I’m happy to have been the Life Junior Editor since last summer, but I’m even more proud to announce Youth Are Awesome’s new Life Editor who will be taking up my position. Overcoming Failure: You Can Do It! was Hafsah Syed‘s entry into YAA and since then, she has been known for her articles about self-improvement,…
Why do we need writers? Because: Writing can help yourself, others around you and the world at large. That was the opening line of my first ever blog post on Youth Are Awesome – Why do we need writers? Published on March 26, 2014, over two years ago, it marked the start of a long journey of…
Pokemon Go has taken over the world by storm and chances are, you’ve seen countless posts about it on social media. For better or worse, it the current fad. There are already a ton of gameplay articles written, so I will focus on my personal experience with this game and the cultural implications it has. What…
If you’ve ever taken an English class, chances are that you’ve had to read Shakespeare. If hearing that brings bad memories, then I’m sorry. I feel like Shakespeare gets a lot of criticism because the language is hard to understand. Or perhaps you are bored to tears and you hate that you have to study it. Maybe…
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…
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…
They may remark on the horror, but they will, most likely, think nothing of it at all, like a dog with somewhere else to be. – From The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway I may immerse myself into a narrative or a film about war, but I can always step back into the comfort of my…
Perhaps you have something you have never told anyone about yourself… perhaps there are thoughts you have never shared… what do you hold in the deeper areas of your heart, soul and mind? My secret is that although I may seem confident, I often doubt myself too. There is a constant internal tug of…
Many amazing people applied to be the school valedictorian, but I was not selected. Thankfully, many of my good friends made it to the following rounds and I am so happy for them! That being said, this is my personal take on the graduation experience, an open letter to the graduating class. You are corralled into…
Strikingly, many high achievers told me music opened up the pathways to creative thinking. And their experiences suggest that music training sharpens other qualities: Collaboration. The ability to listen. A way of thinking that weaves together disparate ideas. The power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously. – From NY Times article “Is…
When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind. – Patrick Rothfuss, from “The Name of the Wind” Do you wish you could return back to childhood?…
What do you want to be when you grow up? I’m sure we’ve all heard this question before. How does it make you feel? It makes me feel uncomfortable and pressured to make a decision. It’s something that we may ask young children just for fun. You’re amused by their cute answers of: “I want…
I had the pleasure of attending one of Kensington Sinfonia’s concerts “The Contest Between Harmony and Invention.” The Kensington Sinfonia is a violin ensemble that performs all around Calgary and is led by Artistic Director, Donovan Seidle. Besides being an Artistic Director, he is also well-known in the music community for being the Assistant Concertmaster for the…
I’m proud to announce that Ronica Li is November’s Blogger of the Month! She was recognized for regularly posting high quality articles and always having a willingness to help out. I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with her and get to learn more about her. Besides being a part of YAA, she’s also involved in…
(Original Image) The Inspiration I’ve always had the tendency to contemplate the intricacies of the human condition and other deep questions about life, but I’ve had special interest as of late. I’m enrolled in the new Philosophy/World Religions course being offered in high school this year for the first time. I have to say, it…