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A Debate Of Ethics And Humanity

Mankaran Gill
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It is no longer a question of whether we can control an entire species gene code, but should we? Should we play with something that connects every living thing on this planet? Even if it meant that one of our deadliest enemies could be neutralized, or that over a million people every year could be saved from death? This is a question that scientists worldwide debate, but what is the deadliest animal to humanity? The minuscule but lethal mosquito.

Before I get back to our fork in the road of ethics we must first understand what we are doing and how. Our focus was malaria, a parasite transmitted to us in infected female mosquito saliva, that could be lethal. In 2015 alone, there were roughly 214 million malaria cases and an estimated 438 000 malaria deaths. Malaria is almost entirely independent on mosquitoes for transmission from human to human so erasing the middleman (mosquitoes) can eradicate malaria faster then it can adapt.

How can we change this? By using a gene editing tool called CRISPR (Cas 9), a revolutionary new, cheap and effective way that changed the way we edit different genes. Here is a video that explains what CRISPR is, how it works and some other issues surrounding CRISPR.

 

Now that you’re all caught up on CRISPR, what scientists have done is insert some D.N.A into mosquitoes that prevents the parasites from living in the salivary glands (we’ll call it gene A). It has been done before, but the problem was that whenever the mosquitoes reproduced, they had a 50% of passing on gene A. So theoretically, by the time the great grandchildren pop up, only 12.5% had gene A. Also, remember that mosquitoes lay 100-300 eggs at a time! So this time with CRISPR, scientists have added an extra gene that makes sure that gene A dominates 99.5% of the time!

So now that scientists have achieved their goal, by “creating” a mosquito that cannot carry malaria, they are left at an ethical crossroad. If they release the gene A mosquitoes, there is no going back! If something goes wrong there is almost no way of stopping it, and if malaria adapts so fast that it can be transmitted another way, it could be devastating for humans. While this is all the scientific side of ethics, we must also take into account the public’s opinion before before the release of gene A mosquitoes. If the majority of the public refuses we cannot release them at all, but if majority says yes, what will the minority do? These are all questions that can affect the way we live, considering the fact that this is the first time humans have done something this huge with genetic mutations! We have taken little steps before with GMO foods and small changes to animals (glow in the dark cats and fast growing salmon), so this would be a leap of faith.

CRISPR can lead to humans never being the same again, it can lead to a new era in humanities age, and it all starts with this single moment. So what do you, the youth of Calgary, say? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear what you have to say!

Image Credits: https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/03/worlds-first-in-human-crispr-hemophilia/

PARKLUXE 2016- An Evening Fostering Art and Culture

Malika Daya
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With the arrival of autumn brings with it Calgary’s fall edition of PARKLUXE, showcasing fashion and art to cultivate a sense of culture within the art scene in YYC. PARKLUXE 2016 is regarded as a luxury art and fashion show featuring Canadian designers and artists, aspiring to feature a diverse range of talent and perspective through artistic expression. PARKLUXE will be a night of celebration and a platform to network and be inspired by the city’s elite fashion community.

Details:
Saturday, October 1
Studio Bell – Home of the National Music Centre in Calgary’s East Village
850 4 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0L8
Calgary, AB

Opening Reception – 7:00pm
Runway Show – 9:00pm

Tickets:
Platinum VIP – $350
Front row reserved seating, Hors d’oeuvres, VIP lounge access, Deluxe gift bag
VIP Tier I – $190
Includes: Front Row Reserved Seating, Complimentary Beverage, Hors D’oeuvres, VIP Lounge Access, Deluxe Gift Bag
VIP Tier II – $150
Includes: Performance Hall Seating, Complimentary Beverage, Hors D’oeuvres, VIP Lounge Access, Gift Bag
General Seating – $85
Note: General tickets will be rush seating only
Standing Room – $50
(All ticket purchases are re-directed into funding other PARK initiatives to foster a sense of culture and love for arts Canada wide.)

To purchase your tickets visit: 2016- OURPARKONLINE

Featured Designers: 

Join PARK, on another beautiful journey of artistic expression and collaboration.
For more information on the event or the designers visit: OurParkOnline

The Social Mammoth-Why You Should Stop Caring About Other People’s Opinions: Part 2

Kiana Baghban
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Last time, we talked about our Social Mammoth and how the whole Mammoth situation is getting out of hand. We’ll be talking more about our A.V and how we can weaken the Mammoths influence over us and our lives and let our A.V take over. (This is the second part to my first article right here. Please go and read part one first, it will make your life much easier.) This article is based upon Waitbutwhy’s original article. Please be aware that this website has strong language and I’m making a more kid-friendly version in my two articles. All ideas and photos come from Waitbutwhy.)

Step 1: Get to know your A.V, they’re not a horrible person :). 

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This is rather a hard step, but you need to do it nonetheless. It takes some serious and honest reflection with yourself to come face to face with the true you. You need to put all the opinions, biases, rumours etc. that people told you and you believe to be true aside. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when you are searching for your A.V:

  1. We are interacting with lots of people every day, how many of them do you really like? This can be anyone, so don’t be shy. Of course, there are some things we can’t change i.e our parents, as much as you don’t really like them.
  2. Were there or are there anytime(s) in your life or day that you felt like your morals were being pushed aside? If yes, what moral(s) are they? Do you think that that/those moral(s) play a smaller part in your life now? How do you think you can bring them back into your life?
  3. Is there anything in your life that you don’t like doing, or when you do it, you feel like you’re being forced? I.e hobbies, sports, (homework does NOT count), clubs. If yes, how do you think you can make said activity more fun, or how you can eliminate it from your life?
  4. Do you have a different world vision than some of your peers? If yes, do you get teased about it a little too much? If this is the case, don’t be afraid to change the people that surround you, but if they still don’t stop, go to see an authority, your world vision is different and unique, and you shouldn’t change it in order to be friends with someone, because, let’s face it, you probably won’t remember the names of all your classmates from grade 9. (I can’t remember my classmates from grade 6, and it was only two years ago.)

If you’re having trouble, try changing your environment. Maybe you need to be alone, maybe you might want to sit in a café or a park bench. Or maybe you just need to record your thoughts down. Experiment around with it and see what suits you best. This can also mean that your Social Mammoth has more power than you thought it had, and these questions are making it uncomfortable, this is a good sign, but you need to try harder. 

Step 2: Figure out where the Mammoth is hiding. 

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This can be fairly easy. There are three places where you can find the Mammoth.

Your fears:

Your guilty pleasures, hidden talents, failure etc. These are things that are the Mammoth’s worst nightmares i.e being asked to sing in front of everyone, even though you have a good voice, having to do an oral presentation in front of the school and many other examples. Simply this is all rooted within the fear of failure, why are we scared to fail? Perhaps it is because we think that we will be embarrassed and publicly shamed. But take away the public and you have nothing left. There is no shame in being naked, it’s society who has put these influences upon us.

Things that you take too much pleasure in: 

We all know that time when we get praised and we become as proud as a peacock. Maybe you care a lot about your social status? Social media is a good example, if you track down every single person that unfollowed you or you check to see who didn’t like your photo on Instagram- you definitely do. Or when we work only to get the praise of a Puppet Master, and as soon as we get it, we stop working. These are all habits that are solely run by the Social Mammoth. If you can address these habits and put a stop to them, you’re embarking upon the right track.

Decisions that you don’t feel comfortable taking without the approval of others:

I have an example from my own life. In grade 6, I had a choice: I could either stay in CGS (Calgary Girls’ School) or I could go to Branton and into their Late French Immersion program. I really wanted to go, but I was afraid of what my friends and teachers would say to and about me. (My music teacher was my Puppet Master) I almost gave up, before I agreed to go on a tour of the school with my parents and that was when my A.V told me that this was the school for me, friends or no friends and that was one of the best decisions of my life. And surprisingly, when I did tell my friends, I didn’t receive the silent treatment. So, the Social Mammoth can over exaggerate things too.

Step 3-Cuttig the Mammoth out of your life. 

As bad as the Mammoth seems, we can’t do this:

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We are humans and humans have Social Mammoths, that’s it that’s all end of sentence. What you really need to do is take the Mammoth out of important aspects and decisions of your life be it choosing your college or university, career, life partner, friends etc. These are crucial areas where your A.V needs to be in charge.

Ok, so how are we going to live with the Mammoth? Well, you Mammoth has a low I.Q and assumes more than 99.99% of things in life. So this is what the Mammoth thinks is happening:

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But in reality:

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One more reason that the Mammoth cannot survive at the head of the wheel anymore:

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Our Mammoths aren’t built to lead, they are supposed to follow and support your A.V. Every single one of our Mammoths are the same, so if you put your Mammoth and you friend’s Mammoth beside each other in the same situation, it will be infinitely hard to tell one from the other. It’s our A.Vs that make us different than the person that’s sitting beside you on the C-Train. That’s what makes us interesting, Mammoths are boring, A.Vs are interesting. People are more attracted to A.Vs than Mammoths, this is true, especially among friends and colleagues. Do you know that person who everyone wants to hang out with and be their friend? They don’t have to be the ‘popular’ boy/girl, I’m talking about the person that is always around people and doesn’t have one set friend or a group. Everyone seems to be their friend. These are the people who have tamed their Mammoth and have let their A.V lead them in life. To quote Waitbutwhy: “People respect someone with the strength of character to have tamed their mammoth.“

Ok, so, how is our A.V going to take over? We’ll just snap our fingers and BAM! We’re A.V-driven people. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any proof that we can do that, as amazing as that sounds. If it was like that, what the heck am I doing right now?

Start being yourself. This is harder than it sounds, not only do you have to stop thinking about how people see you when you are being yourself, but you have to have courage. Go back to your reflections on getting to know your A.V, remember how hard that was? Well, this is ten times harder. But, all you have to do is take baby steps. Let’s say that you love to sing, but you’re too scared to sing in public. Acknowledging this is a great step forward. Now, maybe there is a musical happening at your school, why not sign up to audition? Another step to becoming yourself. You can see where all of this takes you. Maybe you get a part, maybe not. But don’t give up if you’re just part of the ensemble and have only one line, you auditioned! You finally faced your fear of singing in public and next time you’ll be even more comfortable.

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Each time you’ll go further into the waters of defiance, you’ll be treading water and swimming around comfortably. Do you think Michael Phelps started with the butterfly stroke when he first went into the water? (the pool water, not the waters of defiance)

“Almost nothing you’re socially scared of is actually scary.”-Waitbutwhy 

If you accept this thought, you will have already succeeded in weakening your Mammoth’s influence over you and your choices, like so:

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Now, your Mammoth is still with you, but now you have control over it than vice versa.

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This is a difficult shift for anyone to do, but well worth the trouble. You will comfortable in your own skin, you will be infinitely more happier, you will be appreciated for just being you, and you will stop caring about the opinions that shouldn’t matter to you.

17 pieces of my happy

Danielle Leong
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                                                                                                                                      ☀ℍappiness ☀

Hello all! Here are 17 more little things in life that make me happy, just because aging really does makes one reflect on how precious life is.  ( one more year to adulthood but I feel more like a seventeen month old baby)

**Also, none of the photos below are my own, they are sourced at the bottom of the page!

1.Rain. 

rain-2

2.Listening to music in the car with friends 

road-trip

3. Surprises!

surprises

4.Reflective sunglasses (people watching anyone?)

anna-wintour

**Interesting fact!: Anna Wintour, featured above, is famous for never being seen without her sunnies!

5.Comfortable silence

silence-sky

6. Wearing colour!  

girl-wearing-colour

Although I love wearing all black/neutrals, there’s something about wearing clothing in pretty colours that makes me pretty happy.

7.Discovering  books/music/new little shops which sell books/music

book-store

8.Taking new photos and looking through old photos.  

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9.Writing.  

writing

Because it brings me back to myself.

10. Large Metropolises

nyc

New York City, Toronto, Paris…

11.  Humans helping other humans. (Humanity)

fight-for-our-humanity

12.  Staring too long at paintings

staring-at-painting

13.  Flavours of tea that match my moods

tea

Yes, I drink tea that looks like this every day.

14. Club/Team famlies

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15. Sleep.

Baby smiling in bed with eyes closed and arms out.
 (Can I be this cute too please)

16.   Early mornings and late nights

day-and-night

  1. 17.  Silence underwater
  2. underwater
  3. Try it!

 

 

sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Innovation Day

Mankaran Gill
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Have you ever had an idea that you thought could change the world? An idea that could help or change the lives of millions? Doctors and Scientists around the world hope to achieve something of that scale everyday, they want to help everyone with a life changing disease or condition. Many doctors and scientists are sponsored by big companies to research and work on their projects, however sometimes their funding ends. In order to continue their work they pitch their current research to other companies to get funding and other times they compete for big money prizes in competitions. One such competition recently happened right here at Calgary’s Telus Spark! Doctors from all across the globe came together to look at recent innovations from across the continents. So let’s see what amazing innovations await us at innovation day.

This particular 2 day event was called the global healthcare innovation academy and was hosted at Telus Spark. This event had partners like the University of Calgary, Hong Kong polytechnic university, Geneva university hospitals and the O’Brien institute for public health. Out of the 14 global competitors on the first day, 6 were sent finals on the second day and only the top 3 finalists will receive cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to $8,000 in funding. While I couldn’t attend the first day I was able to attend the second day. With great innovations like a 3-D ultrasound machine and a breathing vest for babies dubbed the life vest I was taken with wonder. The winners of the competition were the creators of the life vest and second place went to Amal therapeutics and their revolutionary new vaccines.  It was a delightful show for everyone present especially for those interested in science.

 

After this conference I realized we need more of these conferences around Calgary to inspire the youth. To inspire you to learn otherworldly sciences.  To inspire you to create something that can change the world. All of this potential has always been in you, you just need to unlock it!

 

 

Building A Capsule Wardrobe Pt. II – The Basics Of Compartmentalization & The Essentials

Hui Wen Zheng
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Last week, I wrote the first post in this short series on decluttering through the building of a capsule wardrobe by introducing the philosophy behind it. In the second installation of the series, I will be explaining exactly HOW to create your own.

In order to reduce the clutter of your closet, it is important to compartmentalize. By dividing the categories of articles of clothing you have into basic tops, dresses, bottoms, dressy tops, outerwear, shoes, and accessories, you will be able to see exactly how much of your closet belongs to these categories. Then, you can choose what to discard or keep since having 5 different Fall jackets while having 5 tops just doesn’t make sense. If there’s an imbalance in the ratio of those categories, that’s a pretty sure sign that some articles should probably go to the donations bin.

It’s also important to make sure that you have a capsule wardrobe suited for all four seasons since those nice dressy summer tanks just won’t cut it in the wintertime. Keep in mind that pieces can often be carried over between seasons, such as basics and layering pieces. That’s just another way you can de-clutter your closet and recycle articles. Another is to make sure you can mix-and-match pieces to create different outfits that you like, which means lots of layering items.

I’ve attached a few fall boards for inspiration. While many of the collections found online are not necessarily catered to the taste of most students, the most important thing to realize is that what goes into your wardrobe is completely up to you, it’s quality and how much you like the pieces that matter the most. Next week, I’ll be showing you what is in my capsule wardrobe.

 

Image result for capsule wardrobe
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Image result for capsule wardrobe
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Hui Wen

 

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An Introspective Paradise

Malika Daya
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A word I want to see written on my grave: I am alive like you, and I am standing beside you. Close your eyes and look around, you’ll see me in front of you. ~Khalil Gibran

You don’t see me. As I hear the clock tick, papers rustle, and pencils break, I find a sense of anxiety stirring up from within me; a home-sickness washes over my body and my heart falls heavy within my chest. My brain is subconsciously holding my exterior together, while my heart shatters into a million pieces crying out for the love I had discovered this summer.

Summer. A place where time simply did not exist; where I spent my days living in moments of sheer bliss.
Bliss. Sitting on the floor of a hotel ballroom light-heartedly playing cards with my new family in Mombasa.
Mombasa. The home where my heart lies.
Lies. That reality is perfect.
Perfect, doesn’t exist.
Existing is merely what I am doing now.

And so my thoughts continue forth in a similar labyrinth, the walls begin caving in, and nothing seems familiar anymore. I am trapped in a world that used to belong to me, a place where I grew up exploring, laughing, living. But I am not the same girl who spent her days self-loathing and people-pleasing; I’m no longer a wanderer of time and space, I am my own truth. Circumstantially, I am a complete stranger to this life now, a stranger to my former self, a stranger to those who once thought they knew me. I exist in a world where my idea of home lives within the realm of my fondest memories titled, “What once was…“

img_5447They say “home is where the heart is at” and if that deems to be true my home is suspended into moments in time where I’m stargazing in Amboseli under a radiant moon amidst sleeping lions and intuitive monkeys, or being embraced whole-heartedly by the affectionate children of Noor Madrasa, or dancing with countless gypsies, like myself, in an over-crowded room to celebrate an occasion that binds our identities together.

And all it takes is a few introspective seconds, with my eyes gently closed, to be back at home.

My senses awaken and I am walking through the Commons at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa for breakfast, greeting countless new faces that have imprinted their names into my heart with a permanent burning rod; igniting a long-lost spiritual fire within me. Every individual arrives with a unique story- be it one centred in Syria or another in India- to share an enlightening truth about the human condition’s ability to be resilient. Every story develops an intimate bond; all of which reassured my own existence as a human-being. From them I learned the art of simply being.

deMy heart then guides me out the Commons, onto a bus, fast-forwarding past the odour of burning trash and the distant touch of the Indian Ocean, to where I first discovered my purpose: Noor Madrasa. It is in this two-room school, where I discovered Love. Love in the children’s shy smiles, long-lasting embraces, and within the evoked curiosity in their beautiful brown eyes. Love appeared in the form of the orphaned angels surviving in the slums of Mombasa; sent from Above, to set aside their own heartaches and benevolently mend ours with subtle pecks on our cheeks and warm-hearted laughter. I gravitated towards centring my energy around the enhancement of their quality of lives, as it was through these interactions where I understood that my purpose, as an individual, embodies more than simply caring for others. Rather, it encapsulates an unconditional love; manifesting itself as a mother, a sister, a friend, a lover, or a stranger, in service of those I selflessly devote myself to.

dscn0001My heart takes another leap, it’s almost bed time and I am sitting out on the balcony listening to the waves of the Indian Ocean gently caressing the shoreline. The stars are emitting a comforting glow while the moon and I take turns singing each other lullabies, entailing messages of reflections transferred into my leather-bound journal. The moon whispers to me the wisdom it has so profoundly hidden in the shadows bound by clouds and in the natural rotation of the earth upon its axis; and I speak of the condition of my heart, each day collecting the bread crumbs left by destiny for me to discover. It is in times of solitude, where I unravel the magic of self-awareness. Where I recognize the transformation in the language used in my thoughts to the depth of the contemplation itself. It is here on my balcony, over-looking the Indian Ocean, where I learn to empathize with myself.

And with that my eyes open, taking time to re-adjust to my current reality. My anxiety has decreased but my longing for a home that only exists within my heart creates an abyss of emptiness, leaving me with bitter-sweet feelings of remembrance and melancholy.

I am homesick for a place that has no geographical location nor is bound by time; it is simply a collection of moments connected in unison by multiple heart strings of passion and gratitude, forever evoking an emotional journey of nostalgia.

Easy Vegetarian Falafel

Dhriti Gupta
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When you’re a vegetarian, finding easy, simple, and flavourful recipes can often be a challenge. Sometimes you don’t have the time, energy, or skill needed to try and assemble herbed black quinoa muffins with tamari toasted pumpkin seeds and rustic pea spread. Let’s be real, that doesn’t even sound edible. That’s why whenever I’m in the need for some new treats and eats I use what I know and try to stick to the basics. First off, I always take a look at what’s in my house to see what I already have. Usually we keep our fridge stocked with a couple spreads, quite a few breads, and a rainbow of veggies. Additionally, the pantry is usually bursting with a variety of lentils and spices. If you have at least a couple of items from each of those groups, the number of vegetarian combinations and concoctions you can come up with are almost endless. This week, I decided to utilize chickpeas, tzatziki, pitas, and a couple of other assorted veggies to whip up some delicious, classic, and simple falafel wraps. Although the tzatziki and pitas were from the supermarket to save a little time, the falafel balls were made entirely from scratch and were definitely worth the little extra effort!

INGREDIENTS

For the falafel:

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas
  • 1/2 large onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 4 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 clove of garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4-6 tablespoons flour
  • Olive, canola, or vegetable oil for frying

For the wraps:

  • Chopped tomato
  • Diced onion
  • Chopped cucumber
  • Tzatziki and/or hummus
  • Pita bread

METHOD

1. Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and add enough cold water to cover them by at least 2 inches. Let soak overnight, then drain. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step and use canned chickpeas instead. Not as authentic but they’ll still work!

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2. Place onions, parsley/cilantro, salt, chili powder, garlic, and cumin in the bowl of a food processor. Add the chickpeas in sections to the mixture, using the pulse option to combine the ingredients until blended but not pureed. You want to keep the mixture granular and solid and if you over-blend it’ll become more of a hummus type paste.

coaalalgowi

3. Sprinkle in the baking powder and 4 tablespoons of the flour and pulse. The amount of flour is adjustable, but the objective should be adding just enough that it becomes more of a structured dough that can form a small ball and is no longer sticky or hard to shape. Once it has reached this state, cover the bowl and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Again, you can skip this step or reduce the refrigeration time if you’re in a hurry but just keep in mind that the falafel may be a little more fragile during the cooking process.

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4. Roll the falafel dough into little balls. I flattened mine a little bit so they were easier to fit into my pita wraps.

5. Pour enough oil to create a thin layer of it at the bottom of a wok, deep pot, or skillet. Heat the oil on medium-high and then fry a small ball to test. If it falls apart, add a little more flour to your mixture and try again. Once you have the right ratio, fry the rest of the balls, letting them cook for a few minutes on each side until they are crispy and golden brown. Place the cooked falafel on plate covered in paper towel to drain any extra oil. Remember to make sure that the oil is not too hot and you’re gently placing them into the pan rather than dropping them as that might cause the hot oil to splash, so be careful!

falafflel

6. From here you can either just enjoy them with tzatziki and call it a day or you can go the route I did and add them into a pita with some tomatoes, cucumber, onion, tzatziki, and any other fillings of your choice. While tzatziki is usually readily available at most supermarkets, it’s pretty much just yogurt, garlic, and cucumbers so it’s a breeze to make at home as well!

I hope you enjoyed this amazing falafel recipe! Although it was a little bit out of my cooking comfort zone, I’m so glad I gave falafel a try; it’s definitely going in my recipe book. As intimidating as it may seem, vegetarian cooking is not as challenging as you may think, and I promise for every herbed and rustic pea spread slathered black quinoa muffin you may come across during the endless search for meatless recipes, there is an absolutely delicious and straightforward recipe just waiting to be discovered!

[header image // source] [all other images taken by me] [recipe adapted from: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/my-favorite-falafel-231755]

 

On taking risks… and rejection

~ Chu ☆ ~
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It’s September, a new school year, and a great time to try something new, and perhaps take a few risks. Maybe you want to try and participate more in class. Maybe you want to try out for a sports team, or join a new club at school. Maybe you want to apply for a Youth Central steering committee, like YAA! (Steering committee application form is here). Whatever it is, it’s important to take risks. No-one ever reaches success by sitting and waiting it to fall in their lap. As much as I hate to admit it, being successful doesn’t come without taking risks. And it’s not just about the final results either. Although slightly terrifying, taking risks gets you noticed, creates change, and it teaches you a lot about yourself.

(Source)
(Source)

Take me for example. Last June, I was going through auditions for MRU orchestras. I auditioned for two; the one I was already in, and the one that was of an advanced level, which was my objective orchestra.

It was definitely a risk doing the audition for this advanced level of orchestra. Firstly, I hadn’t even been playing violin for two years at that point, suggesting that I shouldn’t technically be in orchestra at all, let alone one of such an high level. Secondly, I honestly just don’t think I was good enough. Time was definitely another factor; although I had a musical background, I hadn’t had enough time to truly get to know the violin as an instrument, and skills such as my bow conduct weren’t up to par. Thirdly, I was underprepared. I’d only had a few months to learn my pieces, and I couldn’t play them all that well, and that’s not good, especially for an audition. Lastly, my violin is, in part, to blame as well. I didn’t have the best quality violin and bow at the time, and I had to change two of my strings the day before, so I was still getting used to them. To top it all off, I had a terrible shoulder rest, so I could barely hold my violin up high enough. But nevertheless, I took a risk, and tried anyways.

Fast-forward two months, and my audition results come out; not to my surprise, I had been rejected.

But despite a first rejection, I was determined to get in to that orchestra. So even though I had been accepted back into my old orchestra, I took another risk, and decided to do a late audition. This meant that I would audition again in September, right before the orchestral season started.

I anticipated that audition all summer. I took lessons, I practiced constantly, and I worked hard. I was going to do my best to succeed in this late audition.

That audition happened about two weeks ago. And guess what? I was rejected again.

(Source)
(Source)

So at this point, you may be wondering why I am willingly publicly expressing that I failed not one, but two auditions to the same orchestra, within the span of 3 months?

Well, despite as embarrassing as this seems (and trust me, it really is), it isn’t all that bad. Here’s why:

This audition got me noticed
Yes, even if I got rejected, at least the conductor knows me now. So how is that good, if he knows me as the girl who failed two consecutive auditions into his orchestra? Well, firstly, he offered me another audition in January (third time’s a charm?), when the second half of the orchestral season starts. If he didn’t know who I was, I wouldn’t have been offered that third audition. And if I work hard and improve drastically between now and January, he will be able to see that improvement. In my opinion, the ability to improve is way better than naturally being good in the first place.
Now I know what I need to work on
Falling back only gives you the opportunity to come back even stronger. After this audition, I know what my strengths are, but now I also know what my weaknesses are and what I need to work on in order to come back twice as strong. Don’t look at a failure as a “you’re not good enough“. Look at it as a “you will be good enough“.
This gives me time to step back and focus on other things for a while
Now that I have the extra two hours a week that I would have used on orchestra practice, I’ve got time to work on other things. Instead of choosing to stay home and mope after my rejection, I immediately picked myself back up, and I’m now taking debate lessons with those extra two hours. It’s definitely not the end of the world.

And what can you take away from my experience? It’s always important to take risks, because even if it doesn’t initially work out, it always pays off in the long run!

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for that club, submit that application, raise your hand in class, go ahead and take a risk.

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Falling with YAA: How to make the best out of this FALL season?

Valeria Rusu
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So it is this time of the year again, yay! I personally love fall as it is one of my favourite seasons. I decided to write this post as a way to convince you readers that it is in fact as awesome as I make it sound. What’s not to love?! Fashion, Thanksgiving, Halloween, beautiful scenery and so much more! Maybe you are sad about the fact that summer is over and believe me, I totally understand! But with this post, I am going to provide  a few ideas on how to make this fall season a bit more fun and exciting for YOU!

Scentsy bar pack. The 3 fragrances are: cinnamon bear scentsy bar (located on the right hand corner), coconut lemongrass (center), black raspberry vanilla (left hand corner).
Scentsy bar pack. The 3 fragrances are: cinnamon bear scentsy bar (right hand corner), coconut lemongrass (center), black raspberry vanilla (left hand corner).
  1. Scentsy warmers! Now you are probably thinking what in the world are those things?! Well let me say, they are a much better alternative to candles and a lot safer. You are less likely to get a headache from them. It is a lamp (come in different style and designs) in which you insert something that’s  called a Scentsy bar (come with various fragrances). Below this paragraph, you will see a photo of the scentsy warmer I ordered online. And trust me when I say this, the money is totally worth it. You can put it wherever your heart tells you to put it! The results include an  amazing smell and a nice, finishing touch to the room you placed it in! If you are intrigued by this as much as I was when I first heard about it, check out the official Scentsy website (you will do yourself a huge favor). Here is the link.
    A Paris themed scentsy wax warmer.
    A Paris themed scentsy wax warmer.

     

     

 

 

 

 

2.  Embrace the Halloween season (who cares if it is too early!) I know that Halloween is a  month and a half away but why should that stop anyone? A couple of days ago, I was shopping in my neighborhood and stumbled upon Value Village. I was extremely pleased to find out  they already put Halloween costumes on sale! The moment I walked into that store, I saw one of the workers wearing a bumble bee costume and before I realized, I was already heading for the costume section. The Halloween spirit definitely took over.  I picked up at least 5 costumes and got myself a change room. I stayed there for at least 30 minutes straight just trying all those costumes on. I had the best time! And the super amazing thing is that this activity (or whatever you’d like to call it) cost me no extra money. I say everyone should do this and it might seem crazy at first, but as soon as you enter that change room you are going to have the time of your life. Especially when that costume looks good, you would feel an instantaneous feeling of happiness taking over your body. By then, you will just want to try on more costumes! Also,  grab your friends with you (the more, the merrier) and don’t be afraid to take some photos!

3. Go outside and enjoy the nature being offered to us during this time of year! You are a strange human being if you never jumped in leaf piles during the fall season . Personally, I did it continuously when I was a kid and still do when life’s pressures ease up a bit. But the truth is, no matter how difficult you think your life might be, you should always find time to make a leaf pile or do whatever it is you want to celebrate your love for fall nature!  You could get a camera and take some photographs instead, it is all up to you. Plus, you should know that taking photos (especially outside) is a  very good way to ease up the school stress.  Even by taking a stroll through the park or your neighborhood, fall season will do its magic. All of our senses will be brought into the present moment. Just by stopping and noticing your surroundings, you will come to realize how blessed we are to be given the opportunity to enjoy this time of year. The last couple of sentences might sound corny and cliché but they couldn’t be more true! Don’t believe me? Try these out yourself and then we can talk!

 

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4. Create your own special FALL playlist! If you are just like me, you love music. You can’t live without it because it just makes your life more bearable. Okay, well that might sound a bit depressing but in some ways, it is actually true! To make the fall arrival more enjoyable, download a brand new playlist on your phone. It is very simple but the after results are amazing.

5. Now for the last tip: please ensure you remain healthy! There are so many sicknesses going around during this time of year so you should always be aware of those! No matter how busy your schedule is, always find time to sleep at least 8 hours a day and eat breakfast, lunch and of course dinner! You probably were already told this,  but let me repeat it to you. Your well being is the major key to getting the best out of this fall season. Do whatever it takes to remain healthy for your own sake and for others’.

This is it! These are the  five ideas YOU can use in order to enjoy this fall season! Now that I am done writing this post, I am going to go enjoy the newly arrived Scentsy warmer in my room and listen to my new fall themed playlist. I genuinely hope you will have fun this season because I know I will!

 

Sources: 1.  2. 3.  4.

My Love-Hate Relationship with “Adulting”

Talia Santarossa
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In recent months, the term “adulting” has become an increasingly popular term to describe the act of doing things that a responsible adult does. As someone beginning to transition from adolescence into early adulthood and slowly beginning to realize all of the responsibility that I’m going to need to start taking on, I take great pride in the little moments where I do something even remotely grown-up (Because let’s face it, I’m a big dumb procrastinating teenager like the rest of ’em. Please, let me enjoy my last fleeting moments of really not caring about anything too much yet.). For this reason, I find a very real connection with the word “adulting” at certain times, because I know that I am going above and beyond what is expected of me at this age.

screen-shot-2016-09-15-at-5-54-07-pmObviously, in different households, the expectations are different and people are raised with different ideas of how much responsibility they need to take on before leaving the nest and becoming an Certified Grown-Up™. As an only child, I never had to worry about most of my own scheduling and remembering appointments and such because my parents didn’t have multiple kids to deal with so as a result, I’ve probably gotten off a lot easier than a lot of other people up until this point. I feel like in the past year or so, I’ve become much more autonomous and began to get comfortable with the idea that, yes, I need to go to work and deal with my taxes and make sure that I go and get my oil changed and all of that lovely stuff. Still, I felt pretty proud of myself when I remembered that I was going to be driving by the doctor’s office on my way to go somewhere else and I needed to make an appointment. Because it was my first time making my own doctor’s appointment and it’s something that my parents usually still do for me, I felt like I was “adulting,” that I was taking responsibility for something that is not currently expected of me. For adolescents, the word encompasses what it feels like to take charge of an important aspect of life without that being a norm that everyone your age follows anyway.

The real problem that I have with the whole idea of “adulting” is when actual adults use the term to display pride in doing something that they should be doing anyway. As a good friend of mine said, “The status quo has not changed. You’re just being an entitled idiot.” I wouldn’t personally go so far as to use the word ‘idiot’ because I feel that that implies ignorance. Anyone who would use the term “adulting” obviously has some concept of the fact that they need to take responsibility and isn’t ignorant to it. However, I agree that there’s definitely a sense of entitlement that lies behind it to a certain extent. Perhaps another later to it is a reluctance to grow up and take on the role that they know will follow them for the rest of their lives, or maybe an immaturity stemming from a childhood of not having
to take more responsibility already.

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Regardless, the whole concept of “adulting” is diminishing what it really means to grow up. Being an adult is not just about cooking yourself a real dinner or remembering to do laundry or making sure that you file your income tax return. It’s about accomplishments that are truly your own,
finding your passions, branching out and working towards life goals that are less short-sighted than simply trying to be a functioning member of society. As of my 18th birthday, I plan on stop using the word “adulting” and accepting the fact that this is what my life entails now. There’s no point in living under the illusion that cooking a chicken stir-fry is somehow an accomplishment.

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The Social Mammoth-Why You Should Stop Caring About Other People’s Opinions: Part 1

Kiana Baghban
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Opinions: the thing you say you don’t care about, and yet you still do.

If you go on the web and do a little research on ‘not caring about other people’s opinions’ you will find a ton of websites, and pretty sure, you’re going to be overwhelmed, what with an article with a whole inquiry into the depths of the brain that even the title makes you fall asleep, to an article that you could’ve just gone to your friend to get the same advice. I will confess right here right now that that was exactly me when I went to do some research.  But out of the all the sites that I went through (and out of all the times that I managed to stay awake), I found one that caught my eye and I liked. Here it is. In this article, I’m going to cram all the key points from http://waitbutwhy.com/  into a smaller version so you can wrap your head around this whole ‘social mammoth’ thing. (Please be aware that this website has some strong language in it. In this article, I’m making a kid-friendly version. All ideas, photos etc. come from Waitbutwhy.) 

So by now you must be wondering: “Social Mammoth? She’s insane.” Let me explain. Do you know your Great 2000th Grandfather that lived in a tribe during the year 50 000 BC? Well, our problem resorts back to that date. During 50 000 BC, it was a dire need to be in a tribe, you would get food and protection when both were the only things that life was based upon. So, your Great 2000th Grandfather had to try to ‘fit into’ the tribe as best as he could, the smallest mistake would cost him his life. The weirder he was, the less was his chance for survival. If the majority of the tribe agreed that he was too weird, out he goes. Because of this, we grew an obsession of what other people thought of us.  For our uses, we’re going to call this obsession the Social Survival Mammoth:

 

mammoth1-600x525(pretty cool, am I right?) 

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Back when your Great 2000th Grandfather was alive, the Social Mammoth played a big role in his life. It would tell him what to do and what not to do, who to talk to and who to not, basically: he was guided through his life by his mammoth. This was fine for tens of thousands of years, life was more simple back then and the Social Mammoth fitted in perfectly. But with the evolution of the human mind , we soon changed, a lot and fast. Now we were studying philosophy, mathematics, poetics, and we were starting to build a new civilization and culture. But the problem here is that with such a rapid change in our minds, our bodies couldn’t catch up, natural evolution is a slow process, Our bodies are still cabled for life in the BCs. So, we are now in the year 2016, and we still have a sweaty, furry mammoth beside us that thinks it’s still the year 50 000 BC. For example:

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Look familiar? Well, it’s the Social Mammoth that always makes you feel weird when you’re alone in a mall and everyone is staring at you, or when you’re standing alone on the first day of school because all of your friends are in a different class and you feel like you could just burst into tears at any moment.

Keeping your Mammoth well taken care of takes a lot of work. Not only do they need to feel safe at all times, but they need to be fed regularly on praise and approval. Our society has created many things to help keep this Mammoth safe: stereotypes, cliques, hair styles, fashion statements. For example:

 

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Sometimes some people feed their mammoth using your accomplishments. Like so: 

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We also have someone called a Puppet Master. These Puppet Masters can be anyone in your life: a parent, teacher, friend etc. Our mammoths concentrate on pleasing these Puppet Masters as well as they can, they practically inhale the Puppet Master’s words. Like so:

 

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BUT, we have a solution: your Authentic Voice. Often as not, the Social Mammoth takes up so much of our time that we forget the voice in our head that stands for our morals and beliefs.

 

The Authentic Voice:

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After a while, the A.V (Authentic Voice) begins to shrink and slowly walks over to cry in a corner. Like so:

 

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Losing touch with your A.V is a horrible thing because you become dependent on other people’s opinions, this makes you very fragile. The Social Mammoth has taken over in a world where it shouldn’t because, let’s face it, the Mammoth wants to be perfect in everyone’s eyes and we know that’s not possible. So just as much as the praise of your teachers, classmates etc. makes you feel amazing, you’re going to feel AS bad when you get criticized by them. The people who are run by their Mammoth, cannot take any criticism at ALL, they make a comeback. For example:

 

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This whole ‘Mammoth Situation’ is getting out of hand. 

To Be Continued….

Building A Capsule Wardrobe Pt. I – A Capsule What?

Hui Wen Zheng
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From the transition from Junior High to High School, I’ve changed so much and in so many aspects of my life. My attitudes and beliefs changed most of all, and that has in turn influenced the way I live my life, including my choices about fashion. Fashion has become so much more to me than just putting clothes that I like on my body; it is a form of self-expression, and how I choose what I put on has come to reflect my changed — and changing — worldview.

Throughout my Grade 7-9 days, my closet comprise of items never more than $20. Thinking back, many of the articles I purchased didn’t reflect my actual taste in fashion, but were merely pieces that I thought were nice and were also cheap. That resulted in half my closet being a graveyard of clothes that I wore only a few times and never touched again. I would go shopping often, and come back thinking I had snatched up bargain deals on the cheap items that I bought. What I didn’t realize was that the costs of the items I was buying were racking up, and the value I was getting out of the clothes wasn’t helping either.

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As I began to be exposed to more classy and high-end lifestyles of others in High School and of what I saw on social media, I started to reevaluate my choices. I realized that I was more rewarding for myself and also more proactive of me to splurge on only a few essentials, quality articles, and items that I really, REALLY, liked and that I knew I would wear for a long time instead of what I was doing before. Even though this method may be more expensive up front, in the long-run it has definitely saved my major $$$. Now, even though I may have less articles in my closet, I have pieces that allow me to mix-and-match to form many different outfits. Even better yet, I can definitely imagine myself taking most of my closet with me to university next year. When I go into my closet now, I find myself surrounded by pieces that I genuinely like. This is the baseline philosophy that has spawned the “capsule closet” trend, in people have ditched their unnecessary clothes in favour of 30-40 versatile and quality pieces instead. In the end, this saves money, space, and reduces your ecological footprint. Over the next few weeks, I will be providing my tips and essentials for you to start your own capsule wardrobe and rethink your life. More to come…

Hui Wen

 

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STORY TIME: X-Fest 2016 + Meeting Halsey

Emily Donville
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I was freaking out the day before day 1 of X-Fest 2016, and not just because I’d be seeing some of my favourite artists live. My first year attending the festival, 2014, was interesting to say the least. Don’t get me wrong, it was fun for the most part and I saw a lot of my favorite artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Foster the People, however I found myself the victim of a horrible situation. I lost my phone in a moshpit and was separated from my friend. Yes, you heard that right. That happened to me. I eventually relocated my friend after some nice Torontonians let me borrow their phone so I could panic to my mom because of course, she was the only number. It was scary but luckily I was also able to find my phone which was slightly damaged but in good condition considering it was underneath a crowd of concert goers jamming out to Cage the Elephant. So yes, you could say my anxiety skyrocketed the night before.

DAY 1

When Saturday finally rolled around, I was excited but so nervous. I was afraid I’d lose my phone again, or become the victim or an even worse situation. Nevertheless, I tried to not let my anxiety keep me from having a good time. The day started by running errands before I was to be picked up by my friends. A quick trip to Walmart ensured I was ready to go with my plentiful pile of snacks and my trusty, fashionable red rain poncho (I never got to wear it so be glad there’s no photos because trust me, it was a terrible look).img_6221

We got through the gates around 1:30pm and sat on the ground for a couple hours, enjoying the first smaller acts from the comfort of sitting rather than standing in the pit for 12 hours straight (how do they do it!?). To my surprise, Jake Bugg was doing a signing at the autograph tent that day. He’s relatively unheard of, but I was super stoked personally. I’d been a fan for a few years and unfortunately missed him when he opened for The Black Keys at the Saddledome two years ago. I was happy to learn he was playing X-Fest and when I was waiting in line to meet him, I was more or less starstruck. Of all people, I never thought I’d meet Jake Bugg. I managed to get him to sign my copy of his latest CD, “On My One” and we posed for a picture together. After meeting him, I can say he’s very quiet in person but I don’t feel disappointed in the slightest. It was surreal to meet him and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

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After meeting Jake Bugg and subsequently watching his set, Arkells took the stage. This was my 2nd time watching them, the first being last year at Squamish Valley Music Festival. My brother and I are huge, die hard Arkells fans. After my brother caught a free Arkells concert in Whistler this past summer, I was eagerly awaiting my turn to see them again. They were just as great as they were the last time I saw them and I only wish they were higher up on the setlist so their set could be extended.

Afterwards we watched Vance Joy take the stage who in my honest opinion had the potential to be great but left me feeling a little disappointed. Vance Joy is great, though the obnoxious bass drowned out everything. His band was fit with a saxophone player and trumpet player, who would’ve complimented Joy’s indie folk songs if it weren’t for the fact that we could barely hear them. Overall, I was very bored with Vance Joy and I think I would’ve enjoyed it better if it was at a smaller venue.

img_6410The Lumineers were the final act of the night. I admired their set design, which was fit with cute crystal-like lights. Even though they were playing to a huge crowd, it felt more intimate then compared to every other set that day. After playing their hit “Ho Hey” early on, they asked the crowd to put away their phones, to which I obliged. I found it easy to enjoy their set, focusing on the songs they serenaded us with. Their latest release, Cleopatra, is full of songs that I’d listen to at night with the lights off and the covers pulled close. One minute you’re listening to them alone in your room, and the next they’re standing 15 feet away from you playing those same songs, and it’s a surreal experience. At one point Wesley Schultz, the lead singer, walked straight through the crowd in which I got to be a foot away from him for a moment. It was amazing and I feel like they don’t receive enough attention. They sound just as good live as they do in studio and I’m glad I got to see them.

DAY 2

I attended the second day with a different friend. She picked me up and after a series of detours due to the pride parade, we ended up arriving at the gates at 11:30am. I got to see my friend Shane who lives in Saskatchewan whom I met during my trip to Ottawa this past April (which you can read about here) and we managed to get in pretty quickly. The last time I attended X-Fest, the wait was long so I was happy to see things run smoothly this time. We bundled up in blankets, ate vermicelli and watched some more smaller bands.

Fort Calgary was totally overrun by Twenty One Pilots fans as well as Halsey fans. I got nervous that we’d be too far back so we joined the crowd around 3pm and watched Hannah Georgas, Atlas Genius, and The Naked and Famous take the stage. All of these acts were great and helped the crowd warm up by getting them to dance.

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July Talk walked on stage around 6:15pm and they give me chills. The grittiness of Peter Dreimanis’ voice contrasted well against Leah Fay’s soft vocals. This was my 3rd time watching July Talk, my first experience being at X-Fest 2014. July Talk is a hard pill to swallow. Their heavy rock is hard to get into, and I initially found myself in that position. Having purely been a pop fan for so many years, I presumptively turned my nose up at their music and I’ve never been so disappointed in my past self. July Talk are amazing and are quite honestly one of the best Canadian bands out there right now. I strongly encourage everyone to listen to them, and if you’re sad that you missed out on them this time, they’ll be back on December 3rd playing MacEwan Hall. To tide you over until then, listen to their new album Touch here.

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After July Talk was Halsey. I was hesitant about this performance. I’ve been a fan of Halsey since last spring when she was on her American Youth Tour, a time before her debut album Badlands was released. I first saw her live when she supported The Weeknd last November at the Saddledome. To be blunt, I was disappointed then and I was afraid her performance at X-Fest would be more so the same, but to my delight she managed to blow me away. Despite the booming bass that threatened me with hearing loss at the young age of 16, Halsey turned the Fort Calgary grounds into a full blown party with pyrotechnics and her infectious pop songs. Halsey noted that this was most likely the last concert in support of Badlands, and some of the songs wouldn’t make a reappearance on future setlists. It felt bittersweet but also incredible to be apart of something so special and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for her next tour.

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Finally, Twenty-One Pilots came on. After seeing them this past April, I was beyond excited to see them yet again. While their indoor concerts are amazing, I was led to believe their outdoor festival concerts were something on a whole new level, and let’s just say I was right. Their stage was decked out with amazing visuals and lights that didn’t detract from the experience but in fact enhanced it. Before Halsey’s set, my friend and I made friends with two teens from Okotoks who joined us in belting out the lyrics to every song. It was surreal throughout the whole set, especially when Tyler Joseph clambered inside a red hamster ball and literally ran across the crowd. I knew the experience would be unreal, but when I finally let everything sunk it, it phased me how crazy and amazing it was. Their set at X-Fest totally trumped the concert I saw last April, and when it finally ended I was left feeling pensive. I was shocked at how fast it flew by, but I was glad I got to witness every minute of it. I can officially place among the top 5 best concerts I’ve ever seen, and if you know me, you know I’ve attended quite a few.

Meeting Halsey

I’m a bit of a setlist collector. For those of you who don’t know what those are, they’re slips of paper on stage (that are sometimes handwritten or typed up) that list every song played during the set. To date, I’ve got 2 arkells, 1 alvvays, 1 foster the people and 1 mother mother setlist. Thought I didn’t dream of it, I wanted to try my hand at snatching one for Twenty-One Pilots. Nobody could locate it so my friend and I ended up leaving after several minutes. It was only after our failed attempt that we found ourselves walking along 6th st SE when I spotted a white SUV waiting to turn left to head towards Inglewood. What struck me was a crowd of teenage girls crowding around the back window. Initially I thought they were all carpooling and shuffling into the car but after they kept standing, my heart leapt. I quite honestly thought it was Twenty-One Pilots in that car but as I ran towards it and discovered it was none other than Halsey, I wasn’t disappointed.

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My heart started pounding and I didn’t want to miss out on my chance to meet her so I carefully ran over to where the car idled and waited alongside on the car to snap a picture. I’d never shook so hard until then. It could’ve been the cold too, but I really struggled to snap that picture. My cheeks were cold and managed to literally make me look like a chipmunk, but the whole experience was surreal and I’m glad we had that chance encounter. Without delaying our departure with my setlist attempt, I doubt we’d have seen her. Afterwards, I was shaking and stuck in a state of disbelief. Looking at my lockscreen, the aforementioned selfie, I still feel surprised. You never think you’ll meet an international pop star, and then it happens. I always had this notion that she’d be a primadonna but she was so sweet. She could’ve easily put her window up, but she didn’t. She cares for her fans and I only wish I had more time to tell her how much she means to me.

And now I find myself thinking of the cheesy quote: “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” and that’s all I can do to remain stable. X-Fest 2016 will go down as one of the best weekends of my life, and I’m grateful for the friends I went with, people I befriended and the overall experience. I was bummed out about losing my phone at X-Fest in 2014, and the infamous cancellation of 2015, but in a closing note, I can say 2016 made up for it and blew away all expectations. Thanks X-Fest. Let’s do it again sometime.

All photos are mine except:

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Canadian Immigration Reform

Sarah Nolin
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Canada is known for the freedom, diversity and democracy we possess. What would happen if we took away a basic right to a new citizen of the country?

It is in the constitution as one of the basic rights Canadians have; the ability to live and move anywhere the person chooses within the country. Our mobility rights our important to us, as a young Canadian I will have the ability to one day choose where I want to live, attend school and start my family. What if this right was taken from me and I was forced to live in a rural community without access to the things I desire? What if I has to go to a University that I did not choose because it was the only one available to me? These rights would be compromised if Canada decided to place immigrants where they wanted in order to avoid over populating major cities. John McCallum has suggested that this idea would be beneficial to Canada in the near future. The plan would allow more immigrants to come into the country and live out their visas in a governed place. The controversy on this topic is obvious but how could this affect the quality of lives the immigrants have?

As a country, Canada is known for its freedom and ability to make one’s choices on their own. The democracy that we have is vital and if we gave our government the control of telling immigrants where they can or cannot live this leads us away from democracy and towards dictatorship. As a Canadian I take pride in my ability to have free will and to see our country take a portion of that away from a new citizen is not Canadian at all.

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