I wanted my summer to be reminiscent of a coming-of-age film, but I made the questionable decision of signing up for English Literature IB. Instead of hangouts and late-night conversations with my friends, I guess I’ll have them with my books. Before the first day of classes, I must fully annotate two texts for my…
There is almost no prospect of travelling anytime soon for me. To revitalize my interest in Calgary, I’ve tried experiencing the city through a tourist’s lens. Attractions in Calgary tend to have a business model that favours locals, who can forgo the exorbitant daily admission prices by purchasing an annual pass. One adult ticket for…
Despite comprising a quarter of my course load, English Language Arts accounts for at least half of my academic stress. Your experience will vary depending on your teacher’s marking scheme, but I want to contextualize the notoriety of high school English. Timed writing assessments, the personal response to text (PRT) and the critical/analytical response to…
When I think of my key motivators, not all of them are abstract, ambitious dreams. Many of them are small but tangible details of life, such as feeling the summer breeze or walking in the rain. Appreciating the little things can go a long way. I’ve gathered them into a list, and I hope they…
Is Genshin Impact a free-to-play open-world adventure, or is it the precursor to a gambling problem? Yes. Anyway, I still, in good conscience, recommend Genshin Impact because I believe it’s a forgiving side project. The game is accessible upfront; it’s free-to-play and available on iOS, Android, Windows, and PlayStation. With a solid story and engaging quests, Genshin Impact is…
If you reduce Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or The Lion King to their most basic elements, the result is a steadfast, storytelling core known as the hero’s journey. Through twelve stages, the hero must leave one condition, undergo some transformation, and lead a more fulfilling life with their newfound maturity. It’s easy to see how these pieces fit…
My grades are the only quantifiable measure of how well I’m doing. I check them constantly, whether it’s for validation or self-pity. I think many students care intensely about their marks without realizing it. If you have physical symptoms or feel stressed more often than not because of school, you’re in obsession territory. I advise…
It’s been over a year since COVID-19 crept into the West. Hate crimes against the Asian community surged in the early stages of the pandemic, and they have yet to taper off. COVID-19 brought a pressing issue into the limelight, but the misinformation and discrimination surrounding Asians is nothing new. I want to examine the…
Many consumers have a tumultuous relationship with this tech giant, and I’ve always speculated about why that is. Consider AirPods; Apple had the nerve to debut wireless headphones just months after removing the headphone jack from their phones. What’s more remarkable is how AirPods evolved from an ironic purchase into a resounding financial success. Is…
I think every show has its merits, but the great ones make us feel different afterward. Hunter x Hunter left me with a bittersweet aftertaste that I still can’t comprehend. I never found closure after 148 episodes, yet there was no doubt in my mind that I had experienced a work of art. Story Hunter…