Our Bloggers

Youth Are Awesome is a blog written by youth for youth. Our Calgary-based youth volunteers contribute to the blog. These youth are the decision-makers. They are at the forefront of design, implementation of ideas and maintenance of Youth Are Awesome. They range in age from 12-18 years old and come from every quadrant of the city, bringing a unique view and style to the site.

Meet our bloggers:

Amy X

Amy X

An imaginary Ravenclaw, Amy chose her house solely based on her favorite color; she is content with such rigorous logic, just like how she loves detective novels. Sherlock Holmes with his accent is the most attractive to her, nonetheless she deliberately makes herself thirsty for more awe-dropping murder mystery schemes.

Areej C

Areej C

YAA2024-25

Hi, I'm Areej, a 15-year-old in 10th grade who absolutely loves to write! My world revolves around addressing conversations about social issues that we, as a society, should explore. I firmly believe in the power of words to inspire change and educate society, encouraging each person to shape their perspective.
With roots stretching to Pakistan, I've been fortunate to experience diverse cultures and viewpoints that enrich my writing. My goal is to shine light on important information while still having fun!

Avy G

Avy G

YAA2024-25

My name is Avy G, and I am a blogger for "Youth Are Awesome!". Currently, I am in the eighth grade and attending the STEM Innovation Academy. I have a passion for playing both badminton and volleyball. In my spare time, I take pleasure in reading, journaling, and engaging in sports activities with my family and friends. I also find first-person writing to be particularly engaging, both in terms of writing and reading. Additionally, I appreciate the formality of writing when addressing issues or conveying information.

Bowen Z

Bowen Z

YAA2024-25

Hey there! I'm a grade nine student at Calgary Academy. You can often find me playing pick up games at my local basketball court and spending time in the school band room. I usually spend my time as a blogger to share experiences and learn more about the topics I am interested in. Feel free to share any stories with me or comment on my posts!

Chicken Feet

Chicken Feet

YAA2024-25

Hello. I'm someone who did not enjoy reading and writing for much of my life because school made me feel like I was being forced to read and write. A change of perspective made me realize that reading and writing is not as annoying as it seemed; it is rewarding and sensational. Through my blogs I hope to be able to convince you that your thoughts and feelings on any topic can change in a positive, provocative way, just as how I changed my perspective on reading and writing. No, I am not a chicken with chicken feet.

Artwork of a Clock with Swimmers as the numbered positions

Crystal Lattice

YAA2024-25

I am intrigued with chemistry and physics, and loves to look deeper into these topics. Enjoys reading, volunteering, and spending time with friends in their spare time. Naturally curious and passionate over things that are new and seemingly cool. My favorite color is blue and my favorite season is summer.

Daniella

Daniella

Hi, I'm Daniella, a blogger for Youth Are Awesome. I enjoy sharing insights on STEM, current events, and entertainment. In my spare time, you can find me drawing, reading, listening to music, or sleeping. I hope you enjoy my writing!

Diva N

Diva N

YAA2024-25

Hi! I'm Diva, a writer with dreams of learning every language, reading every book, visiting every country. However, these aspirations are big and there's so little time (especially with the amount of tests)
I'm trying my best though, apart from English I can speak four languages! Alongside speaking Urdu, I'm fluent in French and I try to write in Hindi (though my attempts might bring a chuckle), but if you need someone to narrate a play or give a speech, I'm your girl!

I enjoy reading, a few of my favourite authors are Franz Kafka, Albert Camus and Shakespeare. I love writing, and will write about anything of interest, from social issues and advocacy to analyzing pop culture trend and cultures.
I want my writing to feel like a starlit conversation, intricate and personal, inviting readers to ponder the theme at hand, and contemplate the universe with me. I hope many young minds will join me on this literary journey and navigate the complexities of the world together!

Diya K

Diya K

YAA2024-25

Hey everyone, my name is Diya. I love playing tennis and learning about pretty much anything science related. I really like writing fan-fictions and about science-y topics such as biotechnology. My favorite subject is science (as you can probably tell), and ironically, my least favorite is L.A. So that's a bit about me.

Elizabeth R

Elizabeth R

YAA2024-25

Hey! My name’s Elizabeth! I come from a very diverse family, my mother is Filipino and my father is Caribbean. I grew up here in Alberta, Canada for my entire life. Some of my interests include volleyball, music, volunteering, and more. I spend most of my time at school, Church, and the mall. One of my favourite hobbies is shopping, some may say I’m a shopaholic but I truly find comfort in shopping.

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Faith

YAA2024-25

Faith is a passionate writer and aspiring teacher. She enjoys reading and writing, whilst immersing herself in different worlds and cultures. Faith is an advanced athlete, being a team captain in Rugby and a strong ballet dancer. As a dedicated leader, Faith hopes her words and actions inspire and empower others.

Hafsah A

Hafsah A

YAA2024-25
Hannah L

Hannah L

YAA2024-25

Hi readers, I'm Hannah! Along with being a devoted bookworm, I harbour a deep passion for writing. Through digestible, thought-provoking articles, I aim to spark curiosity amongst youth and empower them to deepen their understandings of the world. From opinion pieces on niche hobbies to educational articles exploring global issues, I hope that each and every one of my posts offer new insights to Youth!

Photo of Hanrong Y

Hanrong Y

YAA2024-25

Hello everyone, my name is Hanrong Yu, and I am very excited to be a blogger for Youth Central's Youth Are Awesome. This is a way to express my thoughts and feelings and to empower other individuals with the tool of communication. I am currently a high school student in Calgary, Canada. During my free time, I like to read, cook, and walk outside to connect with nature. I love the cold days and winter, and visit the mountains whenever possible.

Harleen B

Harleen B

YAA2024-25

I am described as adaptable, capable, and organized. I strive to deepen my understanding of the world through classical literature, meaningful conversations, and personal reflection. In my free time, I enjoy working out, playing rugby, and setting personal goals for self-improvement. As a writer, my aim is to learn and share insights on political and economic dilemmas, with the hope that my articles help today's youth gain a better understanding of our world in under 5 minutes.

Jeanne Y

Jeanne Y

YAA2024-25

Hi readers! I'm Jeanne, a junior editor and blogger. I'm in Grade 11 and I like to listen to epic rock music while doing mundane tasks, such as brushing my teeth, doing my homework, and cleaning my room.

Just kidding. I never clean my room.

I enjoy playing the violin, swimming, petting kittens, and mentally writing random little stories about my life. I'm also fascinated with the science of language and how communication works. I'm an avid advocate for the power of youth in our society, and I believe that youth can do amazing things when given the chance. For that reason, I encourage you to keep reading and I hope you enjoy!

Jianna H

Jianna H

YAA2024-25

Hello readers! My name is Jianna and I'm a writer who loves uncovering the secret joys of everyday life and surrounding myself with the arts. I play the pena, guitar, drums, and sing, I also enjoy drawing and painting in my spare time. Most days, you can find me rewatching episodes of The O.C., cuddled up with my crusty white dog (whom I adore) while sipping an iced chai latte.

As a writer, I’m all about the uncharted, whether it’s a newly discovered species of fungi or the latest rising rock band. I hope you enjoy my blogs!

Justin S

Justin S

YAA2024-25

Hi, my name is Justin. I like to volunteer at local events try out new things and pursue various interests. I enjoy playing games hanging out with friends and participating in my community when I'm not too busy with school. I write about subjects that I find interesting such as interesting local events or everyday experiences. Making relatable and interesting content that inspires others and fosters creativity.

Kheta

Kheta

YAA2024-25

I'm Kheta, a Grade 10 student passionate about creativity and self-expression. Dance has been a significant part of my life, especially Indian Classical, which I'm currently pursuing in a seven-year course. In my spare time, I love playing badminton, painting, and diving into various genres of books—my journey began with A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. I also enjoy math and believe in the power of youth to drive change. As a blogger for Youth Are Awesome, I aim to amplify my voice and inspire others through my writing, sharing insights that resonate with my peers.

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Mahnoor A

YAA2024-25

“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” This timeless quote could be deemed both good or bad, or even both, based on its context—or maybe not..?
Mahnoor Altaf, an aspiring novelist who aims to pursue a future career related to neuroscience, seeks to answer these thought-provoking, or rather intrusive, questions that many youth like herself tend to encounter, whether it be through exploring scientific topics, diving into historical dilemmas and conspiracies, or exploring current issues related to youth, along with offering advice and/or solutions. Mahnoor strives to use her writing as a space for youth to learn, and connect in an engaging manner.

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Maryam

YAA2024-25

Hello my name is Maryam! I go by she/her and I'm excited to get into blogging! I'm going to grade 8 and I'm an Aquarius born on January 30th! My personality type is esfp-t looking to find my twins out there!! haha 🙂 And of course besides that I love doing almost anything. Reading books, drawing, playing games, going outside, and laughing to funny youtube videos. I'm curious to see what you guys like to do! And i really hope we all get along and have a good time since I'm looking to learn about others and make lots of new friends!

Maya M

Maya M

YAA2024-25

Hey guys! My name is Maya 🤍
mx|ca
“You can't pour from an empty cup, take care of yourself first” ☕️🧘‍♀️🌊🪷
I love to journal and travel! My interests include politics, philosophy, and foreign policy. I love giving self-care techniques and strategies to my peers! I love talking about the importance of mindset and prioritizing your mental and physical well-being before anything else. The reason I love to journal is that it is the best coping mechanism I have found can effectively allow me to reflect on my emotions. So what What is your self-care goal? My goal as a writer is to offer insightful and resourceful information on how we can understand ourselves as thinkers and how we can ensure health mental and physical well-being! Through my writing also hope to express my advocacy for neurodiversity and educate readers on neurodivergent communities and individuals, and how we can empower new and diverse ways of thinking!

Natalie R

Natalie R

YAA2024-25

Hello! I'm Natalie, a Grade 10 student at Crescent Heights High School. This is my second year with Youth Are Awesome and going on fourth with Youth Central. I am excited to continue to share my thoughts, ideas and stories! I have always been an avid reader and writer, and in my free time, I enjoy anime, music, knitting, and collecting an absurd amount of notebooks that I will never use. As a blogger, my goal is to spread diverse perspectives, talk about the things worth talking about, and fight for the things worth fighting for!

Photo of Natania

Natania V

Born with a pen in one hand and a notebook in the other, I am on a mission to explore the ever-evolving world of youth culture, share their unique insights, and connect with young minds from all corners of the globe. With an insatiable love for writing and a keen eye for what makes the young generation tick, I hope to become a voice of our generation.

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Riley J

YAA2024-25

Hi, I'm Riley! I'm 14 and raised in Calgary, Alberta. I am highly passionate about making a difference in my community. When not playing squash or trying out new cookie recipes, I am always active and up for trying something new. Apart from my interests, though, I love supporting the health and wellness of our community. I look forward to sharing my experiences and insight in this blog on life, technology, and everything else!

S.R. Spencer

S.R. Spencer

YAA2024-25

My name is Shay, I’m a 12 Student at Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School, passionate about economics, history, social studies, politics, writing, and astronomy. Currently an executive at my school’s debate club, and Calgary’s “Mayor for a Day” 2024. I hope to engage in thoughtful and productive discussions through the medium of journalism and writing here.

Suha A

Suha A

YAA2024-25

Hi, I'm Suha! I'm a huge bookworm and enjoy writing/ranting about my favourite books. In my free time, I enjoy playing the piano, dancing, posting on my book blog, listening to music, and organizing my Pinterest. I've been getting into painting recently, and I also love to volunteer. If you need a good book recommendation, I got you 🙂

Sukrutha in front of mountain

Sukrutha J

YAA2024-25

My name is Sukrutha Jambur Sachin and I am a grade 10 student. I like to involve myself in different hobbies like singing, playing the piano, reading, volunteering, and writing. Writing is a medium of expression to me, and I feel that every word has its unique place in my writing. I believe that my writing is at its best and is strongest when I write from my heart and write about what matters to me. As a blogger for Youth Are Awesome, I strive to amplify my voice and make it heard to several youth around the world as well as fulfill my responsibility as a blogger who wants to create blogs and content that several youth can connect with and relate to.

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Thi

YAA2024-25

Hello! My name is Thi, and I’m 15 years old. I’m thrilled to share my thoughts and experiences here, and I’m glad you’re reading!

A bit about me: One of my favorite things to do in my free time is play the piano. I’ve been playing since preschool, and it has truly become a part of me! I love all kinds of music and instruments, and I’ve always wanted to learn the violin and cello. I also enjoy painting with watercolors, particularly portraits.

Reading is another passion of mine, and recently I’ve really been into historical fiction. It captivates me! My biggest dream is to become a neurologist when I get older, as I find it fascinating how our brains are capable of so much.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them!

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Valeria Z

YAA2024-25

Hey all! My name is Valeria, though most people call me Val. I’m a Grade 9 student at Louis Riel School and also an avid reader for adventure and fantasy, along with biographies and memoirs. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me, especially on topics I care about. Some interests of mine include synthetic biology, genetic engineering, human longevity, and finance. Outside of academics, I play competitive basketball, table tennis, piano, and singing. I also love horses! Fun fact: I share my space with three hermit crabs who constantly keep me on my toes 🙂

Ytisilef

Ytisilef

YAA2024-25

My name is Felisity 🙂 I am Christina Yang's biggest fan, I think she's an absolute icon and I aspire to be as brilliant as her in my field. I love writing, particularly creative stories and I love reading as well! Currently on the hunt for books similar to forget me not by Alyson Derrick (if you have recs lmk!!)