot has happened and I would love to share my thoughts again after another year of amazing experiences. Conducting can seem like a…
It’s very difficult to put into words how music can even begin to quantify the human spirit and how it captures and preserves our most precious moments, feelings and memories. I oftentimes find myself referring to a song, album or playlist when I can’t find the words to say what I’m feeling. As someone who…
Dear Homophobe that killed 50 and injured 53, Here is the thing. You can’t combat ignorance with anger. But the truth is I’m not just angry, I am infuriated. The Orlando Pulse Club Shooting is not a joke. Taking someone’s life because you don’t approve of who they love, is not a joke. Thinking you…
Around 2 am this morning, a gunman opened fire on clubgoers of Pulse, a queer nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The hate crime resulted in the loss of 50 lives and 53 more injured and hospitalized. This tragic and horrific event marks the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. With so many mourning the loss of innocent lives…
Dear Grade 10 Me: A lot has changed during these past three years. I’d like to say I grew immensely as an individual but that would be a gross hyperbole. However, I learned many things through the tears, stress, and laughter high school provided me. Things never go as expected and that’s okay. No one knows…
On May 14, I had the absolute pleasure of watching the Calgary Youth Orchestra and the Cum Vino Cantus Society perform in the beautiful Bella Concert Hall at Mount Royal University. Featuring talented soloists and breathtaking performances, I was reminded of why I love music so much. Simply put, the concert was moving and had…
How easily water slips through one’s fingers and hands. Such flow and delicacy. A stream of water starts very small, pushing it’s way through hard, heavy rocks and boulders. Over time, water carves it’s own path through which it flows through; something as soft as water manages to erode something as hard as rock through…