As of now, the Syrian Refugee crisis has been the largest humanitarian crisis of all time. Leaving 7.6 million Syrians displaced from their homes, as the flee from violence and terror. In the wake of the horrible terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and Nigeria in the past week; more attention has been raised for the increasingly…
This picture was taken a year and a half ago when my family went to Europe over Spring Break. It was after midnight, yet our smiles as we stand in front of the Parisian landmark did not falter. It’s difficult to imagine bearing any other expression because the memories we had of Paris were of walking along the…
Most of us have dedicated time volunteering inside community centres, libraries, and other facilities. Some difficulties I find, as a youth especially, is transportation and time management during my full time school life. However, these difficulties are never an excuse to abstain from giving back to our communities. So, what are some easy and convenient ways I can volunteer…
I was hoping to write this before classes had even started, but as you can tell I have procrastinated once again with my posts on YAA. 61 days have passed since the first day of school and now here I am, writing an open letter to myself before being bombarded with the stress of January…
What do meeting cool people, making new friends, experiencing new moments, and helping others have in common? They are all things that are a result of volunteering! Volunteering is about so much more than just looking good on the resume — I can’t personally put into words how much being an active volunteer has…
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…
About a week ago, I had the honour of attending the Calgary Business Hall of Fame. The Calgary Business Hall of Fame is an event which takes place every year to celebrate Calgarians who’ve prospered in the business field. Each year, a select number of candidates are chosen to receive awards. Normally, tickets to this…
When I arrived at my school at 7 am this morning to catch the bus for We Day, an annual event in YYC that celebrates and inspires youth innovation, I was greeted with a hostility that made me wonder whether I had coffee breath, or someone had used my student ID photo on a poster for gonorrhoea. It…
My life is always going a thousand miles a minute; I can never seem to catch a break from the stresses of school and extracurricular activities. I find that the best way to combat this problem is by drinking tea and taking a nap. However, if there is one thing I’m learning to do these past…
{Source} To be completely honest, politics has never caught my interest the same way it does others. But what caused me (and you) to check hashtags and read articles regarding this election was the hype. We could never get away from it because promises upon promises were thrown at us everywhere we went. This is not a…
When I went to see the Annie Davidson opera, (check out my article here: https://youthareawesome.com/annie-davidson-opera-review/ ) I was also given the opportunity to interview Michelle Minke, the Creative Director of the Cowtown Opera. Before I met her, I did a quick Google search, and learned that not only is she the founder and artistic director of…
(Image Source) Every individual has their own journey, their own obstacles that they have had to overcome and their own share of successes too. While the present and future may seem overwhelming, it’s comforting to reflect on how far you’ve come. What lessons were you taught along the way and how have you grown as…
This poem was inspired by the desire to just write something after quite a long break from poetry. The process of applying for university can be overwhelming with everyone trying to offer their advice, wanted or unwanted. It is important to have a way to sometimes break free and that’s what this poem is about.…
Homelessness is a prominent issue, even in very developed countries such as our own. In 2013, there were at least 30 000 homeless people in Canada on any given night. You may think : “Well, it’s their problem. What could I do to help them?” Of course, you could donate food, clothing, and volunteer at…
This is Aaron Friesen. He lives in a rural town about an hour and a half east of Edmonton. Aaron’s been in a wheelchair since he was born, due to his cerebral palsy, which tightens the muscles in his legs. Ever since he was little, he wanted to be able to drive and be independent,…