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What’s Up With Marvel ANAD Conclusion

Mankaran Gill
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Throughout the past three ANAD (all new, all different) parts ( Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)  I have talked much about the curse affecting Marvel Comics and in this conclusion to this series I will go over everything I have said with some final words.

Event Fatigue

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A lot has happened since the last time I discussed events in Marvel, particularly more events being announced, however my overall statement still stands more or less. This whole problem started right after Secret Wars as we got Avengers Standoff, followed by Civil War 2, Inhumans versus X-men. With events such as Monsters Unleashed, Generations, Secret Empire and Resurrection also being added to that list. Granted that some of these are smaller and more like mini events however all this happened just over the span of one year! Not only this but the past year and a little was riddled with crossovers, mini series and much more! It has been one crazy ride in 2016 however it seems that this ride will not end anytime soon.

Diversification Way Too Fast

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Marvel has recently changed the entire landscape of heroes in their comics. It seems unrecognizable to many including fans who have been reading comics for some time. By diversifying the entire cast of heroes all at once and at such a rapid speed, Marvel is sacrificing many of their old characters to create new politically correct heroes. Many fans are complaining about how swift new characters, who have never appeared in comics before, become new heroes that took over the mantle of their predecessor’s series. We fans are complaining about how we don’t really know who these characters are and can’t relate with them. The characters have had no time grow and experience stories that define them and make them more human. While this is only one issue it is a problem that is prominent in many other stories and heroes right now.

Alienation

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This issue equally affects old readers as much as new readers and is an issue that needs to be addressed heavily. It is a fact that after the success and popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) kicked off, a lot of new readers flocked to comics to read more of their new favourite heroes. While it is true that the comic books were slightly altered to match their movie counterparts, however they were still the same heroes at their core. The most that was changed was their appearance and sometimes attitude. The team of Avengers in the comics in 2012 was more or less the same team as the movie The Avengers. The movies allowed readers to relate to the characters and be familiar with their personalities and gave them a sense of connection. However if someone was to go to an Avengers comic right now the current members (at the time this blog was written) consists of Captain America (Sam Wilson), Thor (Jane Foster), Spiderman (Peter Parker), Wasp (Nadia Pym), Vision and Hercules. Sound familiar? That leads me into the part of the curse.

The Final Conclusion

Even though it seems like we can’t do anything besides vent our anger and issues out onto the internet or some forum, all hope is not lost. All the issues I have talked about can be fixed however it won’t happen instantly. Changing the current course of Marvel Comics may take a couple months up to a few years, however it’s inevitable. Marvel realizes that we are done with all the events and starts to tone down the amount of events a year, they have even recognized the complaints coming in. Fans have been complaining and we are having an impact on the comics and their course. It has happened in the past before so it isn’t crazy to think it won’t happen again. All hope is not lost and we must endure these dark times until they have passed. While it does seem that there is no end to this madness in sight all we can do is hope.

Duke of Ed Silver Award Winner: Moira McRann

Ananya Arya
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Duke of Ed Silver Award Winner: Moira McRann

A young girl, from the rural community of Bay Tree, Alberta embarked upon a challenge that will soon come to an end. Moria McRann is a Duke of Edinburgh‘s silver award recipient and has made quite the name for herself. The Duke of Ed’s silver award ceremony is this April 28, 2017 and Moira will be honoured with other youth in Canada. Duke of Ed awards youth throughout Canada for their commitment to community service, skill development, physical activity, and exploring the environment.

Although I have not gotten the chance to meet this amazing young girl, I did have the opportunity to ask her about her life. I will tell you all about this active participant in her community and put a story behind this golden girl to find out how she does it all, what keeps her going, and what is behind her never-ending drive.

I love to keep myself busy, challenge myself and try new things, and this sounded like it was right up my alley.

Moira is a Grade 10 student, part of several clubs such as the 4H club, her school’s student council, and the RCMP National Youth Advisory Committee. Not only is she an active member of her school and her community, she takes on the chores at home, on her beautiful farm. She’s a busy girl day and night, with an inspiring drive to be better every day.

People often tell others that the world is their backyard, this girl takes it literally. When asked about her adventures and her hobbies, Moira considers the world to be her backyard, a place where she always has something new to learn.

I love to wander and explore new places. Sometimes I will take a picture of a plant or bird if I am unsure of what it is. I will go home and look in my plant and bird books to figure out what it is. I like to learn things like this because I like to learn about the world around me. There is always something new to discover in your backyard.

YAA: What inspires you?

MM: Whenever I want to start something new, I think about how it will affect me and if it can make me a better person. I start with an end goal in mind, and this goal encourages me to finish what I have started. I have been fortunate to meet lots of people who have demonstrated this for me and have been positive role models in my life. I am inspired by people who make a lasting, positive impact and are not afraid to be themselves.

Through my time in school, I discovered one of my role models, my teacher Mrs. Simmonds. Mrs. Simmonds is an incredible teacher and role model. She is friendly, supportive and holds her students to high expectations. Whenever you are feeling down or something is bothering you, she is always there to listen, give you a hug and help you with challenges you are facing. She makes me want to be the best person I can be. She always challenges and encourages me to reach my maximum potential.

I am inspired by the people in the community who give their time to make it a great place. Living in a small community, we need volunteers to make things happen. Giving back to my community is very important and there are many ways to do this. From helping a retired neighbour, volunteering for a group or organization or even giving back time to my elementary school, the possibilities are endless.

YAA: You talk about trying new activities –what might some of them be?

MM: I have been fortunate enough to try many new activities including piano lessons, public speaking, cross stitching, canoeing, and hiking. Activities like canoeing and public speaking have pushed me out of my comfort zone and have helped develop my confidence.

YAA: What do you like about living in a rural community?

MM: I like living in a rural community because there is a lot of extra space for hiking and trail rides with
my friends. I love having extra space for outdoor activities in my own back yard. I can go ski-dooing during the winter or quadding in the summer. With the extra space, we have lots of room for animals and our vegetable garden. One of my favourite activities is raising my 4H heifer. I enjoy halter breaking her, getting her ready to show and spending time with my extended family.

YAA: Do you have pets?

MM: I live on a small family farm, and I consider all of my animals to be my pets. I have a horse, a dog, four cats, a rabbit, two pygmy goats, six ducks, and we are expecting six chickens in the late spring. I also have two cows that live with my Dad’s herd.

I love to go for rides on my horse. There is nothing like finding a comfortable canter where my horse and I are in perfect harmony. This is when I feel invincible and happy. It feels like nothing can stop me and I can do whatever I want to.

YAA: What’s your favourite movie and why?

MM: My favourite movie would have to be 42, the movie about Jackie Robinson. I like this movie because he inspires me. Jackie grew up in a time and place where people were not treated equally and he was harassed and pushed around a lot. Even though it got hard and he felt like giving up on his baseball career, he never gave up. He was determined and he pushed through. This is something I admire in people; determination.

YAA: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced?

MM: One of my biggest challenges in life has been overcoming my shyness and trying new activities that take me out of my comfort zone. Participating in the Duke Of Edinburgh’s International Award and my local 4H club has pushed me to develop skills to meet new people, try new things and realize that I can do it, if I set a goal to reach. Another challenge is living in a small, rural community. My school days are long (my bus ride is one hour and thirty-five minutes one way) and by the time I get home, there is not a lot of extra time. I have to be very organized and have good time management skills to do all the things I want to do.

YAA: What has your best friend taught you?

MM: My best friend has taught me that hard work is always rewarding. We both struggle in different classes, so we help each other by sharing our strengths and supporting each other with our learning. We both work hard to earn the marks we want, and we encourage each other. She has taught me that facing challenges is okay, it only makes your success taste greater. She has also taught me that healthy relationships are important and rewarding.

YAA: What has been one of your most important lessons in life?

MM: One of the most important lessons in my life, that I can recall, was during a lecture my science teacher was giving us. It was right after we had written a math test and we were all a little stressed out to hear our marks. She told us not to worry so much and that the word “fail” stands for “first attempt in learning.” Even if we did fail that test, we could learn from it and apply that learning in the future. I think that this was a very important moment for me, especially because I am very hard on myself and I am academically driven. It reminded me that even when you “fail,” you learn especially when you take the time to reflect on what happened. I have continued to work hard in school but when I receive a grade I am not happy with, I am not so hard on myself. I take what I have learned from that failure, and I apply it to other things so I do not make the same mistakes.

YAA: What do you plan on doing after university?

MM: After completing my Education degree and a Masters in Speech Pathology, I would like to work in the school system or with children. I like working and interacting with kids, especially young ones. I had an amazing teacher and role model as I grew up, and I hope to be a person who can make a positive impact in children’s lives. I also plan to get my Leaders pin for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award so I can be a leader and give back to the youth of the community I live in.

This amazing girl is doing it all, making it big in her community and still staying true to who she is. She lives a very different lifestyle from most Calgarians which makes her perspective even more different than most people. She has already achieved so much and I hope to hear more of her in the future regarding such unique awards, volunteering achievements, and academic excellence. I am happy I got a chance to talk to her and get to know Moira, even if I was able to just scratch the surface.

Here’s a little more on the Duke of Edinburgh award program.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program was launched by Prince Philip in 1956.  The concept is based on the philosophy of personal empowerment of youth through community engagement.  The approach is to use working and volunteering within the community to build confidence, self-esteem, resiliency, and increased leadership capacity in young people.  It’s an approach that works.  From humble beginnings with marginalized youth from the east end of London in the U.K., The Award has expanded to 140 countries with over eight million participants worldwide, including 50,000 in Canada and over 6,500 in Alberta.

Any youth age 14 to 25, regardless of physical or mental abilities, social, economic, religious, or ethnic backgrounds, can participate in our program.  At every level of The Award – Bronze, Silver and Gold – and for every requirement – Community Service, Skill Development, Physical Activity, and Exploring the Environment – there is the opportunity to strengthen the participant’s community through their personal involvement and development.

The Award program offers the highest recognition in Canada for young people who meet their goals and challenges.  The Bronze Award is presented by local community leaders; the Silver Award is presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.  The Gold Award is presented to achievers by a member of the Royal Family or the Governor General of Canada.

The Flying Goose: An Original Short Story

Hafsah Syed
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I rested my head in my hands, leaning my forehead forward to rest against the small, cold bedroom window. My eyes were transfixed upon a goose against the dusky clouds, flapping its wings furiously against the rain that effortlessly worked to heave it towards the puddly grounds.

“You can do it,” I whispered under my breath. “Keep flapping.”

The rain did not cease, nor did the goose, but the goose didn’t move forward either. It was a static, gloomy scene. I broke away from the window, running my fingers through my hair, to realize that my bedroom had grown considerably dark. I walked to the light switch and flicked it on and off with no success.

“Mother, did the lights go off again?” I proceeded down the creaking stairs. “How am I to grade essays when there are no lights?”

Mother was sitting on her old, wooden chair, slowly hand-kneading dough for dinner. Ali sat beside her on the table cutting his toe nails. My mother looked up from her work with soft eyes.

“The generator,” my mother said under heavy breaths. “It’s behind my mattress in the room.” She paused for a second. “I’ll get it for you-”

“No need,” I sighed, “I’m going to Aarif’s house. I might be late for dinner.”

I swung around and opened the slate of wood which we had the audacity to call a door. I stood outside while buttoning  my coat, then hopped onto my bike away from the slums I called home.

Mother came at the door behind me, “Son, take an umbrella!” But I had already passed over the crosswalk and was racing towards- towards what? A blinding light crossed the sky and I lost my balance for a second. Towards someplace the sun shone. The wind pushed me forward and I stared straight ahead, ignoring the dilapidated buildings that slouched over me, as though cowering against the weather.

I reached Aarif’s. The rain was slow in this part of the city. My clothes were drenched, but at this moment, it didn’t matter. For years, Aarif’s house was my comfort place, with every book of his immersing me in worlds that I longed to explore. I climbed up the sturdy, newly-painted stairs and knocked on the door.

The door opened, and I was greeted by a warm, embracing hug from Aarif, “Haider! Come in.”

“I was going so fast on my bike, I almost passed your house. A few more miles, and I would have ended up in Istanbul, eh?” I chuckled.

“Yeah, that’d be a nightmare wouldn’t it?”

“What, why?” I refuted, “it’s a prosperous city. You yourself told me that Istanbul University’s library has perpetual rows of fascinating books that one can spend a lifetime exploring.”

“Did I say fascinating books? I must have meant isolating. I know, you’re going to argue with me until the sun goes down, but I’m going to stick by my claim. University does not guarantee you the brightest future.”

“You’re ridiculous” I said, sweeping the dust off the cover of one of his books, “I’d do anything to attend university, even if it meant getting run over by a car, ya know? I’d jump right onto the street if that’s what it took.”

“Well, it would be cool, the sight of a corpse attending a lecture on Shakespeare,” he laughed. He looked up at me, and his eyes widened and his smile narrowed, as though he’d just fully comprehended the truth of my conviction. The rain outside slowed almost to a complete stop, a faint pitter-patter only the sharpest of ears could hear. He put his arm around my shoulder.

“You finally are going there, aren’t you?” He asked smiling.

The corners of my lips rose, “5:45, tomorrow afternoon.”

I stood up poised and gently placed the book in the shelf, as though I was preparing to leave at any second.

It was almost midnight when I arrived home. Mother was sitting at the table, fighting the urge to sleep, when she stood and began walking towards me as I entered the house.

“Oh Haider,” she lowered my head with her frail hands, slowly planting a kiss on my cold forehead, “I’m glad you’re home safe.”

“You don’t always have to wait for me Mother,” I spoke, “I’m a responsible person.”

“Oh I know you are, my son,” mother coughed, “You take such good care of your brother and I. I just worry.”  

I slowly led my mother to the couch and seated her.

She continued speaking, “We need you to be here, with us, son. I speak in more than just financial terms.”

I looked away, pretending to have seen something outside the window. I walked over and reached out my index finger to touch the algid window pane. The cold sensation began to spread from my finger to the rest of my hand, and I jolted awake. I pulled my hand away and into my jean pocket for warmth, where my pencil rested.

“I’m going to go to sleep,” I muttered. I could feel my Mother’s gaze upon me, but I did not look at her. I walked towards the stairs, when I spotted a wooden bucket of rainwater glaring at me from the kitchen. It must have been the rain dripping from the ceiling.

“Yes, please put the bucket of water outside,” Mother said, looking in my direction. I trudged myself towards it and pulled it up. It had a hefty weight, but thank goodness I was strong. I bet Istanbul University doesn’t have leaking ceilings, I thought to myself and smiled.

It was raining again, but with more intensity than yesterday. The dark clouds shrouded the city, enclosing every part of the sky that could bring the town a sight of the warm, cheerful sun. I was walking home from the a long day of tutoring children, my tie nearly choking me and my drenched suit clinging to my body. I looked down on my cracked watch: 5:22. Nearly twenty more minutes until my travel to Istanbul would commence, where I’d live as a post-secondary student, not as a son. Where my obligations would solely be limited to studying, doing what I love. I reached my home and loosened my tie.

“Mother, I’m home. I just need to collect my suitcases and- MOTHER,” I ran towards the kitchen floor. She was lying idle on the ground, with her eyes barely blinking and her hands gone cold.

“Mother,” I repeated horrified, lifting her frail, light body onto the couch. She was alive. She was alive.

“Ali, go call the Doctor, quick!” I shrieked at my brother, who was jumping outside in the puddles. He ran towards the other side of the block, doing as he was told. I ran back inside, collecting blankets to warm my Mother in. I gently put the blankets on her, then paused to take a long look at her. Her face had grown so skinny and from the last time I noticed, the lines on her face had grown deeper. I held her hands. The once warm hands had become gilid, and the same sensation crossed my body as when I had touched the window pane last night. But this time, I did not pull my hand away. The rain was beating against the ceiling and window, trying to force it’s way through the house. She needs me, I convinced myself. She opened her eyes to look at me and softly smiled, as though she had read my thought.

The bucket was collecting rainwater again. I stood up, walking to the kitchen and carrying the bucket outside to empty it before the water reached the rim and overflowed. I put the bucket down outside, and strained my neck to see if I could spot Ali and the Doctor running in from across the block. There was no sight of them yet. I was turning around to return to my Mother when I spotted the red bus that was waiting for me to step aboard- waiting to take me to the place I dreamed of since I was a child: university. I turned around to face the bus; the red hue of the bus contrasted the grey, despondent atmosphere of all that surrounded me, and the rain drops just repelled off the bus, neither denting it nor weighing down upon it. My tie was heavy with the water, weighing down on my neck as though it was trying to pull me into submission. My wet fingers fumbled, trying to take off the tie or pull it over my head, but it was too tight. It was choking me, but at least I could still breathe. I grunted and threw it over my shoulder. I glanced down on my watch, 5:44. I still had the opportunity to leave. There, I would have no obligations, no responsibilities, just piles of incredible books and long nights with them; I ravished and beamed at the idea. I just had to walk across the street. Ali could take care of Mother, right? The Doctor would be here soon too, I thought to myself. I took a deep breath of the crisp, refreshing air, and stepped towards the crosswalk, the crosswalk that stood between the bus and I, when a honking car sped past me and I hurdled backwards into a deep, muddy puddle. I laid on my back, unable to collect the strength I needed to stand up again. I rested my head on the cold, stoned sidewalk, looking up at the sky to see if I could spot the goose that I had seen a few days ago, struggling against the force of the rain that pushed it towards the puddled grounds. It was no longer there. When I got up from the sidewalk, neither was the red bus.

 

Featured Image: Source

Tips To Deal With Post-Break Stress

RunLin Wang
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With spring break already coming to an end for students in the CBE and some other schools in Calgary having breaks ending in just a week, I’m sure that we’ve all experienced that post-break crash. We’ve settled into a very lax mindset, an altered sleep cycle (if you’re anything like me, that includes sleeping in until 10 AM), and we’ve gotten used to a lack of stress. Then, the night before the break ends, we begin to panic.

Assignments are due, tests are the next morning, and our lives feel like they are falling apart. Pens are scribbling, neurons are pumping, and printers are whirring away to finish those assignments on time. The fact that I begin to procrastinate and lose productivity during every longer break I have from school, and I perpetually need to cram everything into the night before I return, has become somewhat of a hazing ritual at this point.

Sometimes the work can just be too much.

Even more stressful is trying to immediately get back into the routine that you adapted to during the school year, but let go of during the break. It’s really tough, especially on those first few days back, to do things like wake up early, snap out of your grogginess and actually pay attention in morning classes, and so on and so forth. I began to wonder, are there better ways to adapt to these “post-break crashes,” as I call them? Here’s a bit of what I came up with.

 

  1. Never ever let your sleep schedule get out of hand

You could be this kid. Yes. It’s possible.

Yes, I know. There are Netflix series that need to be watched, friends that need to be Snapchatted, and time with family that needs to be spent. But never, ever, let any of these activities cut into your sleep schedule. Your body is used to preserving its usual sleep schedule, and for good reason.

 

While it may be tempting to stay up until 2 AM binge-watching “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and wake up the next morning around noon(ahem, not what I did at all), it has really detrimental effects on your sleep cycle and your body in general. If your sleep cycle is preserved when you head back to school, everything, ranging from attentiveness to mood, will be vastly improved.

 

  1. Plan your entire break

Always set up a plan for everything that you have to finish at the beginning of the break. It’s extremely helpful to know exactly what needs to be done, by when, and it also protects you from the world of procrastination by setting deadlines. See this video below for some more insight on handling procrastination!

This also helps you become more organized in general and ready for the transition back into the faster paced life of school!

 

  1. If all else fails and you are feeling stressed, talk about it.

If you’ve come to the end of the break and you find yourself stressed about going back to school, there is still one solution. Talk about it. You can talk to your friends, family, or even your teachers. More than often, they will lend a helping hand and understand your situation. Everyone has been in your situation before, so you are not alone! A sympathetic soul can help you out. This can help you relieve a tremendous amount of stress, and alleviate the strain on yourself as you try to get back on track.

Help is just around the corner! All you have to do is ask.

I hope that you found these tips helpful! Keep in mind that these don’t just apply to spring break, but for all long breaks from schools that we have. Always remember these three tips, and you’ll never experience a “post-break crash” again!

 

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Lessons From The Office

Tom Wang
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Two hundred and nine episodes of some of the most memorable, likable, and infuriating characters I have ever met, and we’re blessed with one of the most satisfying series finales. Along this journey it really felt like I met these characters in real life, it felt like I watched them develop and grow, it felt so real. Now if you haven’t finished The Office, first off, what are you doing reading this? Second, there will be spoilers… (duh), and third, go watch it and prepare yourself for some feels (although there is some explicit content).

No this ain’t a behinds the scenes image, this shot actually aired on the show

The Office is a TV reality show about a fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin and the employees of the company. This show is unique because it is a show inside a show. The “characters” of the show know they are being filmed for a documentary about the office and often talk to the film crew to reveal inner thoughts (like they do to people on reality TV). This intentional fourth wall break is an element that defines the show with constant stares into the camera and the monologues from the characters. In the ninth season, the fourth wall is broken in a different way and the documentary crew is revealed…

I won’t spoil too much but would this be considered a fifth wall break?

Something that jarred me when I watched The Office is the abundance of explicit jokes. Michael Scott, the Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch, often made inappropriate jokes topics ranging from Hitler, to homosexuality, to racism in America; the other characters have realistic reactions to his ill-timed jokes condemning them and as an audience I often reacted similarly thinking: “holy crap you can’t say that on TV.”  Really, I think the purpose of these jokes by Michael is to satirize the censorship of these topics. Michael makes very inappropriate jokes at inappropriate times, but at heart he means well and isn’t ever afraid of articulating his concerns. Many issues joked about are legitimate in America and maybe the use of comedy is a way for the producers to draw attention to them.

As the conflict rises to the peak in season nine, it resolved and many of the loose ends in the show are tied up. With this closure, two important lessons struck out to me. The first being the importance of being honest with yourself, and to do what you really want to do, not just what you’ve convinced yourself is for the best. The nature of the office usually includes a dead end job, and we see that from almost all the characters. Maybe some of them wish they could break out and really chase what they want… but rarely is that desire acted upon. The characters who we see are truly happy are characters who suppress their fear and chase what they truly want.

The second lesson is that there are beautiful memories in all the small and regular things in life. You don’t need to live an exciting life to create exciting and lasting memories. Through this journey we know as The Office, we have seen everything: strange, scary, funny, sad, and every imaginable emotion; we’ve seen all this happen in the small space of an office floor of a paper company. Not every environment is going to have a Dwight to bring porcupines to work, but at the end of the day it’s the small things that we treasure the most.

Here is a beautiful line from Andy Bernard who perfectly sums up this show.

 

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Event listing: Catalyst 2017

Lucy Han
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Passionate about health and sciences? Come out to Catalyst 2017 this Saturday – an event hosted by Project Pulse.

Project Pulse offers yearly conventions throughout Canada that seek to enrich and enlighten youth on the field of health sciences.

This organization holds conferences to help high school students create a valuable network with health professionals and university representatives. Mainly run by high school students, Project Pulse aims to be the catalyst that energizes success for high school students in Calgary through reinvesting energy and passion into the local community.

Medicine is a field that is often fuzzy, and Project Pulse offers students the glasses to clear up the picture.

Expect a combination of keynote speakers and professional panels consisting of a variety of speakers, each very inspiring and a great speaker within their respective field. The panels are designed to create a conversation-like experience for the student attendee, which allows the students to understand lesser-known options in certain fields with respect to university and leading a career. Additionally, it’s a chance to connect with various organizations from across Canada that will offer unique opportunities.

We want to ensure that all Calgarian high school students have an opportunity to attend and learn more about this field of study which can seem inaccessible to so many.

Event details

Date: April 8, 2017

Time: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Location: Libin Theatre

3330 Hospital Drive Northwest

Calgary, AB T2N 4N1

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/catalyst-by-project-pulse-calgary-2017-tickets-32109215528

To learn more, visit their website: www.projectpulsecalgary.ca

Or head to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/264442790627790/

Choosing a Post-Secondary Institution

Hui Wen Zheng
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It seems like as soon as you enter into Grade 11, questions such as “what are you thinking about for university?” and “what do you want to do in the future?” start popping up. As a Grade 12 student, these questions slowly morph from “where are you applying?” in September/October, to “HAVE YOU HEARD BACK FROM *Insert School Name* YET?1!/!” and “WHY HAVEN’T I BEEN ACCEPTED YET I’M A FAILURE AND AM NOT GOING TO GO TO UNIVERSITY” closer to around now. While these are just musings of insecure high schools students (hopefully), making the choice of where to go is not so simple. There are many things to consider and it doesn’t just start in Grade 12. As someone currently entangled in the vague process of endless applications, here are a couple of things I have learned from the process that have helped me come to a conclusion, as well as some things that I wish I had done.

Consider Distance

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While it is important to attend a post-secondary institution that excels in your interested field of study, you also have to place an emphasis on the environment you are going to be in for the next 4 years. If you are uncomfortable with the prospect of being separated from family, forcing yourself to go to school across the country for the program might not end up being worth it.

Consider Location

Every city has a unique climate, culture, and its advantages and disadvantages. It might also affect potential job opportunities and prospects in your field, and is what you will be immersed in in your downtime. It’s important to choose a location where you will enjoy living, and somewhere with opportunities for potential jobs and to expand on your interests.

Consider Cost

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This one is an obvious one. While everyone would like to apply to universities abroad, sometimes the cost is not worth it for a simple undergraduate degree. The increasing sentiment across applying students has been to save on their undergraduate degree, and invest in a post-graduate program instead, which ultimately matters more. However, in the end, the choice is your’s to gauge whether paying more for your education early on will be of considerable benefit to you. Think ahead when applying and save money by avoiding applying for universities you have no interest in going to and only apply to a couple you are invested in.

Consider Program

As you’ve probably discovered by now, your experience and success in classes depends largely on the teacher at the front of the room. That’s why the quality of certain programs will differ from school to school. While no one expects you to know which professors you are trying to study under for your bachelors degree (with the exception of performing arts), it’s important to take into consideration the strength of the institution for your major. It is the reason why Harvard is known for law and Waterloo known for computer sciences.

Consider Atmosphere 

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(x)

I’ve talked to enough people at this point to know that each university (even within universities!) has a different vibe and atmosphere, and the only way really to know what that is like and if you will feel at home there is by visiting the campus. I highly recommend taking some time out of your Grade 11 or early Grade 12 year to tour a couple of institutions you have been flirting with and getting to know the area before committing. This is definitely not a viable choice for everybody, however, and the next best thing would be to talk to a friend (or any non-recruiter) about their experience.

 

50 Things I’ve Learned in 100 Posts on YAA

Talia Santarossa
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In November 2013, I joined Youth Are Awesome and began a writing journey that I have never anticipated embarking on. I had friends from school who were bloggers here and I figured that I’d come out to a meeting and see what it was all about. Now, it’s three and a half years later and I’ve recently completed my 100th post. I’ve learned so much about writing, networking, and myself in general during my time at YAA, more than I could ever put into decently coherent words. That said, here are 50 little tidbits that YAA has taught me.

  1. Coming up with an original idea can be the hardest part of writing.

  2. Some days, you’ll end up staring at a blank screen before giving up on coming up with an idea and going on Facebook.
  3. You’ll probably end up resorting to a random post title generator at some point, which probably won’t be much help and just ends up wasting even more time.
  4. If all else fails, you can always recycle a Social Studies assignment (because pretty much anything written about Trump is relevant).
  5. Citing sources is important.
  6. Making sure that the sources don’t mess with your post’s aesthetic is even more important.
  7. The Oxford comma will haunt you until the end of your days.
  8. Reading other peoples’ writing helps you to improve your own.
  9. In time, you’ll eventually find yourself becoming a Grammar Nazi.
  10. People may occasionally get annoyed at you due to your Grammar Nazi tendencies.
  11. If fellow bloggers or classmates ask you if you could proofread their writing for them, the Grammar Nazi inside of you jumps for joy at the opportunity to critique without bounds. 
  12. Sometimes simpler is better.
  13. The first interview you ever conduct will probably be super awkward.
  14. This might make you dread subsequent interviews, but as you get more and more practice, you realize that it’s not so bad. 
  15. You still come to love phone interviews because you can wear sweatpants and sit in bed and not have to worry about looking “professional.”
  16. You will look back at your old writing and realize just how cringeworthy it is.
  17. In all honesty, I’ll probably look back at this list in a few months and wonder, “What was I thinking??”
  18. That said, your old writing may prove to be an insight into the person that you used to be…
  19. … And make you even more grateful that both you and your writing have matured over time. 
  20. People sometimes think you’re pretentious when you first mention that you’re a blogger.
  21. It’s only once they come to understand what you actually do that this myth is debunked. 
  22. Once people know that you’re a blogger, whenever something relatively interesting happens, they always tell you that you should write about it, even if it has nothing to do with what you normally write about.
  23. Sometimes they might even guilt you into it.
  24. On some very rare occasions, you’ll realize that their outside-the-box idea opened you up to something wonderfully unexpected.
  25. SEO is important, even if you don’t know what it is.
  26. Once you find a post style that you like, it becomes hard to write in any other form.
  27. It can take some serious experimentation, as well as trial and error, to break out of a stylistic rut and still be happy with the final product. 
  28. At the same time, developing a sense of consistency and continuity is still somewhat important. 
  29. Inspiration can come from the strangest places.
  30. That being said, lots of it will probably come from Pinterest.
  31. Even if you never read blogs before you started blogging yourself, you’ll find yourself reading several blogs religiously.
  32. In fact, you’ll probably have an entire folder of bookmarks on your Internet browser dedicated to the blogs that you follow.  
  33. You inevitably discover hidden gems in your own community through reading and writing local blogs.
  34. Covering events and doing reviews of local restaurants and businesses makes you realize just how much is going on in the community that you never realized, and makes you feel more a part of it. 
  35. Getting mentions on social media will always be thrilling.
  36. Especially when they’re from some random business from overseas (believe me, it happens!).
  37. At the same time, you develop a sense of awe toward people who manage to maintain an engaged social media presence once you realize how difficult it truly is.
  38. Recipe blogs are really difficult to write, especially if you have no photography skills.
  39. Even if you’re a decent photographer, unless you have an aesthetically pleasing place to stage your images, your results will still feel subpar. 
  40. You may have a great idea for a post, only to write it and not have it reflect your original vision.
  41. You might start writing something and leave it alone for a few days, only to reread it and realize that it makes absolutely no sense.
  42. It’s okay to sometimes give up on a piece when it just isn’t working out. 
  43. Failure is part of the process, even if it can be difficult to accept. 
  44. Getting your first media pass is a magical experience.
  45. Walking around an event and having people take you seriously is even more magical. 
  46. You gain a sincere appreciation for people who blog for a living.
  47. Starting a blog series isn’t a simple undertaking, and can take many tries to get a rhythm going. 
  48. Collab series are even more difficult, and can seem downright impossible to coordinate at times. 
  49. But once everyone is on the same page, new series have the potential to turn out pretty fantastic. 
  50. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, blogging opens you up to an amazing community, a community that I will be forever grateful to be a part of. 

Many thanks to YAA for making my blogging experience incredible!

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Youth Central’s 5th Alumni Profile: Kaiz Alarakyia

Kandace Peroramas
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Youth Central’s 5th Alumni Profile: Kaiz Alarakyia

Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Kaiz Alarakyia for Youth Central’s 25th anniversary celebration. Every two weeks this year, Youth Central will spotlight 25 alumni to reflect on their time spent with the organization, as well as to see what they have been up to since! I’m sure after you read about Kaiz below, you’ll be inspired to pursue future endeavors with the same passion as he has.

Kaiz volunteered with Youth Central from 2007 – 2010. He was a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC), Youth Week, Youth Are Awesome, Calgary Youth Foundation, and Youth Volunteer Corps. Kaiz was heavily involved in Youth Central and the lessons he learned and his experiences are things he can still recount.

“My time with Youth Central was one of my most memorable experiences during high school. I originally got involved in MYC after hearing about it from a friend who recommended it, but I had no idea how important that decision would be for the rest of my life.”

Through Kaiz’s meaningful time with Youth Central, he says he was able to get funding to help solve youth homelessness, sponsor student initiatives, volunteer at countless community projects, and overall “contribute to making Calgary and Canada a better place for everyone.”

Kaiz has now built a strong foundation through his work for a management consulting firm in Toronto, focused on large companies and corporations. Kaiz went to Western University for Engineering and Business, where he combined his passions with his desire to “make the world a better place.” This is especially seen through his service on the board of an educational non-profit outside of his work.

“None of this would be possible without the teamwork, leadership, and communication skills I practiced every day at Youth Central, or without the obligation of giving back to the community that Youth Central instilled in me.”

Grateful for his experience with Youth Central, Kaiz was happy to offer two pieces of advice to current volunteers:

“1) Use the wide range of programs and opportunities at Youth Central to explore what your passions are. Whether you’re interested in ethics, health, politics, or anything else, there is an opportunity at Youth Central to learn more and build experience in this area.

2) Meet as many people as you can throughout your time at Youth Central. There are so many incredible people there and so little time to meet them! Make sure to add them on Facebook and stay in touch because soon enough, it will be time to move on. You will want to stay in touch with the other motivated, intelligent, and passionate people you have met who will accomplish incredible things in the world.”

“I’m not sure where I will be in 5 or 10 years, but I do know that I will continue volunteering throughout my life. Youth Central has had an instrumental role in my life, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful organization.”

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂

Middle School: My Experience

Bhavana Vel
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Middle school is a… well, interesting experience, but nonetheless integral to one’s life. It’s something everyone goes through, at one point.

I’m about to be thrown into high school in less than six months. It really made me think, because here I am, in the 8th grade, 13 years old, and not prepared for it at all. I realized how much I’ve taken middle school for granted- going through every day quickly and carelessly without really cherishing them.

As much as I’d like to argue it: middle school could’ve been an amazing part of my life, but I’ll never get it back.

Middle school are the years when you place yourself. When you figure out who you are, or who you want to be, while at the same time gaining experiences from different things. You find a group of friends who really are friends and stick with them, rather than hang out with everybody. It’s a time for many where belonging and fitting in is more important than academics (which it really shouldn’t be).

The thing is, at middle school and especially my school, you can’t do anything without being unfairly judged. The words that everyone tells you, “just ignore them,” doesn’t exactly work. As far as anyone is concerned- middle school is the world and that’s it. Who’s wearing what and who’s dating who is apparently all that matters.

And the thing is, more than we’d like to admit, we’ve all grown up with each other- believe it or not. Some since kindergarten, and some joined the journey along the way. So, even if we did want to find new friends or hang out with a new group of people, they’re never new. You’re affiliated with every single person in some way: “She was in my 5th grade homeroom class” or “We didn’t get along back in the 2nd grade.” Yes, people still remember that one time when so-and-so stole your juice box when we were eight. But not only does this deter you from making new friends, this also makes everybody believe that they have the right to judge everyone on what they do or say, since we’ve all “known each other for so long.”

The fear of getting judged makes you overthink your outfit choices, how you present yourself, and even worse, your personality. Middle school is where it all starts.

But, to put it bluntly: I enjoyed middle school up until I hit the 8th grade.

Why? Because when I was in the 5th and 6th grade, I was still a kid. And I know, I’m only 13 right now, I don’t have much space to speak- but really. I was only 9-11 years-old and to be honest, those are the last years I had before I hit the awkward ones. Once I was 12 years-old, I was in that weird space between child and teenager and people always seemed to be treating me as one or the other, and I found myself impatiently waiting for my 13th birthday to come.

I regret this immensely.

Instead of just letting myself be a kid for that last year, I tried to rush into being 13. I’m now turning 14 in less than four months and I’ve realized that being 13 years old hasn’t been the fantasy I once thought it would be. Instead, I experienced my first heartbreak (don’t ask), had truly felt stress for the first time, struggled to keep my grades up, worried about my future, dealt with horrible rumours being spread about me, lost many friends, started having rocky relationships with some loved ones, all the while trying to find myself. As much as these things seem unconcerning to many, it’s tough to deal with this kind of stuff at 13.

There was a point where I dreaded going to school and begged my parents to let me stay home. But, there was also a point where I decided to just face whatever I needed to at school. A point where I got stronger mentally, and didn’t need to avoid going there for a few people who thought that spreading untrue rumours about me and this one other person would be their form of entertainment.

I found that a quote that said:

That is what motivated me to finish off my Grade 7 and 8 years.

To conclude this post, I’m going to say a cliché thing that’s spoken too often, but is quite honestly one of the truest statements to exist. Things do get better. Everybody goes through hardships. It’s up to you how you’ll deal with them, and how you’ll get through them. If you’re going through something, speak to someone, because fake happiness is truly the worst sadness.

Go to school. No matter how two-faced people are, how hard the work is: school is important. Focus on what matters most. Your family, your friends, your academics. Don’t get distracted by things that won’t matter in the long run.

All in all, I garnered experiences in middle school, experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. I reckon these will stay with me my entire life.

Dragon Ball Super

Claude Lu
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If you do not mind indulging in hours of anime over spring break, I recommend watching Dragon Ball Super. It is an action packed anime with constant fighting among elite fighters in different universes. Dragon Ball Super is considered by many anime fans to be one of the best anime series going on right now. There is 82 episodes in this series as of now so it is not too late to begin watching over spring break. The main character Goku is about to enter a multiverse tournament involving  7 other universes including his own in a battle royale styled competition. The team with the most remaining members wins the tournament. The winning universe is exempt from being destroyed leaving the destruction of the remaining 7 universes.

The story line in Dragon Ball follows as  a boy named Goku from a species of warriors is sent to Earth with the initial mission of destroying it. However an accident causes him to lose his memory and forget his evil intentions of initially coming to earth and he is found and raised by an old man named Gohan. He grows up with a pure-heart unlike his saiyan counterparts back in Planet Vegeta who are eventually wiped out. Goku embarks on a journey to find the dragon balls with a girl named Bulma. However on their journey, Goku ends up training with Krillin under Master Roshi for the annual World Martial Arts Tournament. Coming from a fighting race, Goku has always been eager to fight strong opponents and get stronger physically himself. This hunger for power strengthens Goku for the many challenges he faces as he protects earth from the brink of destruction. Goku’s thirst for more strength has led him to train under one of the most powerful warriors in the entire universe 7 Whis, Beerus’ guardian angel. Under Whis’ training and guidance, Goku has acvhieved a new form known as super saiyan blue that makes gods fear his strength. However 8 universes face the possibility of being completely eradicated in the next tournament and Goku has to assemble a team of elite fighters to fight in the multiverse tournament to avoid his universe from being destroyed.

The series as of now is quite thrilling as the tournament in the upcoming weeks will result in the mass destruction of many universes. All 8 universes fighting in the tournament are assembling the best of the best in terms of combat, in order to stand a chance of winning and be exempt from being erased by the Zeno, the King of the 12 universes. If the idea of tournament that puts the destruction of your entire universe on the line excites you, I would strongly recommend Dragon Ball Super for any anime or action junkies over Spring Break.

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The World of Words – Immerse Yourself

Hanbo Yu
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In the modern era of the 21st century where technological advancements are rapidly developing by the second, it seems inevitable that a major portion of the world’s population will be submersed in the whole sub-culture of social media and internet communications. However, despite the immense positive attributes that technology has brought forth to our world (i.e. closing the mass gap between people on two opposing planes of the Earth to allow for intercommunication), it is also apparent that the recent surge of technology usage has produced detrimental effects as well. Rates of addiction to social media and the internet has risen dramatically; both media sensationalism and desensitization to media violence have become realities in many parts of the world. At a time where information both real and false are flying at us at an almost incomprehensible rate, it is not difficult to become overwhelmed; to be left in the dust, utterly speechless and a tad bit more pessimistic about the world.

Sometimes, we all want to escape–perhaps just for a few minutes–from the world that we live in and for a brief while exist in another world, somewhere distant and far away.

In our modern day that can become at times overwhelming and over-demanding, books provide great opportunities for escapes, relaxation while at the same time allowing us to further ourselves and gain new knowledge and insight. In an analogous sense, each book is comparable to a galaxy, whereas while galaxies contain almost an innumerable quantity of stars, stardust, planets, and nebulae, books contain knowledge, information, questions, answers, and the such that cannot merely be measured using some numerical device.

If the Internet contains more information than we could ever need, why do we ever have a need to read?

To quote James Baldwin:

You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.

One of the quintessential questions of philosophy and life is about whether or not humans have innate morality (i.e. are humans born good or born evil.) Books, first and foremost, (particularly for fiction) addresses the question about human nature and life in some aspect, and makes real and highlights the various emotions and pains that people go through everyday. Unlike on the internet, where this more than down-to-earth depiction of human nature and life is not present as there are often veils of anonymity.

Incorporating the hedgehog analogy which contrasts humans to hedgehogs–where we all seek solace and comfort in companionship, yet because of the quills and needles that we possess, like hedgehogs–we will only end up causing one another pain if we get too close. By reading books, we further ourselves by understanding others on a more empathetic and humane level.

Furthermore, while the internet offers many breadth of knowledge, it does not contain the necessary depth of knowledge necessary for the improvement of our overall understanding pertaining to a certain subject and for us to ask more meaningful and insightful questions.

Among other benefits (e.g. the improvement of memory, critical thinking skills, vocabulary, discipline, and communication) books are a form of entertainment that is increasingly useful and wonderful in a technological and interconnected world. Books allow us to immerse ourselves in a world of words, realities that can be wondrous and melancholic. Like other “dead tree media” the medium which allow us to micro-adjust ourselves and our senses known as “books” may become increasingly obsolete in the coming years as we shift towards the digitization of human life, yet is becoming more important as time flies by.

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Riverdale: A show that is so cringey, it’s addicting

Nina Zhukova
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Undoubtedly, Netflix makes some great shows, like Stranger Things and the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, however Netflix isn’t without some questionable ideas. One of those being their new TV show, Riverdale, which is a cesspool of cringey cliches. Like an athlete who is torn between sports and his passion for music, and a rich girl who has to deal with being “poor” even though she can go clubbing, buy clothes online and live in a townhouse with a butler. While the show does bring recent social issues to light like slut-shaming and race, there are a fair share of scenes where it seemed like nobody even proof-read it.

Image result for riverdale tv show cringe

Don’t get me wrong though, it is a show my friends and I watch every week because it’s so cringey. Every episode there is a new way to cringe for example when Veronica thinks kissing Betty is somehow going to get them on the cheer squad. Or when Archie and Ms. Grundy start making out right in the school. It’s practically a fact that when a show is so bad it gets good again like Toddlers and Tiaras, Maury, Jerry Springer the Jersey Shore. Even Honey Boo Boo got her own show. Despite many people not even liking Here Comes Honey Boo because it got so infuriating, so many people still watched the show.

The same goes for Riverdale, one day I was watching it and making fun of it with my friends but now I count down the days till the next show and that is the highlight of my Friday. Is it hypocritical? Yes. Will I stop hating it and loving it at the same time? No. I will watch every scene of that show. Even though I ask myself a lot of questions on how anything is possible in that show like how do all the parents have a deep relationship with each other, how did all the parents have kids at the same time, why do all the parents keep living there if there are so many problems.

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Author Spotlight: Khaled Hosseini

Avanti Karkhanis
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When I first picked up Khaled Hosseini’s most famous book, The Kite Runner, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The book’s description was vague and gave no indication of what I would be reading, so I opened up the first page, and became immersed in the story. While reading, I found that I couldn’t put the book down. All day, I sat there, eagerly devouring every word. When I finally finished reading, I closed the book, stunned. This was a book unlike any other.

The Kite Runner was so different from anything else I had read because it was raw. Hosseini made no attempt to mask any of the unpleasant aspects of life in Afghanistan, and he certainly never shied away from it. However, there was no shock factor involved. When he explained about the Taliban, he did so in a matter of fact way. He wrote everything simply and honestly to develop empathy in the reader. At times, reading this story hurt because of what the characters had to go through and the situations they faced, but what hurt even more was that people around the world actually encountered the problems he described. It was a chilling look at the reality of others.

Although these characters lived in a world much different than mine, the struggles of the characters were universal. Hosseini explored themes of guilt, redemption and love through individuals that were both flawed and insightful. They weren’t always likable, and they were certainly not always moral, but they were human.

Khaled Hosseini is an author who brings his stories to life.  His books have rightfully earned their place in the world of great literature, and I cannot wait to see what this astonishing author has in store for us in the future. The next time you find yourself at Chapters, or the public library, please consider reading a Hosseini novel because they will take you on a journey you won’t soon forget, and open your eyes to another world.

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”

– William Styron

 

To learn more about Khaled Hosseini and his novels, visit http://khaledhosseini.com/

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Where Will Your Summer Take You?

Hui Wen Zheng
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Summer. A time to relax and be carefree from all of the stress of school and deadlines. A time to bask in sunlight and hang out with friends. A time for yourself. While the summertime has time for all of that, it is also the best time to engage in something worthwhile. As I’ve grown up, summer have become so much more than just me sitting on the couch and watching TV, rarely getting out of the house like I did in the summers of my Junior High years. In the summer between Junior High and Grade 10, I began volunteering with Youth Central and racked up over 100 hours in the course of the summer months. The volunteer projects I did gave me a sense of motivation, structure, and drive that prevented me from being that person who wakes up in the afternoon. In the summer between Grade 10 and 11, I worked a summer job as a clerical in an office downtown, where I was able to make money to support the brunch trips with friends and learned some valuable technical skills. Last summer? I went to SUNIA, and what I gained from that experience was above and beyond what I could’ve imagined from a week-long summer camp.

If you know me, you probably have heard me rave about SUNIA (Seminar on the United Nations and International Affairs). Essentially, it is a summer camp where you can learn about international affairs, gain perspective on global issues in fun and engaging ways, develop your Model United Nations and speaking skills, all the while enjoying all of the recreational activities that is the hallmark of a fun summer. In the course of the week, students get the chance to go on two separate hikes: one to the basin of Crescent Falls; a two-tiered waterfall, and the other to the peak of Mount Baldy; the highest in the area.

The camp itself takes place at the Goldeye Centre in Nordegg, Alberta, which is in the beautiful rocky mountain range. When I first signed up for SUNIA after hearing about it at HSMUN (also my first MUN conference ever!), I was fully prepared to be using outhouses and dirty showers all week. However, as soon as I arrived to the Goldeye Centre, I was greeted with clean, heated cabins, spacious bathrooms with plenty of shower space, might I stress the clean part here as well. I was also intimidated by the fact that I had barely had any MUN experience. I had no idea what a Security Council even entailed, and even less how to actually participate in a mock one. However, I was reassured by the fact that SUNIA is designed to accommodate for people of all different levels of knowledge, and in the week that I was there, I learned so much about government and politics that I felt completely prepared to debate on behalf of my country in the Security Council on the last day.

SUNIA also understands that you probably want to take a break from researching over the summer, and all of the learning is designed to be done out at the camp with unconventional teaching methods that will grab your attention. They also supplement the students’ learning experience by inviting two guests who work at the United Nations in New York City to come in and spend the week alongside us. I was able to have a ton of eye-opening conversations with the UN guests over dinner, on hikes, and at the floating dock by the lake.

What I took away from SUNIA was so much more than just fun times and new knowledge on international affairs. I ended up learning so much about myself from the experience, which you can read about here. I loved the experience so much, that I joined the group of 14 staff members who make the magic happen this year and I am looking forward to providing students with the same positive experience I had when I went to SUNIA.

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SUNIA Staff 2017

Registration for the camp is now open at sunia.ca, where you can also learn more about the program itself and the rich, 60-year history behind it. There are tons of scholarship and bursary opportunities that you can apply for to assist you in attending the camp, and our non-profit organization aims to make sure all who want to attend get the opportunity to. There are two different weeks you can choose between to attend to better accommodate your summer plans. What will you make of your summer? Hope to see you at SUNIA!

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