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Clowning Around

Mankaran Gill
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Clowns are meant to be funny but for me they have never been, they’ve always been annoying and unsettling. However, recently they have increased to a level of absolute fright and terror. Why, you might ask? In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months there have been sightings, clown sightings. While that might not seem like much on paper these sightings are truly terrifying and sometimes lead to the police being involved.  Let’s dive into a little bit of backstory and madness this new trend has been stirring up!

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

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This trend started late summer in Greenville, South Carolina , when reports of a clown (or 2) near apartment buildings had come in. They were apparently attempting to lure children into a house in the woods… within a mere 5 days another report of a clown attempting to lure a child into the woods was filed in North Carolina. This sparked a new trend across America as more and more clowns started to appear. This new trend spread to other countries across the world, including Canada, the UK,  Australia and Sweden among others. This trend has escalated to some saying that some clowns have been arrested, chased some with weapons or even murdered! There have been many hoaxes claiming that clowns have murdered entire groups of people. To recap this trend is worldwide and there have been well over a dozen sightings, hoaxes, while more just seem to be arising.

BACKLASH

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Ever since this trend started the police have been working harder to deal with the incoming calls of sightings. Some clowns have been fined, charged and even arrested in different parts of the world for various reasons. There have been some schools who have had to go into a lock down due to a sighting in the area, while other schools have banned clown costumes for Halloween celebrations. Some large companies that manufacture Halloween costumes have gone on to stop making clown costumes this year. This trend has even caused some to take their own security into their own hands- some people have even suggested purchasing paintball guns to defend themselves! Others suggest a more lethal approach like a pistol or other life-threatening weapons. While this may seem extreme it isn’t even the most outrageous thing people have done so far against these clowns! There have been mobs, yes mobs, of people that have chased clowns after sightings. These mobs have ranged from 30 to 500 people, consisting of students and strangers among other people. (DO NOT try this, if you see a clown call the police, they could be armed and hostile.)

CONCLUSION

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That’s all you need to know about this trend so far and what’s been going on. I am hopeful that this trend of clowns dies down after October and the passing of Halloween, for, if it lasts any longer it could really spiral out of control.

A Playlist for Every Month! (you’re welcome)

Hilary Guo
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Music is probably the best gift that has been given to mankind. It’s awesome because no matter who you are and where you are in the world, music is there with you. I owe a lot of the good things that has happened to me to music. And I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for new songs to listen to.

If for the past few days you’ve been like, “AH! I DON’T KNOW WHAT SONGS TO LISTEN TO,” this is your holy grail.

Behold, 12 playlists for the 12 months of the year! You can listen to these while you’re working, reading, cleaning, etc, etc. Oh, you’re welcome!

‘CEC’ = CONTAINS EXPLICIT CONTENT

January:

  1. Where Do Broken Hearts Go – One Direction
  2. Dollhouse – Melanie Martinez (CEC)
  3. Hello, Brooklyn – All Time Low
  4. I Miss You – Blink-182
  5. Fallout – Marianas Trench
  6. Dog Days Are Over – Florence + the Machine
  7. How to be a Heartbreaker – Marina and the Diamonds

February:

  1. Roman Holiday – Halsey
  2. Team – Lorde
  3. Chocolate – the 1975
  4. Circles – Machineheart ft. Vanic
  5. You’re Nobody ’till Somebody Loves You – James Arthur
  6. This is Gospel – Panic! at the Disco (CEC)
  7. 18 – Anarbor (CEC)

March:

  1. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World
  2. Hey There Delilah – Plain White T’s
  3. Sugar We’re Going Down – Fall Out Boy
  4. Good Riddance – Green Day
  5. Pretty Girls – Britney Spears ft. Iggy Azalea
  6. Change Your Life – Little Mix
  7. Tilted – Christine and the Queens

April:

  1. Pumped Up Kicks – Foster the People
  2. Bruises – Chairlift
  3. Stockholm Syndrome – One Direction
  4. Therapy – All Time Lows
  5. Adam’s Song – Blink-182
  6. Super Rich Kids – Frank Ocean (cec)
  7. Little Things – Good Charlotte (cec)

May:

  1. The King and All of his Men – Wolf Gang
  2. Never Enough – Scavenger Hunt
  3. Disconnected – 5 Seconds of Summer
  4. If These Sheets Were States – All Time Low
  5. In the Shadows – Foreign Air
  6. First Date – Blink-182
  7. Boomerang – The Summer Set

June:

  1. Five Minutes to Midnight – Boys Like Girls
  2. Good Girls – 5 Seconds of Summer
  3. Taxi Cab – Vampire Weekend
  4. All The Small Things – Blink-182
  5. Art of War – We the Kings
  6. Ain’t it Fun – Paramore
  7. Search Party – Sam Bruno

July:

  1. Infinity – Against the Current
  2. London Queen – Charli XCX
  3. Jackpot – Jocelyn Alice
  4. Shake it Out – Florence + The Machine
  5. No Control – One Direction
  6. I Feel Like Dancing – All Time Low (CEC)
  7. Stacy’s Mom – Fountains of Wayne

August:

  1. No Drama Queen – Grouplove
  2. Beverly Hills – Weezer
  3. Girls Talk Boys – 5 Seconds of Summer
  4. HeavyDirtySoul – Twenty One Pilots
  5. The Rock Show – Blink-182 (CEC)
  6. New Americana – Halsey
  7. Stay Stay Stay – Taylor Swift

September:

  1. – 5 Seconds of Summer
  2. Great Summer – Vance Joy
  3. Teenagers – My Chemical Romance (CEC)
  4. Pokemon Theme Song
  5. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
  6. How ya Doin’ – Little Mix
  7. My Friends Over You – New Found Glory

October:

  1. I Write Sins Not Tragedies – Panic! At the Disco (CEC)
  2. Man Overboard – Blink-182 (CEC)
  3. Crybaby – Melanie Martinez (CEC)
  4. The Judge – Twenty One Pilots
  5. Here’s to Never Growing Up – Avril Lavigne (CEC)
  6. Gives you Hell – All American Rejects
  7. I’m Afraid of Britney Spears – Live On Release (you can only find this song on youtube)

November:

  1. Night Changes – One Direction
  2. That Girl – All Time Low (CEC)
  3. Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
  4. Still Here – Drake (CEC)
  5. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
  6. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus (CEC)
  7. Still Sane – Lorde (CEC)

December:

  1. Last Christmas – Taylor Swift
  2. Always – Blink-182
  3. Colors – Halsey
  4. This Town – Niall Horan
  5. Made In The A.M– One Direction (CEC)
  6. I Want What You Have – Willamette Stone (from the “If I Stay” soundtrack)
  7. In Too Deep – Sum 41

Pictures are from http://astronautette.tumblr.com/ !but all edits are mine!

Living Beyond Our Tiny Bubbles

Hafsah Syed
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Nature spent hundreds of millions of years piecing together the rock I sat on, carving the path for the river to flow through, planting seeds for the acres of thick, luscious forests… just for us to be able to take nice pictures…?

Many of us live in a small realm of the world, where our individual pursuits and thoughts are often limited to ourselves and materialistic ideas and items. Who said what and wow, did enter name here really do that- a lot of our conversations consist of not silly, but nonsensical topics, holding true for many cultures around the world. Why do we waste even a minute of our lives sticking our noses in other people’s lives? Why are we often intrigued by shallow and irrelevant topics?

When your thoughts are confined to a number on your report card, your bank balance, your closet, or listening in on the lives of others, those are the lenses through which you’ll see your life- life is merely how we individually think of it.

When your thoughts are confined to a number on your report card, your bank balance, your closet, or listening in on the lives of others, those are the lenses through which you’ll see your life- life is merely how we individually think of it.

Ever wonder why people are always trying to find “love” or why that seems to be the only thing poets write about? People find solace in ideas that are bigger than themselves– ideas that offer unlimited space for them to wonder and explore and open doors of hope for them, regardless of what various living circumstances they might be experiencing.

Can one argue that people who are constantly living in these “big ideas“, such as ideas of everlasting love or the belief in the American dream for example, are actually living in a bubble they’ve created with their imagination? Seeing life for not what it really is, but for what they think it is? Realists that claim to see life for what it is, usually objective views of their living conditions and life around them, can one argue that realists too are living in a bubble confined to shallow, unexplored, or materialistic ideas and measures of life?

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It’s remarkable how every lump of meat in our heads will answer these questions differently. Never underestimate the power of the lump of meat in your head.

More importantly, never stop challenging and exploring questions and ideas, even if you think you’ve found your answer(s) to them.

 

Starbucks Green Cup Controversy: Take a Chill Pill

Talia Santarossa
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After the backlash surrounding Starbucks’ holiday cup from last year, which featured no holiday or Christmasy imagery, patrons are freaking out again over what many thought was the new 2016 design. Being called out as an attack against Christmas, and by extension, Christian tradition. Do people really have nothing better to complain about?

First and foremost, the whole ‘attack on Christmas thing is a bunch of garbage. Starbucks has never identified as a Christian company, nor has it ever endorsed Christian values as such. Therefore, the notion that changing the colour of the holiday cup is some affront directed at Christmas is ridiculous. We live in an age where political correctness is sometimes blown out of proportion, and given the history of the Starbucks holiday cup, even bringing it into the conversation is a laughably radical response. All previous holiday cup designs have only included generic holiday symbols and the company has never made any reference to Christmas in relation to the cup.

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I can, however, understand a small amount of frustration surrounding the change of colour due to a change in Starbucks tradition. If you’re a faithful Starbucks customer who looks forwards to the iconic red cups every holiday season, sure, a small groan is perfectly acceptable. Just don’t take to social media and start making unsolicited comments that no one really wants to see.

i-peeked-imgurThe best part of this story in my opinion is that, get this, the green cup isn’t even the holiday cup, and yet, people are still freaking out over it. The green cup, which features “a mosaic of more than a hundred people drawn in one continuous stroke,” was released as a sort of pre-election cup down in the States, what with all of the political and social division going on down there right now. In a recent press release (that you can read in full here) the cup’s purpose was to, “represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers. […] Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other.” Never was it called the holiday design or was the much-anticipated holiday cup even mentioned. Images of the boxes supposedly containing the real holiday cup have cropped up over social media, even with one apparently too-curious employee possible leaking a pic of this year’s red (joy to the world) cups, which will enter into circulation on November 10th.

Overall, all of this controversy seems to nothing but a big misunderstanding that was blown out of proportion by people with nothing better to do than to complain over something completely inconsequential. To all of the disgruntled Starbucks customers out there, if the green cup seriously bothers you enough for you to rant and rave about it, it’s time to revive #firstworldproblems because you clearly have no bigger issues in your life or that you can observe in the world around you to devote your energy to.

Image Sources [x] [x] [x]

A Transparent Veil: An Original Poem

Hafsah Syed
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The blazing sun dips beneath clouds of gold

Upon the departure roar ocean tides

And the moon slowly rises to behold

The world’s vast skies and magnificent vibes.

The night darkens to unveil brilliant stars

To bring about a cool breeze to my heart

Healing comes forth, mending deep, bleeding scars

For the night, sorrows and I grow apart.

Whispering and soft breezes captivate

My ears and lungs as I lie in relief.

Soon the great skies given to fascinate

With ease the red sun awakes to retrieve.

That beheld by nature I contemplate

Ponder in awe upon my given place.

Featured Image: Source

A Change of Heart: The 1975 Concert Experience!

Kandace Peroramas
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A Change of Heart: The 1975 Concert Experience!
There are bands, and then there are bands. You know, the ones that understand you and are your go-to for a musical pick-me-up? Yeah, those bands. Once in a blue moon, even, those bands perform in your city during their tour. And that’s how it all starts.

The 1975 is an English rock/synth-pop/indie/alternative band that began to really appear in the music scene when their first and self-titled album, The 1975, released in 2013.

Calgary, excitingly, was part of their North American tour for their new album that came out this year, I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It.

Knowing I was going to see one of my favorite bands took this concert to another level. So much so, I kid you not, my friends and I stood in line at the Grey Eagle Event Centre at 7 AM for an 8 PM show. Call us crazy, but the 13-hour wait was worth it.

After spending the whole day in a line up, studying, doing homework, eating, singing along to the band’s songs, and almost getting to meet them when their tour bus arrived, it was finally 7 PM. Since my friends and I were one of the first 100 people in line, we got to go inside the venue 5 minutes before everyone else. This was to our advantage as we got as close to the band as we could: front row, right against the barricade. Being so close to the stage, I finally realized that this was happening. After months of counting down, this was actually happening.

After waiting another hour, The 1975’s opening act, 070 Shake, a New Jersey-based artist, played a 30-minute set.

She and her DJ got the crowd pumped with songs about love, rebellion, and being yourself. While her music was personally not my favorite, we could tell how passionate she was and supportive of the band she was opening up for.

It would only be another 30 minutes until the band came on, and I could feel the energy building up in the room. Like I said, this was actually happening.

I think the best part of any concert is the sudden realization of what is about to unfold right in front of you. When those lights dimmed and the smoke machines turned on, believe me when I say I had that revelation. When The 1975 played their opening song, “Love Me,” and their lead singer, Matty, waved back at me when I stuck my hand out and waved it in his direction, this was real and I was ready for it to keep being real for the next hour and a half.

The band, with all the talent and exuberance I could have expected from them, performed songs from their new album like “She’s American,” “A Change of Heart,” “This Must Be My Dream,” and “Somebody Else.”

Hilariously (and relevantly) so, with Calgary being their first Canadian stop on their tour, Matty took the time to acknowledge the U.S. Presidential race before performing “Loving Someone,” a song most would say to be a direct response to current events like the Orlando club shooting and Syrian refugee crisis.

Matty even goes to say,

We have this platform to all these young, hopefully liberal, Americans everywhere. So we’ve been saying, ‘make your vote count,’ but you’re Canada, you’re fine.

As the night continues, the band plays some of their instrumentally-driven songs like “Lostmyhead” and a short version of their title song, “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It.” The awe I, and I’m sure everyone else around me, felt seeing and being part of their beautiful background graphics and strobe lighting, was indescribable. Those aspects perfectly accompanied the mood of the songs, and I had to spend a few seconds every once in a while taking it all in:

 

Even with the hype and happiness of finally getting to listen to their new songs live, no The 1975 concert would be complete without throwing it back to the songs that launched their super-stardom.

Classics like “Chocolate,” “Heart Out,” and “Girls” made an appearance on the set list, which were much to the excitement of the crowd as we sang as loudly as we could. My favorite moment of the night was when they played “Fallingforyou,” the slow, yet enchanting song that made me realize how much I adored The 1975. Even without the appeal of their culturally-aware lyrics, concert aesthetics, and “hipster” personalities, just this song by itself would have made the band a keeper in my long and varied list of favorite artists.

So why am I calling this concert review “a change of heart?” I think when you find something worth your time and effort, there’s something that finally clicks. Maybe it was when I was doing homework in a concert lineup, running with no shoes on towards the tour bus, or just being in a room with so many passionate people, something clicked that hadn’t when I was just listening to The 1975 on my way to school.

I had a change of heart in the sense I began to appreciate them more. When you finally discover a band or artist that makes you wonder how anyone else before them could have measured up, wanting to grow leaps and bounds with them is unmistakable. When the night was coming to an end, the band did not disappoint with their final song, “The Sound.” Matty asked the crowd to jump during the song, so when the concert ended, I didn’t even question why I felt like my legs were about to give out and my voice was hoarse. All I knew was it finally happened.

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂

*Images are mine unless stated otherwise.*

The Silent Sufferers

Samantha Lopez
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Fact: one-in-four people will be affected by a mental illness throughout their lifetime. It is actually one of the leading causes of disability in North America. The World Health Organization predicts that by the year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide. Despite all the recent talk going around about spreading awareness and de-stigmatizing mental illness, the shame that often accompanies and is associated with mental illness still remains. I’d like to shed some light on a specific kind of mental illness that albeit is quite common, still receives incredible amounts of negative criticism, and can surprisingly manifest itself grotesquely in numerous different ways.

fullsizerender-3Anxiety. Particularly high functioning anxiety, coupled with depression. Among the more elusive types of mental illness, high-functioning anxiety might appear to be a bit of a deceiving term. For a unique group of individuals, this illness can be suppressed enough to allow them to continue with their day to day activities and responsibilities. Many psychiatrists state that it is teens and adults who are able to pull off seemingly normal lives in public, yet suffer in private, are those whose conditions tend to be the scariest. Because depression and anxiety have distinct, specific, and stereotypical symptoms, like dropping grades, performance, or mood and loss of interest in activities that the individual previously enjoyed, those who are high-functioning can often mask themselves and pretend like everything’s okay when, in reality, it’s quite the opposite. The stigma and stereotypes that often surround mental illness not only make those who have these illnesses feel judged and victimized, but also make it extremely difficult for those suffering from high functioning anxiety to be recognized. In fact, often times they can hardly identify themselves. It’s extremely important to recognize that mental illness can impact and affect people in all kinds of different ways. When it comes to mental illness, sometimes there are no particular feelings or symptoms that an individual can identify with. Just because someone doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold that supposedly defines a mental disorder, doesn’t mean that they aren’t suffering.

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According to the Anxiety Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are highly treatable, however, roughly one-third receive treatment. This is due to the lack of recognition of the disorder most of the time. A lot of people suffering from mental illness often get confined to the mindset that their situation could be worse or that it isn’t that bad. It’s extremely important to validate people’s feelings, especially when it comes to people who could potentially be suffering from mental illness, simply for the reason that although someone else may have it worse than you, doesn’t mean that you aren’t allowed to feel the way you do. Feeling awful isn’t something most people do by choice, after all. By opening up communication lines through routine check-ins with friends and family, it can be easier to spot those who are quietly suffering but may not be exhibiting the typical symptoms of depression and anxiety. Anxiety can manifest itself in all sorts of ways; for me, it’s been sudden onsets of panic, coupled with nausea and muscle tension hours long crying spells, and immeasurable feelings of utter inadequacy in multiple aspects of life. The person sitting next to you on the bus could be experiencing symptoms such as these and you’d never know it. It can be extremely easy to overlook these feelings in yourself and in others. The most significant and important thing that can be used in order to beat out the stigma surrounding these illnesses is knowledge. Learning the facts about mental illness dissipates the myth that mental illness is some kind of personal failing and flaw; it instead aids individuals in acknowledging mental illness as a real medical illness with treatment and recovery possibilities.

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Featured Image Source:

http://www.thechangeblog.com/heal-anxiety/

Anxiety doobles courtesy of instagram doodler: Marzi (x)

 

Blogger of the Month, November 2016: Dhriti Gupta

Kandace Peroramas
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Blogger of the Month, November 2016: Dhriti Gupta

With the ability to write about a wide range of topics, Dhriti is certainly a refreshing and bright personality to have on YAA. I had the utmost pleasure of meeting with her at Vendome Cafe and chatting over our salads, meat pie, and sandwich.

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Very eloquent and thoughtful when she speaks, it felt easy taking on topics of discussion such as school, current events, and goals for the future. The chatter and aroma of coffee around us definitely fueled our ability to just talk and have fun.

The warm ambiance of Sunnyside was in full effect as we made our way to the container park afterwards, and through our insightful conversations and picture-taking galore, I knew Dhriti was undoubtedly a great choice for November’s Blogger of the Month!

“Hi there! My name is Dhriti and I’m currently a grade 11 partial I.B. student at Sir Winston Churchill High School. I’m a vegetarian, avid reader, chocolate-eater, feminist, LGBTQ+ activist, and aspiring journalist. When I’m not doing homework, you can probably find me taking photos of my cat, finding more obscure (and pretentious) music to listen to, or blogging for YAA! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my posts!”

 1. In your blogger bio, it says you are a vegetarian and LGBTQ+ activist. Are these aspects in your life things you immediately wanted to be or were they things you slowly built up to?

»» “My whole family is vegetarian, so being vegetarian has always been a part of my life. I always have the choice to not be vegetarian if I want, but I just grew up with it, and I really appreciate all it has taught me, so I think it’s definitely something I chose to include in my life. As for LGBTQ activist, I wasn’t always aware of those sort of things, especially when I was little. But I think once I did gain some knowledge about that, I definitely thought it was worth advocating for and fighting for.”

2. You also mention that we “can probably find you finding more obscure (and pretentious) music to listen to.” So who are your favorite artists and bands, and what genres of music are you interested in?

»» “I mostly listen to alternative and indie music. Some of my favorite artists would be Melanie Martinez, Vampire Weekend, Lorde, and Arctic Monkeys. I’m not very strict on what kind of music I listen to. I’m very open to new things; I’m always trying out new playlists because I just like listening to things that sound good!”

3. When people look at your posts, some are personal and some pertain to politics and current events. For example, looking at posts like “At A Standstill” and “Not Like Other Girls,” which show a very introspective side of you, is being introspective something you’ve always been or just a good way of writing for yourself and for an audience?

»» “I feel I have been that way for a long time; I always remember my teachers in elementary school complimenting me on my essay-writing skills, since when we do personal reflections, I really get into it. But I never really realized I could write articles that way until recently, but when I did, I was very glad that I can. I think it’s a very good way to not only express yourself, but also it expresses a sentiment in a way that I feel is hard to do in other ways. I’m glad that I am an introspective person because that kind of self-understanding, and trying to channel it through writing, has always been important to me.”

4. Like I previously mentioned, you like to write about current events. Is that something you always wanted for your blog or something that just happened because of life’s circumstances?

»» “I think that was a bit more circumstantial. I also realized when I joined Youth Are Awesome, I really do like writing articles where I tend to research a lot. Current events or informational articles are very typical of journalism, so they are good picks because you can research and write something detailed and informative. They usually turn out good, I think!”

5. How do you choose what to write next?

»» “A lot of the time, I open the Notes app on my phone whenever I get an idea, and I just write it there. When it comes time to write an article, I choose whichever idea pertains most to how I’m feeling and what’s going on in the world. If it’s one of those current event articles, obviously it’s because it happened recently. For example, I wrote one about the Orlando Pulse club shooting, and I wrote it on the day that it happened. So it really depends on what’s going on and what pops into my brain.”

6. Think about which post resonates with you most. What was the writing process for that post like?

»» “I feel the one that resonates with me most would be one of my more personal ones since they are about me and my feelings. I really did like writing “At A Standstill” because it was definitely a good reflection of how I was feeling. It did take me less time than a lot of my research-based articles do because I didn’t have to research anything. But it did take time in the sense that I had to reflect and think, and decide how much I wanted to share about myself online. I did find the words were flowing out of me. When I did stop, it was just to think about what I would say next.”

7. Who inspires you to write?

»» “When I was very little, I always admired my favorite authors. I always wanted to become the next J.K. Rowling, which is not an easy thing to do. I guess it’s just authors who write good material or journalists who report on what’s important and not only what they know will do well online or in the world. I think with how our society is going, everyone always says how books and journals are dying, but I think the people who are trying to keep it alive really inspire me.”

8. Just going back to one of your articles, “At a Standstill,” where you talk about moving back to Calgary, what have you learned ever since making that move?

»» “I expressed this in the article, too, but when I moved back to Calgary last August, I was very scared of what people from my elementary school would think because it seemed daunting to go from a new city to high school. But what I learned was that it really didn’t matter as much as I thought it did. Maybe it seemed like a big deal at the time, but I was just stressing myself out over nothing. Everyone that did recognize me were very nice, and I think grade 10, when I started, was overwhelming because it was so much new stuff. High school is definitely not easy at first because there are a lot of things that are alien to you, but once I got used to it, everything seemed okay. Looking back on it, I even feel a little silly because I was so worried.”

– Is there something about Calgary that stands out most to you?

»» “I really like the landscape, actually. Calgary and Edmonton are pretty similar in the people and city, but I think Calgary has really beautiful views. I just love the hills, they’re my favorite thing.”

9. How do you think Youth Are Awesome will help you in the future?

»» “Currently, I do aspire to be a journalist of some sort, so Youth Are Awesome will definitely help in that respect because even right now, I feel like it’s helping me. I had English last year, first semester, and Youth Are Awesome helped me make sure my writing is constant and keeps me in check in terms of the stuff that I’m writing so I can practice. I know that when I don’t write for a long time, I become really rusty, so I think Youth Are Awesome is helping me now and will help me in the future to build those writing skills. I think it’s good to experiment with your writing and incorporate different media formats into that writing, which I’m really grateful for.”

10. Is there a book, quote, movie, or song that reflects who you are as a person?

»» “I really like the message that “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle portrays because it’s one of the more classic books, but no matter how many times I read it, I really connect to it. Even though it’s basically my favorite book, it reflects me as a person, and maybe that’s why it’s my favorite book. It discusses topics that are very relevant to me. It’s just a good book to read if you want to feel good about yourself and the world. It merges that love of people and books.”

Although that was the last formal question, Dhriti and I had fun doing a lightning round that will give you even more insight to our BOTM. Keep reading to see her awesome answers!

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  • Favorite place in the world? San Francisco.
  • Biggest aspiration in life? To become a writer.
  • Tell me about your favorite memory. When I was little, my mom and I used to go on the bus a lot. I just loved to bus so much, so the memory of waking up, watching Sesame Street, eating Pop-Tarts for breakfast because that was acceptable, then going on the bus with my to the park was really fun.
  • What show are you binge watching? Stranger Things.
  • Is there someone you’d like to see in concert? Either Melanie Martinez, Vampire Weekend, or Lorde.
  • Favorite fictional character? Hermione Granger. She’s a great gal.
  • Where do you see yourself in thirty years? Probably old. I’ll be 46 then, so that’s pretty old. Maybe, hopefully, in a relationship, have kids by then, who knows! That’s a long time away. Whatever I’m doing, as long as I’m happy.
  • What are you looking forward to most this school year? I kind of look forward to being busy and to get into the swing of things.

And obviously the most important question…

  • Clinton or Trump? Clinton because she’s the only choice.

A huge thank you to Dhriti for diligently answering my questions and being lovely company. I hope you all look forward to her articles on Youth Are Awesome just as much as I do!

» To read posts from our Blogger of the Month, click here.

*All pictures are either mine or Dhriti’s unless stated otherwise.*

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂

Is Your Halloween Costume Offensive?

Dhriti Gupta
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Ah, Halloween, a time of frights and fun, candy and costumes, ghosts and ghouls, and – cultural appropriation and racism? Halloween is the one day a year you can decide to be something you’re not, to get creative, and try something new without consequence, making it one of my favourite holidays! However, when people take that opportunity as a chance to “be” a race or culture they’re not, that’s when things get tricky.

Of course, the debate of appropriation vs appreciation is one that is reopened every year and yet there is still no unanimous answer. In fact, there might never be one what with ever-evolving pop culture and constantly changing trends. More importantly, what one person may find offensive or insensitive, another may not. The fact of the matter is, the line is blurry and in some cases it can be hard to determine if it’s bad taste, ignorance, or plain ol’ racist. To be frank, anything taken from a particular context can be interpreted to be offensive. However, this doesn’t mean that anything goes on Halloween and people can take advantage of society’s increasing social awareness to make the excuse that “oh, it’s just a costume”, or that “people are too politically correct these days”. No matter how subjective and widespread the conversation may be, I think there are definitely some solid guidelines and questions to consider when picking out your Halloween costume.

Does it involve the darkening of your skin tone?

Alex Parrish from the TV show Quantico
Alex Parrish from the TV show Quantico

If your costume involves black or brown face, it is not appropriate or remotely ok to wear. Under no circumstances is blackface acceptable, whether it be on Halloween or not. It is insensitive and demeaning and there is no excuse. If you decide to dress up as a character that happens to be black  or brown(again, it’s a gray area, so be cautious), just leave the skin tone out of it. Most likely, there are plenty of other aspects and facets of the character that you can utilize in your costume because the colour of someone’s skin is not their only defining factor. As long as you’re not taking advantage of hurtful or generalizing stereotypes, it should be alright. For instance, if you’re taking inspiration from FBI agent Alex Parrish from Quantico, maybe try sporting a simple v-neck, jeans, badass leather jacket, and FBI cap. There is no need to try and recreate Priyanka Chopra’s skin tone because her culture is not her character’s only identifiable feature and doesn’t need to be included in the costume.

If it displays or generalizes an entire culture or race in a way that is intended to be comedic or racy, it’s not ok.

This "mexican man" costume is not ok!
This “mexican man” costume is not ok!

Whether it be the “Pocahottie“, “dragon geisha girl“, or “mexican man“, perpetrating hurtful or offensive racial stereotypes on Halloween is never a good idea. Many make the decision to brush it off, justifying such costumes to be “just a joke” or not a big deal, but that doesn’t change the fact that these costumes try and shove entire ethnicities into a box, limiting millions of different and unique people to a slapstick sombrero or a flimsy feather headdress. You can’t just “borrow” a culture for a day. When choosing a costume, it’s important to think of the implications it might have on other people. You may think it’s hilarious to dress up as an “Arab” but after October 31st, you will probably never have to deal with being kicked off a plane, simply for making a phone call in your language. Your huge afro wig might be a hit with your friends, but it’s quite doubtful that you were ever sent home from school because your hairstyle was “unpresentable”. Try and put yourself in other people’s shoes when considering a racially based costume. If you were invited into the home of that certain group of people, would you feel comfortable wearing your costume in their presence? If not, then it’s for the best that you don’t wear that one out on Monday.

Remember different things affect people in different ways and be prepared to respect that.

If you do decide to wear something that’s in that gray area, make sure you know why you decided to wear it and be prepared to accept and respect other people’s opinions on it. If you’re dressing up as someone from a historical context who you really admire and have researched an accurate portrayal of them, that’s great! However, if you perhaps do not belong to that person’s cultural group and someone from that culture expresses that they’re uncomfortable with your costume despite your explanation as to why you chose it, then try and respect their opinion as their experiences and reasons for not justifying your costume take priority. Again, everyone has their own personal experiences that affect how they interpret things and just because your one asian friend said it was ok with them if you dressed up as Bruce Lee, doesn’t mean that they speak for everyone else of their cultural background.

Overall, I think if anything, a good rule of thumb when deciding your costume is to simply ask yourself why you have chosen it. If the answer is one that you’re not sure of or have doubts in its justification, you may want to take some time to consider how your decision may affect or influence others. Halloween is supposed to be fun and lighthearted, so don’t bring yourself or others down by choosing an offensive costume. That being said, don’t be so cautious that you can’t even find a costume in fear of being called out! Worst comes to worst, someone lets you know that they think your costume is problematic, and that’s ok as long as you understand where you went wrong and how to improve for next time. Although it may seem as this kind of scrutiny and analysis of costumes from the media and activists is ruining the spirit of the holiday, it isn’t in malicious intent but rather an attempt to educate and take into account the differences and distinctions in our diverse and forward-thinking society.

[header image // source] [image 1 // source] [image 2 // source]

A Different Angle on Asian Stereotypes

Danielle Leong
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All of the flowers in this photo are different, yet all are equally as beautiful as each other.

The issue of conforming to societal ideals has been around for far too long, and sadly it is prevalent pretty much everywhere on this planet.  Although women in every culture are relentlessly faced with the societal “ideals” of appearance and mannerism in their societies, today  I would like to shine a  light on the insecurities that so many women of Asian cultures experience because of falsified and exagerrated societal standards of what being an Asian woman, particularly being Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or Vietnamese is “supposed to look and like”.   Now of course there is a whole other topic surrounding Asian men, but today the focus is on women.

For years now, there have been stereotypes which affect the way others perceive Asians. i.e.) small eyes, being super smart and good at math, etc., but a lesser recognized issue is that there also exist outdated standards that are perpetrated by even family members who  believe that all Asian women and girls should look and act a certain way.  Although often these family members only mean well, they are heartbreakingly unaware and insensitive of the harm their words can have on young girls and women; who needs additional criticism from family when teenage years are already tough as is?

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The people portrayed above are only a handful of the innumerable amount of Asians who prove the invalidity of Asian stereotypes and standards.

Asian women are petite. Asian women don’t have curves, Asian women have small eyes, Asian women have Asian women are conservative.  Asian women are short, Asian women are delicate, Asian women should have pale skin, Asian women are quiet, Asian women are simple.

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The stereotypes and standards listed above are only a handful of many, many of which are also untrue and vastly overgeneralized. So if these standards are untrue, where do they even come from? Well in the history of Asian cultures, it is true that Asian women were expected to be these things, and they usually were, because in the old times it was considered taboo to be anything else than the norm.

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But in the modern day and age, most people realize that there is a lovely diversity in terms of the personalities and appearances of Asian women; but in my experience at least, the more traditional members of the Asian community have difficulties accepting this, and it’s almost as if their mindsets lie in the 18th century.  For example, not all Asians are born tiny. There are equally as many petite Asians as those have curves, both body types are beautiful, and there is no ‘typical’ Asian body type.  Small eyes are beautiful, but so are the large eyes on many Asians.  Pale skin is lovely, but no more or less so than dark skin.  Yet my Asian friends and I who do not constitute everything the 18th Century Chinese woman is expected to be have found that our “flaws” (in quotations, because is having curves really considered a flaw?) are constantly judged by Aunts and Uncles.

Also.  As an Asian girl,  I for one am one of the loudest people in my community, and I am not content to sit back and watch events unfold, I like to actively express my opinion and I’m not afraid to do so.  Now although as an Asian woman I am happy to say that no-one has ever criticized my non-traditional personality, I know that it has happened to others around me.  However, more so than having a unique personality, I believe that the issue of conforming to artificial beauty standards projected for Asian women is in particular what causes insecurities and doubts.

In popular Korean dramas, Chinese television shows, and in the general Asian pop culture, women are usually portrayed as being, well, the societally correct “perfect” definition of an Asian woman, which might I add includes traits only achievable through plastic surgery.   For example, let’s zoom in on Korean Kpop and Television celebrities, who alongside their genre are increasingly rising in popularity.  Here is the typical media-perfect Korean girl:

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(She is beautiful, yes, but the girls who feel the need to look generally like this don’t realize that plastic surgery has been done)

 

Now for those of us who love watching Asian shows, I definitely feel like the seemingly flawless appearance of every character sometimes affect one’s vision of herself- she may go from feeling beautiful to feeling not good enough, simply because of what is seen on media.

Milky white skin, symmetrical face and eyebrow shapes, super slim figures… the media projects this image of an Asian woman to be ‘ideal’ to society (and since South Korea is an entertainment hub, this stereotypical picture has spread not only to other parts of Asia but also to the rest of the world), but the media disregards the fact that every woman is born beautiful in her own unique way- that not even if someone does not looks like that typical picture of a woman, she is still beautiful. However, since this image is seen so often I know that a mindset in the Korean community has been created which pushes the idea that looking this specific way is the only way to be considered ‘beautiful’, in terms of the standards of outer beauty anyways.  Therefore, thousands 0of Korean women are spending money on all sorts of surgeries and beauty procedures done to make them look like the people they see in the entertainment industry.  However, little do they realize that their idols also have had surgeries… that no-one is born that ‘perfect’.  I believe there is an issue in the fact that these Korean women who are born beautiful in their own way feel pressured to conform to the societal definition of beautiful in their nation, which itself it a bit artificial.  However, this is simply my own opinion, and I understand that everyone has the right to look whichever way they like.  But is starving oneself, going from a healthy size to overly thin, too look like an ‘idol’ really healthy?  Is using 50 + products simply on one’s face a truly productive use of time and money?

Anyways, the example of the Korean of beauty is only one of many which exist in today’s world.  To all the Asian girls and women out there who may be feeling insecure because of what a family member said, or because of the things you’ve seen in the media, just remember this:

Just because you don’t look like somebody who you find attractive doesn’t mean that you’re not attractive as well.  Flowers are pretty, but so are christmas lights, and they’re completely different.

 

 

(anonymous)

sources: a b c d e

Three Horror Movies You Should Never Watch

Muskan Jaswal
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In the month of October, we often find ourselves looking for terrifying movies to get into the spirit of Halloween. Little do we know that some movies are just absurd and a total waste of time. So to save you some time, I’ve compiled a list of movies that you should never, EVER watch. Warning: If you’re planning on watching any of these movies don’t read the descriptions because there are spoilers.

1. The Visit

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visit_(2015_American_film)

The Visit is about two grandchildren who have to stay with their grandparents because their parents are going on a vacation. These children have never met their grandparents so they decided to record the whole visit through a documentary/reality show style. The kids are told that there are three rules. 1) Have a great time, 2) Eat as much as you want, and 3) Don’t ever leave your room after 9:30pm. The first couple of rules seem normal, but the third one increased the curiosity of the children. So the grandchildren decided to set up cameras in all parts of the house, to see what happens after 9:30pm. The footage revealed that their grandma would just act strangely. She would start crawling around like a dog sometimes and do other weird things.  At first glance, this movie seems intriguing, which it is, but you realize that by the end of the movie the writers just got tired and decided to end the movie in a rush. For instance, at the end, the grandchildren realize that their parents had dropped them to the wrong house. So the whole entire time the children were at some random people’s house. The award of best writing/directing goes to M.Night Shyamalan.

2. Unfriended

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https://www.uphe.com/movies/unfriended

This movie is disturbingly amusing. It is based on a girl who was exploited on the internet through embarrassing videos. She couldn’t take the embarrassment, so she recorded herself taking her own life. Now a bunch of friends are being targeted on a Skype call. They keep getting threatening messages, saying that if they don’t tell the killer who uploaded the embarrassing videos, they all get killed. So one by one each of the friends are killed until there is one left. I find this movie hilarious, because if the friends just turned off Skype none of the killings would happen. However, being stereotypical teenagers they keep using their computers. The only part that is graphic is when one of the friend’s hand is put inside of a blender, but when you compare that to other horror movies, it is nothing. So overall, if you’re looking for a horror movie – don’t watch this one. But if you want something to laugh at with your friends, definitely watch this!

3. ATM

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https://fanart.tv/movie/89691/atm/

The ATM is about a three colleagues who are trapped in a bank because there is a serial killer outside of the bank. This movie is annoying and agitating because after revealing the killer, the writers didn’t even add a motive or even a back story. Even really little things about this movie made me angry. For instance, the main characters decide to park their car 50 yards from the ATM in sub-zero weather when they could have literally parked right in front of the ATM doors. If they had done this they would have completely avoided the murders. So in the end just don’t watch this movie, because it will definitely kill brain cells.

Hopefully by reading this list you have chosen not to watch any of these cringey movies. If not then I tried to warn you.

The Flaw With The Alberta Elementary Social Studies Curriculum

Talia Santarossa
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Over the course of the last several years, I’ve noticed a common trend among many of the elementary aged kids that I’ve met and had a chance to talk to: a lack of geographical knowledge. I have met a sixth grader who has been in a public school since kindergarten, who is an all-around good student, who thought that France was a city. This is not the only case of the sort that I’ve seen, and it surprised me initially, until I realized that the only reason that I wasn’t in the same situation when I was at that age was that I had exposure to geographical knowledge outside of the classroom. My mother tells me about having to learn and label US states and the countries of the world and I look at my own education and think, “Wait, I never had to do anything like that. Why?”

Alberta social studies curriculum is very skills-based. From active citizenship to media awareness to problem solving, the curriculum focuses very heavy-handedly on the thought processes and abilities that make one a productive and engaged member of modern society. That said, this focus sometimes fails to address some of the most basic knowledge: how is the world that we live in organized? I would direct your attention to this paragraph taken straight from the social studies program of studies for grade six:

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In order for students to be able to develop spatial skills, we sometimes have to turn away from the new-age, innovative ways of looking at education and go back to the bare-bones “this is what you need to know” approach, especially in situations like basic to intermediate world geography.

That being said, the Alberta curriculum does not entirely overlook geography. The problem is that whatever geography is taught is overly big-picture or is mostly or entirely Canada-centric. I think I can speak for most students when I say that none of us will soon forget colouring maps of Canada and memorizing all of the provinces, territories and their capitals. Maybe the occasional world map was thrown in there, but as long as we knew what each continent was, not much more in-depth study was performed. To this day, I still struggle placing more than about half of the US states on an American map or label the countries of Africa and eastern Europe through the Middle East. I was never exposed to more than base-level geography knowledge in the classroom until into high school, and even then, the geography component is very specific to the situation being examined. I would go so far as to wager that if I were to take a random sample of students my own age and have them try to correctly label 50 or more countries on a world map (which is less than one third of the countries in the world), I doubt, given my own experience with my peers, that more than 60-75% could successfully complete the challenge or even come close (given the opportunity toglobe conduct this experiment, I would actually love to do it). If even high school students are unable to demonstrate this knowledge, which I personally classify as essential, there is a problem stemming from what is being taught or not taught at a base level.

There is such a huge focus in Alberta curriculum on critical thinking. Even though these skills are absolutely necessary to be able to appreciate and understand world world issues, curricular focus is so one-sided that geography and spatial knowledge, which are also integral to being able to get a big-picture view of situations of study, both in and out of the classroom. Granted, most situations that students study provide background information including geographical facts essential to understanding the case at hand, however, prior knowledge helps to connect the facts of the matter with understanding of the world as a whole. True critical thinking does not look at world issues as isolated incidents, but rather as a intricate web of interconnected scenarios, a task which is not made any easier without a basic understanding of how the world is laid out.

All in all, as much as the Alberta social studies curriculum aims to churn out well-rounded, well educated citizens of the contemporary age, unless students are taught this basic knowledge of world geography, a major hole remains in their skill set.

Image Sources [x] [x]

Good Foods For The Wintertime

Hilary Guo
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The cold season is upon us! And for us Calgarians, so is the snow! It might be only October now, but winter is definitely here. During these chilly months, your energy levels and metabolism change from what they were during the previous seasons. The weather might keep you lodged up under your covers with multiple cups of hot chocolate, but there’s a way you can still stay healthy. The foods you eat can impact your body in various ways, but let’s talk about the good impact they can have. Here are 8 fantastic foods that you should add to your winter meals.

1. Oatmeal: This yummy breakfast food contains many nutrients that will help your body in the cold weather. It has a lot of zinc, which will help boost your immune system so you won’t get sick so easily, and soluble fiber, which keeps your heart strong and healthy. (source)

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2. Pomegranate: Pomegranates are the ultimate super-food. They can help prevent cancers, protect against heart diseases, boost your immune system, normalize your blood pressure and it even has anti-aging effects. It’s a great way to help fight off those icky flues so you’re nice and healthy for a day in the snow. (source)

 

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3. Green Tea: It’s packed with nutrients and antioxidants that are very good for you. This drink can help improve brain function (making you smarter!). And if you’re too lazy to go out for some exercise, that’s okay because green tea can help you lose weight too. It also kills bacteria, saving you from infections and it can make you live longer. So, I suggest that you start replacing your pumpkin spice lattes with a warm cup of green tea! (source)

 

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4. Salmon: This fish isn’t just something that goes in your sushi, it’s also a great source of nutrients that helps your body in many ways. It’s really good for your eyes and boosts your brain function. And if you’re having trouble sleeping at night, eat some salmon for it can help you sleep better. It has lots of tryptophan which can get you the beauty sleep you need after a long day in the freezing cold! (source)

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5. Walnuts: Walnuts have many powerful antioxidants and cancer-fighting properties. They also help to reduce stress during those winter study days! It contains vitamin B7 which is fabulous for your hair and makes your skin glow. You may not be outside all the time during this season, but eating walnuts will make it seem like you’re going outside everyday! (source)

 

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6. Avocados: It’s time to spend $1.80 on that extra guacamole. Avocados are good for you in countless ways. For one, they make you healthier. According to this website, avocado consumers were found to be much healthier than people who didn’t eat avocados. This delicious food is high in potassium too. It’s important to have potassium in your body because this nutrient can help reduce blood pressure. Plus, avocados are super easy to work into any recipe, so you can have them all the time.

 

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7. Carrots: These vegetables are not only good for your eyes; they can help your hair, skin and nails too. The vitamin A in it also cleanses your body. Carrots have lots of potassium which keeps your skin hydrated as well. (source)

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Happy Winter guys!

Halloween 2016 – What to see in Calgary

~ Chu ☆ ~
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So the much anticipated Halloween is coming up on Monday, and if you haven’t already gotten yourself immersed in the festivities, here’s your chance! Check out these events happening in around Calgary over the next few days!

TELUS Spark Monster-Mashup : Oct 29 and 30

 

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This family friendly event held at TELUS spark is definitely a fun way to kick off your Halloween! I had the opportunity to volunteer at this event last year, and I can definitely confirm that it was really great, and a fantastic combination of fun and science! Added bonus: If you attend, you might catch some of Youth Central’s very own volunteers helping out!

 

Calgary Ghost Tours : various dates (more information)

We’ve all heard ghost stories, but have you ever wondered about Calgary’s own ghosts? Well this tour is perfect for you! Calgary Ghost Tours incorporate mischief, mayhem, and murder, all into a chilling night of ghostly entertainment! Tours are suitable for younger children as well, as long as they’re not prone to nightmares!

Great Halloween Organ Spooktacular : Oct 28 – 7:30 PM

Looking to take in some great music this Halloween? Look no further than the Great Halloween Organ SpookTacular (GHOST), hosted by Knox United Church, featuring the spooky pipe organ! This event will be followed by a performance of the movie “Metropolis”.

Thrill the world : Oct 29 – 3:00 PM

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(Source)

Have you ever wanted to be a part of a world record? You’re in luck! Thrill the World Calgary is hosting a huge Thriller flash mob at SouthCenter Mall to kick off Halloween, zombie style? No dance experience needed, you can learn the steps right here on their website!

 

Dash of Doom : Oct 29 – 4:00 PM

Did you race around trying to get candy as a kid? Well here’s your chance to participate in an actual race this Halloween! The Calgary Marathon Society invites you to be a part of Calgary’s only Halloween Night Race! This event is family friendly, and, even better, PET friendly! There are various different races, like 1km, 5km, and 10km. Bonus points because they’re awarding prizes for different categories of costumes, and word is that there may be a prize for deadlast!

Hallow’s Eve in the Village : Oct 29 and 30.

(Source)
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To me, Halloween is a time for Harry Potter. And East Village is celebrating by transforming into Godrics Hallow! This is Calgary’s first European Style Harvest Market! If you do drop by, say hi to our Youth Central volunteers, who no doubt will be doing their best to help you enjoy the event! Remember to wear your house colours!

Screamfest : Oct 27-31

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And of course, how could I forget about the ever popular Screamfest! Come check out Canada’s largest and scariest Halloween event. This event is definitely not for the faint at heart!

So here’s to a (safe, but) spooooooky Halloween! Have fun!

(featured image source)

 

EVENT LISTING: The Mayor’s Youth Council Volunteer Fair

Hui Wen Zheng
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Now that I’m in Grade 12, I have been reflecting a lot on my experiences so far and how they have made me the person I am today. One of the biggest influences has definitely got to be volunteering. I began volunteering with Youth Central in the summer after Grade 9 through Youth Are Awesome and back then, I was just a keen student who wanted to do something constructive with her life to fill up a summer. However, through blogging and volunteering that summer, I ended up meeting so many new people that empowered and encouraged me to continue to work hard. It was also through blogging that I was able to realize me passion for the arts and social science, which has in turn made me program selection for university much easier. Even today, some of my closest friends I met through volunteering, and it is also the reason why I can make and maintain friendships with people who don’t attend my school.

While many may think that volunteer only involves going out and helping out at a venue, it can actually be quite broad. In fact, Youth Are Awesome actually contributes volunteer hours to your profile! There is so much diversity in what kind of volunteer projects you can do, and the annual Mayor’s Youth Council Youth Volunteer fair is meant to showcase many different local organizations who offer volunteer opportunities to young people. Hosted in the Municipal Building this Friday, it is a great chance to get involved with many different causes. While some organizations don’t allow youth the opportunity to volunteer with them, all the organizations attending the fair are youth-friendly. Come down at explore your options and I hope to see you there!

 

QUICK FACTS:

WHEN: This Friday, October 28th from 2:30-5:30pm

WHERE: Main lobby of the Calgary Municipal Building (800 Macleod Trail SE)

WHO: Organizations represented will include:

  • YMCA Calgary
  • Distress Centre
  • Calgary Women’s Centre
  • WinSport
  • Calgary Public Library
  • Salvation Army Community Support Services
  • LINK-Ages
  • USAY (Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth)
  • Youth Central
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