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Artist Spotlight: Pomplamoose

Dhriti Gupta
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As of late, with my seemingly endless amounts of time this summer I have been able to come across quite a few interesting and unique artists (musical and otherwise), inspiring me to start a new series of articles highlighting and showcasing the talents of some of the creators that have caught my fancy! With this series of articles I hope to introduce and inspire you to indulge in something new and something that you may not have initially thought to give a try. Enjoy!

For the first installment of the artist spotlight, I have chosen the musical and YouTube duo known as Pomplamoose! Formed in the summer of 2008, the Californian music group consists of multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte. Pomplamoose was initially established through their YouTube channel where they began by posting simple recorded performances that followed a fairly straightforward philosophy:

  1. What you see is what you hear, meaning no lip-syncing for instruments or voice.
  2. If you hear it, at some point in the video you will see it — no hidden sounds!

As of today, their YouTube channel has 466,498 subscribers and over 100 million views. Through the success of their signature “VideoSong” covers and originals, the duo has been able to release 6 albums. Soon after their main channel took off, Dawn and Conte were also able to begin their own separate vlogging and music channels while of course still uploading videos and creating content for Pomplamoose.

Both lifelong musicians, the couple actually met as undergraduates at Stanford before they decided to form Pomplamoose. From there things just clicked and ever since they have been collaborating on creating original “no glitz” music and entertainment for all to enjoy. In fact, just recently this year, Dawn and Conte got married!

Although they tend to rack up quite a few views on their 3 channels, living life as a YouTube musician isn’t always easy and with the creation of the site Patreon, Dawn and Conte encourage their viewers to support their music and help them continue to be able to make amazing content! The concept is simple: by pledging $1 or more on the videos they put out, you have access to free mp3 downloads of their songs! However, the band also continues to emphasize that this is completely optional and no matter what, their videos are and will always be free.

Now to give you a little taste of what Pomplamoose truly is, I’ve selected 4 of my favourite pieces that they have uploaded thus far:

La Vie en Rose – Edith Piaf

Although it is definitely on the older side of their music, this is probably the most beautiful cover of Edith Piaf I’ve ever heard and honestly I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of listening to it.

Mister Sandman – The Chordettes

Again, this one is pretty dated and also a cover like a lot of their music, but a beautiful and upbeat piece nonetheless! It also features some skilled guitar playing from musician Ryan Lerman.

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham!

I love this cover because not only is it one of their first more put together music videos but it also adds such a lovely spin on a classic song that if I’m honest I didn’t like all that much before I heard this take on it.

 Pay Attention – A Pomplamoose Original

Found on their newest album Besides, Pay Attention is one of my favourite Pomplamoose originals due to its intriguing cinematography and eclectic sound.

Honorable Mention – Suis-moi (Camille) – Nataly Dawn & Cyrille Aimée

Although this isn’t strictly Pomplamoose, it was uploaded to Nataly’s solo channel and I just had to at least include it as an honorable mention because it’s so amazing!! Featuring vocals from French singer, Cyrille Aimee, this cover of a song from the movie Le Petit Prince is just one of those songs that instantly improves your mood. 

 

Alright, that’s about all for this segment of the Artist Spotlight! I hope you enjoyed this little review-esque piece and if you ended up liking what you heard, be sure to check out Pomplamoose. I’ll be back soon with more cool artists to feature and showcase, but in the meantime I hope this has inspired you to continue to try new things!

 

 

YAA’s Summer: Still Have Nothing Planned For the Summer? Don’t Fret!

Hui Wen Zheng
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YAA’s Summer: Still Have Nothing Planned For the Summer? Don’t Fret!

Congratulations on finishing yet another year of school! Another grade over, and another gaping void that is known as summer. My family is not the type to go out for a long family getaway, so often, finding something to do in the summer can be a pain. Over the past few weeks, I tried in vain to apply to several jobs to fill up my time, but unfortunately, it was all for naught. Most employers were looking for employees that would be willing to work past the summer as well, and being a busy student, I figured that wasn’t the best choice for me. Instead, I’ve decided to focus my time doing other activities that isn’t work this summer. And just in case you find yourself in the same boat, here are some opportunities to make sure you have a full and fun summer!

SUNIA

I first heard about SUNIA while I was representing my school at UC Model UN this year, and from the moment the ambassadors showed us the trailer, I was interested. A week-long excursion to camp INSERT, SUNIA is a great opportunity for those interested in Model UN, current events, and international politics. With all the fun outdoor opportunities that you would find at a normal camp, each year, two UN representatives also attends the camp to educate and help campers with the Security Council portion of the camp and to teach them more about the UN in general. As someone who is interested in political sciences and perhaps a future in the UN, I think this will be a very rewarding experience and definitely the highlight of my summer. The exciting thing is that registration isn’t over yet! Apply at sunia.ca by July 1st to guarantee your spot and to find out more about what they do. If you sign up for week A, see you there!

 

YOUTH CENTRAL SUMMER CAMPS

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In the summer prior to my Grade 10 year, I spent a lot of time in the summer volunteering for various projects wih Youth Central and ranked up hefty hours doing projects that made me forget that I was even volunteering! I met  ton of inspiring and dedicated youth that summer, and a lot of those connections helped me in high school and continue to be important to me today. I was able to participate in activities that I never would have done on my own, like building a house out of branches, riding unicycles, powering a stage by riding a bike, and much more. The summer is also a busy time in Calgary culturally, and there are endless festivals and activities that you can sign up to help with. I have incredibly fond memories of that time in my life, and I would love to be able to relive that again this summer by doing more projects! Something that I would really love to do more of is the summer camp opportunities. There are so many on the Youth Central database and they are very well spread out around the city so no matter where you live, there is a summer camp you can volunteer at close to you. The great thing about them is that you must volunteer there for at least one week, meaning that you get to know the kids you work with, an really become a councilor and friend to them, while getting to do all the cool stuff they do at the camp as well. If you aren’t a Youth Central volunteer already, visit youthcentral.com to find out how you can become one and be involved in a ton of cool projects this summer.

 

CREATE A BUCKET LIST OF ALL THE EVENTS YOU WANT TO ATTEND THIS SUMMER

Studio Bell opens this Friday (x)

Like I mentioned, summer is one of the most vibrant times in the city, and there is no shortage of things to do. Whether it be a new exhibition at the Glenbow, or a cool cultural festival, there is no much the city has to offer that isn’t just visiting Chinook Mall. Check out Avenue Calgary’s website for a list of all the things that are going on over the next few months. You’ll quickly notice that there is something going on every single day, and if you plan out which events yo want to attend, there will be no shortage of fun for you this summer. I know that I have personally put off visiting some pretty cool locations over the past year to focus on school, so in addition to attending cool events, I hope to also explore our city more.

 

What are your plans for the summer? Is there anything that you would like to recommend to those without a summer plan right now? Comment below! Have a terrific summer everyone 🙂

YAA’s Summer: Cult-Classics Movie Bucketlist

Hui Wen Zheng
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There’s nothing better than the feeling of being able to relax and watch a good, long movie without the ghosts of all the work you are not doing lurking in the back of your brain. Since I recently completed my grade 11 year, arguably the most difficult year of high school, I’ve accumulated a pretty substantial list of movies that I put off watching during the school year because I can’t handle the crippling guilt. Instead, I’ve been saving them for the summer. Below are only a few of the movies on the list, and you can probably tell that they are most cult-classics that I haven’t seen yet so if you’re anything like me and haven’t seen them, hit me up and we can be movie buddies.

 

MINORITY REPORT

Recommended by my brilliant ELA teacher this year, Minority Report is an early 2000s sci-fi movie about a future in which police enlist the knowledge of three psychics to apprehend criminals before they commit their crime. When one of the police’s own (Tom Cruise) becomes the center of an accusation, age-old questions about free will versus self-determination are presented. Directed by Spielberg and available on Netflix, there are so many reasons why this movie makes it on my list.

 

HEATHERS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTmpKgocyYg

An American teenage cult classic with an unexpected twist: murder. It has all the elements of a movie of the breed of Mean Girls: cute dudes, a popular teenage clique, and a single outlier. In this case, after a nasty confrontation with the clique leader, the outlier (played by Winona Ryder) and her boyfriend accidentally poison her. In an unexpected twist, she soon realizes that her charming boyfriend is actually trying to murder those in their high school. Dark, twisted, yet somehow still a comedy, this movie belongs on the summer movie lists of everyone.

 

Legally Blonde

Elle Woods wants only one more thing in her perfect life: for her boyfriend to propose. However, her overwhelming “blondeness” keeps him from doing so, and in order to prove to him that she is more than just that, she enrolls at Harvard Law (oh if it were only that easy!), where she discovers her own passion for law. Witty, funny, and empowering, I don’t know why I haven’t seen it already.

 

Lost in Translation 

A Sofia Coppola film, this one takes the cake for being the most alternative item on this tasting menu of cult classics. Filmed and set in Tokyo, Lost In Translation is about the unique understanding and unlikely bond that is formed between a lonely and directionless actor at the end of his career and a neglected newlywed. Based on what I’ve heard about it, it is a film that will move you. I’m prepping the tissue boxes.

 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I love beautiful films. And I don’t just mean movies with a touching message and amazing hidden meanings, though that is also great. I mean films that are visually pleasing, and luckily Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is directed by former music video director Michel Gondry. Starring Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey as lovers who undergo a new procedure to erase all their memories of one another following their painful breakup, this film analyzes the complexity of relationships and the pain that accompanies their end.

 

 

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Appreciate your health

~ Chu ☆ ~
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Congratulations everyone! We have survived yet another school year, and as a reward, we have been freed for the summer!

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And as we shift into the miraculous bliss that is summer, I’d like to take a moment to just remind you all that if you are currently strong and healthy, appreciate it.

I feel like we take our health for granted most of the time. But take it from someone who has just recovered from a cold, your health is so valuable.

Yes, about two weeks ago, literally the day before all my finals started, I woke up, and BAM, I was sick. Head-ache, stuffy nose, sore throat, and coughing like a hag. And being the idiot I am, I persisted, and, instead of staying home and resting like a reasonable person, I went to school because I figured I would need the extra day of revision. Baaaaaad choice. My mind was all foggy, I couldn’t think straight, and I was on the verge of falling asleep in pretty much every class. And then, that evening, instead of getting enough sleep, I went to an open house for Stampede Showband, because that was totally the best thing to do, while sick, the night before my exams.

Exams were not fun. I could barely think properly, let alone remember what I studied, and the fact that my exams are in French did not help. Needless to say, I am absolutely terrified to receive my mark for science.

But now that I am healthy again, I can look back on that terrible week, and really appreciate my current state of non-sickness.

Before my exams, I basically hadn’t been sick since February 2015, and I really forgot how much it freaking sucks. When you’re a kid, getting sick is awesome because you get to stay home and drink ginger ale and miss school and everything, but once you actually need to be at school and learning, getting sick is so annoying. Like, I’ve got so much crap to complete, stahp.

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But yes, if you are healthy right now, and not feeling as if your lungs are trying to eject themselves out of your body, appreciate it. Because I didn’t, and look what happened to me.

 

(A cautionary tale)

 

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20 Tumblr Posts That Were All of Us During Exam Season

Talia Santarossa
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Now that school is drawing to a close and summer is staring us straight in the face, we are presented with an opportunity to reflect on the past weeks and the struggle that is preparing for final exams. As a proud person of the internet, Tumblr is my main source of inspiration in situations like this. Don’t judge me too hard.

When you start by forgetting what motivation is…

Before 1

 

 

 

 

 

… And when you decide to put in effort, distraction is hard to avoid.

Before 2

 

 

 

 

 

Before 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somehow, you make it out alive, but the struggle is real.

Before 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TØP soon begins to straight-up describe your mood.

Before 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You also realize that all of your classmates are going through the same thing…

Before 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… And remember just how important it is to have each other’s backs.

Before 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your first exam looms imposingly and you know that it can sense fear. 

Before 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It also knows how little effort you’ve actually put in. 

Before 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Existential crises ensue… 

Screen Shot 2016-06-26 at 11.35.11 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… And you eventually resign yourself to the fact that disappointment is a real possibility.

Before 12

 

 

 

 

 

The day of the exam, you are quick to notice that you are not alone.

During 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Despite the comfort of camaraderie, you brain still goes to mush.  

During 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This usually results in immediate and acute feelings of self-loathing. 
After 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You feel a morbid sense of accomplishment when it’s all over. 

After 2

 

 

 

 

Now you can finally return to what really matters.

After 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unless nothing really seems to matter anymore. 

After 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

When your grades come back, you may be frustrated to some extent…

After 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

… Then you remember that in the grand scheme of life, these exams, no matter how daunting they seemed at the time, don’t really prove or mean anything. 

After 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a fantastic summer and be proud of all that you’ve accomplished!

-YAA

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Don’t dwell on your past… but rather reflect on it, and accept it.

~ Chu ☆ ~
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As we wind down to the end of the school year (collective cheer), it’s a great time to really look back at this past year and reflect. What are things that you were really happy about? What were things that didn’t really go your way? What things did you do really well? What do you want to improve on?

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But if you’re like me, you’ve probably done alot of terrible, awkward, and terribly awkward things that you just really want to just forget. However, despite that, at least try to turn those into learning experiences.

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And perhaps you’re thinking “Isn’t it bad to constantly revisit your past and dwell on it?”

Dwelling on your past is about becoming stuck in mistakes that you can’t change. It’s about letting yourself live in the unchangeable, and wishing that you could have done something differently. It’s holding yourself back from moving on.

But reflection and acceptance, on the other hand, are about using your past to make your future better. Rather than crying over closed doors and missed opportunities, it’s about opening new doors.

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For example, a few weeks ago, I had a pretty terrible orchestra audition. I can’t exactly pinpoint it to one specific factor, but I guess I wasn’t fully prepared, I was super nervous, and not to mention that the audition room was boiling hot.

(although in hindsight, part of me being so terrified about that audition was that they’re recorded, and apparently I tend to make this face if I’m playing out of tune:)

Let's just take a moment...
Let’s just take a moment…

So I went home after that audition feeling so mortified, and dejected, that I just wanted to curl up into a ball and forget it ever happened. Change my name, move to Hawaii, and just accept my fate as a terrible violin player.

But at one point, I had to get up and face my failure. Because although it’s not healthy to constantly revisit your past and let it define you, it’s also unhealthy to completely ignore it. Reflecting on past mistakes and blunders is how anyone can improve. Why do you think we teach history in schools? As to not make the same mistakes.

And I got up, brushed off my dignity, and had to acknowledge that it happened, and it didn’t go according to planned, but that was okay. And I’m pretty happy that I did, because after I told my violin teacher about what happened at the audition, she actually told me that there was a possibility of doing a late audition in September, giving me more time to practice, and a second chance. If I hadn’t acknowledged my failure, if I had just ignored it, I would have let this unknown opportunity completely go to waste.

And now that I’ve had that experience of a terrible audition, I know that I have to work harder in the future to make sure that this doesn’t happen again. This absolutely mortifying experience is a learning opportunity.

 

So in conclusion, don’t dwell in your past. Don’t let it hold you down. Reflect on it, accept it, and let yourself go even higher.

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You CAN study for english exams, and here’s how

Danielle Leong
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Happy exam season everybody! If you are a youth anywhere in North America who is currently attending school, chances are you are in the midst of final exams.  There are highs and lows to this season of the school year- the exhausting workload and stress of school is coming to an end once again, but before we are free for summer there is the final push.  Exams.  For many including myself, it can be difficult to force ourselves to study when the beautiful blue sky and warm air beckon us to simply relax.  However, in order to not throw a semester’s worth of hard work down the drain, studying is unfortunately a necessity.  For biology, social studies, chemistry, physics, and math, it’s fairly straightforward.  If you put in the hard work, read the textbook, and do the practice questions, you should recieve a grade which you deserve.

However, studying for english is a completely different story.  Many believe that there is no way to prepare for the intimidating written and reading comprehension components of the examinations, and it’s best to simply wing it.  However, according to the opinion of one of my favourite english teachers, those are simply the words of the lazy, and I’ve come to agree.  You see, in middle school I did not study for english exams. At all.  And it showed, very much, through the less than satisfactory marks I was achieving.  Once I entered high school though, I decided to give it a try, because I was no longer okay with recieving marks that I felt didn’t reflect my best efforts.  So I started studying for english, and my marks went up quickly and effectively.  Here are my tips to doing well on both the written and the reading comprehension portions of the English finals!

(But first, in case you are feeling the summer vibes and hence a lack of motivation, here is a nice quote to keep ya going)

hard work quote

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Written Portion (Personal Response/Critical/Analytical Response to text):

If you haven’t experienced this already, in grades 11 and 12 you are required to respond to texts (including images) via a personal response only in grade 11 (a story, letter, speech, essay, play, etc) and both a personal response AND critical/analytical response in grade 12, in a limited amount of time.

english part a

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        1. Learn from past Diploma Exemplars

english 1

         My world of studying was completely revolutionized when I learned about this resource, or rather these resources.  I was quite confused about what the standards were, and what I was supposed to write, and how I was supposed to write it, even though my teachers had briefly touched on it.  One day, I went home, and googled “English 30-1 diploma examples” (because even if you are in grades 10 or 11, these examples are the best), and this website came up.  The diploma examples provide us with a look at the satisfactory, proficient, and exemplary scorings of different students’ writing.  In order to find out what you need to do to achieve an exemplary, you can read the exemplary paper and the comments associated with it.  If you want to avoid doing worse than your standards, take a look at the other papers too!  There are plenty of Alberta 30-1 Diploma examples- all you have to do is google it.

2.Practice analyzing and writing

practice

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        Nobody likes to do it, but it is unbelievably helpful.  Any time you see an opportunity to practice, take it.  If you’re driving by and you see an interesting poster, think about it-analyze it.  Search up writing prompts, and practice writing in a set period of time.  Although it takes motivation to actually set apart time to practice writing, I guarantee that you will not regret your hard work when it comes to the day of the exam.

3.Learn about sentence starters

sentence starters

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        I know so many individuals who have stunning ideas but have trouble transitioning them from inside their heads to the paper.  Why? because they don’t know how to state them.  A common solution to this issue is to familiarize yourself with sentence starters.  By this, I mean: “The source expresses that”, “Demonstrated in the source is”, and so on and so forth.  Not only can you google sentence starters and write them all down on a piece of paper, but you can also look, once again, at past diploma examples and take note of what the students use.

4.Research different formats

thinking bubble

(everyone thinks and processes information in a unique and interesting way, hence the different shapes of bubbles.  Choose a writing method which suits YOUR thought process)!

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              Everyone knows about short stories, and everyone knows about essays.  But did you know that you could write either a critical, formatted essay, or a freer, more creative personal essay about one of your own experiences?  If you’re like me and enjoy talking a lot, personal responses are like speaking to a friend.  If you are passionate about a subject, you could do a rant.  Keep a journal? Write a journal entry. If you’re into drama, you could write a play.  I think that everyone has something- all you need to do is experiment a bit, and discover where your strength lies.  For example, I love stories, so I find it easiest and most natural to convey my main idea through a short story. Unfortunately, poems are the only form of prose which is disallowed.  All you have to remember when writing any format, is to maintain your main idea!

5.Read

book tumblr

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        It’s an oldie but most definitely a goldie.  Read, read and read.  Read books, magazines, cartoons, Shakespeare ( it will help), nonfiction.  Read.  Did I mention read?  Reading not only instills in you ideas and allows you to daydream about the material and expand your imagination (which will come in handy when you’re staring at the most likely confusing texts/images which you are supposed to analyze), but it also subsconsciously shapes your own unique writing style.  Reading different materials helps individuals to find their “writer’s voice”- the tone which best suits you when you write.  Often, the people who mark you look for this distinctive, unified, confident voice0 whether it be humourous, serious, philosophical, and so on and so forth.  Also, reading will help you understand grammar and punctuation, as well as sentence structure, and so many other literary tools, which will all act to helpfully influence you at the time of the exam.

Reading Comprehension Portion:

Once again, if you haven’t done this already, you are recquired to sit in a room for about two hours and fill in a scan tron for the reading comprehension component.

1.Read

books tumblr 2

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       I know I just mentioned this above, but it stays true to this section as well.  Reading will help you gain the skills needed to survive the comprehension exam- it will expand your vocabulary, allow you to read at more efficient pace and therefore save time, and broaden your understanding of different topics.

2. Exambank

exam bank

     Exambank is helpful for every subject, even english.  There are countless reading comprehension practice tests on this website, and although they are tricky (I can attest to this) they are helpful.  Most schools have a username and password which enables access to exambank, but if yours doesn’t you can practice all the same by searching up “reading comprehension tests”.

3.Google

       Google!  Google lists of literary devices and types of poems and anything else english-related.  Doing this will solidify your knowledge of the possible literary devices and will give you a boost of confidence before the exam.

      That’s it, guys!  Give all of these study tips a try, and watch as your english mark skyrockets!  After all, the old saying remains tried and true- Hard work pays off.

Good luck everyone!

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My Experience as a Student Conductor (Revisited)

Richard Lee-Thai
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My experience as a Student Conductor

A year ago, I was reflecting on my experience of getting to conduct my high school band and performing at our spring concert. Fast forward to now, a lot has happened and I would love to share my thoughts again after another year of amazing experiences. Conducting can seem like a mysterious thing, but I assure you that it’s not. For those who are wondering what all the arm waving and gestures mean, check out my post from last year.

Another Year

After a thrilling experience of conducting in Grade 11, I knew I had to ask to do it again this year. I am very thankful for my band director for giving me the chance to conduct again because I know it’s something that not a lot of students get to do. She says that it’s a good opportunity for her too, because she actually gets to play with the band instead of conducting. It’s a win-win situation.

From late December until late May, I would come to rehearsal every week and get to work on my pieces with the ensemble. I had to have a clear vision of how I wanted the music to sound and then I would have to give constructive feedback accordingly. This was a big challenge last year: although I was comfortable with the physical action of conducting, I struggled with the teaching aspect that goes hand-in-hand with conducting. I often had to look at my teacher for guidance and I felt unsure about what direction I wanted the piece to go in.

This had to be learned the hard way, but after many rehearsals, I have become more independent and confident about my interpretation of the music.

I’ve learned to be more picky (it’s a good thing) and I can now give more specific feedback. If a certain section sounds off, I’m able to catch it and make adjustments. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s the process of rehearsing. Teaching doesn’t always go how you plan it and it’s up to me to adapt to the situation on the spot.

(Image Source)
(Image Source)

In general though, I loved every opportunity I got to step up to the podium and conducting is always exciting for me. Jokingly, I would say that conducting is like flinging a magic wand around and pretending that I’m a wizard from Harry Potter.

The Community

Perhaps my favourite part of this year was getting to know everyone better. I am a conductor, but I am also a student at the same time. Being a conductor doesn’t mean that I’m better than everyone else – in fact, the effect is quite the opposite. By being a conductor, I feel more connected and close to all of my fellow students. I’ve come to love all of the unique personalities that make up the band. I remember after our last performance how there were students crying – the Grade 12s would be leaving and for the Grade 10s and 11s, their musical experience would have to wait until next year to start again.

Outside of the band, I’ve connected with so many people through music. Teachers have come up to me and expressed they want to start playing music again, after not picking up an instrument for many years. Strangers have come up to me and explained how the music reminded them of a movie they watched. Countless adults have shook my hands and congratulated me on my conducting. And I find myself repeating “thank you.” While I do feel happy, I also owe a lot of love to the students that I conduct – for their willingness to work with me and for all of their hard work.

Baton
My new baton

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my music teacher again. After our spring concert, she gave me a fancy new baton as a gift. I broke my old baton (accidentally) and I had been borrowing one of hers for the time being. I was surprised when she pulled it out after the performance and handed it to me. It’s something that is special to me and I will definitely cherish it.

The Music and The Future

I wanted to tackle more difficult music this year. So I conducted not 1, but 2 pieces this year. The two pieces were Redemption and Mt. Everest, both composed by Rossano Galante. What really drew me to Galante’s music was the majestic and epic feel to his music – I’m a real sucker for those pieces that make your heart pump and make you feel like you’re soaring.

I was also given more opportunities to conduct this year. Besides being able to conduct at our spring concert, I also conducted the band at our Grade 12 Graduation ceremony as well as our Academic Awards Night. What can I say? These were highlights of my year. I’ve had so many amazing experiences with the band and that’s why I’ve asked to come back next year. While I’m studying music at university, I plan to come back to Pearson and be a volunteer teacher’s assistant and hopefully get the chance to conduct even more.

Video!

Just like last year, I’m including a video so you can experience the music too. This a performance of Mt. Everest and as described by the composer, it is:

Comprised of robust brass melodies, sweeping woodwind lines, and rhythmic ostinati, this composition captures the epic grandeur and beauty of Everest, the highest mountain on earth.

Enjoy! 

(You can also find a performance of the same piece at our Academic Awards Night by visiting my channel)

Rediscovering the Soundtrack to My Childhood

Talia Santarossa
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It’s very difficult to put into words how music can even begin to quantify the human spirit and how it captures and preserves our most precious moments, feelings and memories. I oftentimes find myself referring to a song, album or playlist when I can’t find the words to say what I’m feeling. As someone who becomes a bumbling mess the moment I have to vocalize what I’m feeling, music is, to me, a way to express a feeling on a much deeper level than trying to explain it. With music, you just get it, no explanations needed. As someone rather lacking in the musical talent department, I find it considerably easier to appreciate and apply the music I discover rather than to try to create my own.

All of this to say that over the past few months, I’ve been trying to go back through my mind, old CDs, playlists and iPods to uncover the music that helped to define me and how I’ve changed and grown as a person over the years.

The Early Years

Fred Penner – The Cat Came Back

As a baby, I would refuse to eat unless my parents would play The Cat Came Back or other Fred Penner tunes. Spoiler alert, the cat comes back.

Shania Twain – Man! I Feel Like A Woman

Shania Twain was my first favourite singer. I remember being little and bopping along to the only country music I would ever like. I remember listening to this song, and in my tiny little naive mind thinking that only women could make music. Looking back now, it seems totally ridiculous, but hey, I was little and knew no better.

The Beatles – Hello Goodbye

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybdqy4czAA

On long road trips, my parents would put on a Beatles CD in our van and this was the only song that I actively enjoyed until I got into the Beatles several years later.

Rob Thomas – Lonely No More

On early mornings before going to daycare or to school, my mom and I would sit together at the kitchen table and eat breakfast with the radio playing. For some reason, this song really stuck with me. I heard it for the first time in years a in the car few months ago and having only been a little kid when I last heard it, it was a bit of a journey trying to remember enough lyrics and details to be able to look it up after.

Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway

In the first and second grades, Kelly Clarkson was my favourite singer and Breakaway was my favourite song. Myself and a couple of friends decided that we wanted to sing it for our school talent show which inevitably fell through when we discovered that a) we couldn’t sing to save our lives and b) we couldn’t work together. So much for the two hours that I spent typing out the lyrics on our ancient PC.

Late Elementary (AKA The Dark Days)

Gwen Stefani – The Sweet Escape

I used to figure skate when I was around 7-10 and I would go to practice on Tuesdays and Fridays. The music that they had playing at the rink was pretty much on a loop and The Sweet Escape was the crowning track. My father affectionately nicknamed it “the ooo-ooo song.”

Owl City – Fireflies

The fourth grade was a truly magical time. I got my first iPod and therefore my very own iTunes account. Fireflies was one of the very first songs I ever purchased and is still in my library to this day, making it the longest lived song in my collection.

Katy Perry  – I Kissed A Girl

Back in the days when my parents were very careful to not let me listen to music with any objectionable content, I Kissed A Girl didn’t make the cut. I couldn’t understand, and still don’t understand, what the problem ever was. Ah, the joys of a sheltered upbringing.

Nickelback – Gotta Be Somebody

Whoa there, before you sentence me to death by firing squad, let me explain. As much as I’m not Nickelback’s biggest fan, I don’t get what all of the hate is for. Around the time that this song came out and was popular, I was going through some tough times and to me, this song perfectly described what I was feeling and helped me to keep going. Okay, maybe I was an overdramatic eleven year old, but I’m telling you, Nickelback can be powerful, man.

Aerosmith – Dream On

I was raised on Classic Rock and Dream On has always been one of my favourite power ballads. The particular event that really makes this song stand out to me is that in the sixth grade, a friend and I decided that it would be cool if we played this song together, me on piano and him on electric guitar. Unfortunately, the project never got off the ground. To this day, I am still a bit disappointed because I think that it would have been so rad for the math nerd and the skinny kid with the bowl cut to surprise everyone with the power of rock and roll.

Stuck In The Middle (School)

Marianas Trench – All To Myself

Marianas Trench’s album Masterpiece Theatre is one of the first albums that I ever purchased and the first that *gasp* had any form of cursing in it. It made me feel rebellious, cool and even a bit sneaky. All To Myself was and still is one of my favourite tracks from the album and still gives me a little bit of satisfaction every time I hear it.

Paramore – That’s What You Get

Paramore was my gateway drug, so to speak. After falling in love with a few of the songs off of their album RIOT! I went on to actively seek out more and more music that was similar. Because of That’s What You Get and Crushcrushcrush, I discovered My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, All Time Low, Mayday Parade, Taking Back Sunday, Blink-182, Halestorm and many others. I owe most of my music taste today to Hayley Williams and her awesomeness.

Queen  – Bohemian Rhapsody

If I had to pick a favourite band of all time, it would absolutely, no doubt about it, be Queen. I have a particular attachment to Bohemian Rhapsody because it was the finale at my first musical, We Will Rock You, which I saw in London that Brian May himself played. It was also the crowning glory of my piano career, a 10-page piece that I played for a recital after months of practice.

My Chemical Romance – Welcome To The Black Parade

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDWgsQhbaqU

It took me a trip halfway across the country to get a copy of MCR’s album The Black Parade and I have never regretted it for a moment. I feel like everyone has an emo phase to some extent, and My Chemical Romance kickstarted mine. Cue the dreams of going to Hot Topic, a few years before Calgary had a location.

Aerosmith –  I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing

On the same fateful trip that got me The Black Parade, I had my first slow dance, which escalated into a great friendship that myself and my awkward 9th grade dance partner still maintain to this day. Who knew that an Aerosmith power ballad, the second of this list, would help me muster up the courage to dance with my first real crush.

The Here And Now

Mayday Parade – Stay

This is an emotional song to begin with, and live, it’s even more than that. This is the song I play when I’m having a bad day, when I’m missing someone or when I just need to put on some relatively soft music for studying. Everybody needs a sad song, and this is mine.

Blink- 182 – I Miss You

This is a song that brings back memories of a summer well spent, of long days outside, jumping off the dock, meeting new people, really bad lip synching and one killer Tom DeLonge impression. One of Blink-182s most recognizable tracks represents, for me, one of the first times that I felt truly independent and truly free.

Halestorm – Here’s To Us

This song is all about overcoming struggles and sticking it to the people that said you couldn’t make it. I am, and have always been, my own biggest rival and my own worst enemy. This song serves to remind me that I am capable of better things than I believe and that I am more than what I give myself credit for.

Oothèque  – Ligne Ouverte

Growing up learning the French language and embracing it in its entirety has represented much of my life. It wasn’t until, by chance, that I found French music that resonated with me. I didn’t feel I was forced to analyze every little detail or try to find the hidden meaning in the lyrics to a song that I couldn’t relate to. Ligne Ouverte helped me to appreciate the music of a language that I’ve fallen in love with in a way that I could relate to outside of the classroom.

Panic! At The Disco – Northern Downpour

This is one of those songs that means something to me for reasons I can’t put words to. The way I feel it, it helps to describe elements of my recent past, moving past obstacles that life has put in my way and looking at the world in a different way. In the end, that’s what music’s all about, isn’t it?

 

You can also check out this playlist on Spotify.

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A Letter to Omar Mateen from A Gay Man’s Best Friend

Malika Daya
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FlagOnBeach

Dear Homophobe that killed 50 and injured 53,

Here is the thing. You can’t combat ignorance with anger. But the truth is I’m not just angry, I am infuriated. The Orlando Pulse Club Shooting is not a joke. Taking someone’s life because you don’t approve of who they love, is not a joke. Thinking you have the superiority to judge whether or not someone’s life is ethical or not, is not and will never be a joke.

Quite frankly, I don’t care if your narrow mind confines you within the boundaries of ignorance. I don’t care if you have been brought up to think being gay or transgender is “morally wrong.” Because at the end of the day you have the ability to learn and understand otherwise. You have the potential to realize that you are wrong. That beyond your idiocy lies a world of love and acceptance.

But why am I telling this to you? You find more value in the gun you used, than in the human life you took. The blood of fifty, and the tears of hundreds are what you die with.

I don’t pity you. I don’t pity your stupidity nor your ignorance. Because you, no matter how much the world argues with me for saying this, had a choice. You had a choice to uphold the worth of human life and leave behind your animosity. In those minutes before you chose to shoot, you had a choice to walk away. Before you shot your 30 some bullet, you had the choice to stop. But your lack of moral consciousness, mercilessly, killed many physically and slaughtered thousands emotionally.

As a gay man’s best friend, I can say without hesitation; I hate you. I hate you because you make him feel like he is inhumane, when really you are the only BEAST around. I hate you because you make him feel unsafe, you make him feel as though he can’t live his life out in the open because you’ll shoot him down with your weapons and words. I hate you because you’re the reason he is afraid to love.

But do you want to know the difference between my hate and yours? I would never lay a finger on you, let alone a gun. Because within me, there is love and empathy for mankind. And this love enables me to be my man’s strength rather than his weakness. And this love for mankind, is stronger than my hate towards your actions. I may hate you; but I value human life too much to ever hate to the extent you did. So right now, I am choosing to let go of my hate towards you. Because by hating you, I’m losing out on the energy I need to embrace him with, to love him with. So instead, I’ll use my time to show him how precious he is.

And right now I am asking God for something. I’m praying that the LGTBQ community will never have to face such an atrocity again- but we all know that if people like you, Omar Mateen, are in the world, the good will have to suffer. Therefore, I also pray for you, may God remove the blindfold of ignorance you and those alike wear on your eyes with idiotic pride, for love is far more enticing and rewarding.

Signed,
A Gay Man’s Best Friend.

love is love

 

Source 1

Source 2

Orlando Pulse Club Shooting: How You Can Help

Dhriti Gupta
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Around 2 am this morning, a gunman opened fire on clubgoers of Pulse, a queer nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The hate crime resulted in the loss of 50 lives and 53 more injured and hospitalized. This tragic and horrific event marks the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. With so many mourning the loss of innocent lives at the hands of hatred, the shootings are a jarring reminder of the ever present danger that the LGBTQ+ community lives in every day. Even in what is supposed to be a safe space, during Pride month, a time in which the diversity of the queer community is to be celebrated, it is not possible for LGBTQ+ people to be at peace. However, despite the tragedy of these recent events, we must move forward and recognize the need to cultivate and protect the queer community now more than ever in honor of those who no longer have the opportunity to. Regardless of your gender or orientation, there are several things you can do to assist those in need in Orlando:

FIND PEOPLE AND LET OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE SAFE

If you are in Orlando or have friends and loved ones located there, use the Facebook check-in page to help people locate those who may have suffered injuries at Pulse. The Orlando Shooting Family Hotline at 407-246-4357 can also be utilized to find loved ones who may be missing. However, these services should only be used if you have previously have been unable to make contact with someone who you suspect may have been present at Pulse during the incident in order to ensure efficiency and a proper use of resources.

DONATE BLOOD AND PLASMA

Unfortunately, despite varied rumours, the dated FDA ban on gay, bi, or trans people giving blood has not been lifted, and many members of the queer community are unable to donate much needed blood to their peers and loved ones due to the FDA’s concerns of transmitting STI’s through donations.

OneBlood-Logo-TAG-cmykHowever, most others in the Orlando area are welcome to donate (dependent on their blood type and certain cautionary regulations), just not necessarily today as most blood donation centers are already at capacity. If you would like to make a blood donation, you can call 1-888-936-6283, or visit oneblood.org, to receive the most current information regarding where you can make a donation as more sites open up. One Blood is currently in need of  O negative and O positive type blood as well as AB plasma.

TALK TO SOMEONE AND STAY POSITIVE

Although everyone requires time to grieve and absorb this terrible incident, once you are ready to it is also important to move forward and focus on cultivating and encouraging those in the queer community. It is pride month after all and fear should not stand in the way of celebrating diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Think of what is best for you and others, and rally support and positivity to help move past this event, creating a stronger foundation for the queer community.

Several places are also organizing counseling services. Even if you weren’t necessarily at the event, if you know of someone who was or even if you just feel deeply affected by what occurred, people are available to speak to you and I highly encourage you to seek support if you need it:

The Trevor Project Hotline is always available for LGBTQ+ youth and can be reached at 1-866-488-7386.

Zebra Coalition’s hotline is available at 407-228-1446 if you need to speak with someone immediately.

For locals, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida has counselors on site for anyone who is in need of support and is located at 946 N Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803.

The Calgary Sexual Health Center can also always be contacted at 403-283-5580.

DONATE MONEY AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

If you do not reside in the Orlando area, don’t worry you can still help! You can make a donation on the GoFundMe page set up by Equality Florida to support the victims and their families. $722,489 have been raised in just 8 hours!

Candlelight-Vigil-3You can also show your support by honoring the victims of the shooting and setting up a memorial or similar event where people can come out and discuss their feelings on the traumatic event. Honoring the people who lost their lives and giving people an opportunity to share their emotions, thoughts, and fears can be a great way to rally support and come to a place of acceptance that will allow you to continue advocating for change without fear or doubt. In fact, a candlelight vigil will be held tonight at 9pm right here in Calgary at the Olympic Plaza. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own candles and matches.

ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE

Overall, it is important that we honour those who suffered from this tragic event by recognizing the reasons why it occurred. Despite however many news outlets try to hide behind the fact that the shooter happened to be of Afghan descent or that he had previously been accused of abuse against his wife, what happened at Pulse was the result of a toxic hatred of a community as a whole and virtually unregulated gun distribution. If we are to move forward from this occurrence we cannot succumb to the same hateful ways that brought this about in the first place and should refrain from shifting the blame on religion or mental illness. Instead, we should try and institute change on gun legislation and focus on educating others on the ins and outs of the LGBTQ+ community. This will allow for a difference to be brought about, hopefully preventing events like this in the future. With time, advocacy, and support, we will recover and we will prevail.

 

 

 

 

[featured image // source] [image 1 // source] [image 2 // source]

 

Dear Grade 10 Me…

Hellen Kang
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Dear Grade 10 Me:

A lot has changed during these past three years. I’d like to say I grew immensely as an individual but that would be a gross hyperbole. However, I learned many things through the tears, stress, and laughter high school provided me.

Things never go as expected and that’s okay. No one knows who they’re going to be when they first enter high school. You thought you had your life planned out but inevitably, things change. It’s OKAY to do poorly on one or two tests. It’s OKAY if you lose a couple friends because you will definitely gain a lot more. It’s OKAY if you don’t receive the job or scholarship that you worked so hard for, because opportunities are limitless. Not everything goes according to plan and that’s perfectly fine.

Abandon your stubborn attitude!! Truthfully, I’m still working on this one and I feel like I’ll be working on it for a long time. Some situations just aren’t alterable, no matter how hard you try (thank the friends who keep telling you this). Don’t waste your time on people who are willingly ignorant and learn that it’s okay to sometimes turn a blind eye. Dwelling on every situation helps no one, especially not you.

Appearance is definitely not as important as you think. Honestly, no one cares as much about your appearance as you do. Although the compliments are nice, don’t let makeup/fashion/appearance take over your life. I wore my pajama shirt and way-too-baggy black shorts to school today (without combing my hair, whoops) and I didn’t get any extreme judgment, so feel free to wear pyjamas to school anytime.

Take lots of pictures, especially with your friends. No, I’m not promoting 24/7 phone use but definitely try to take a few pictures every now and then! It doesn’t matter if you look absolutely disgusting in the photos or  if they photos turn out blurry. It’s nice to have a lot of memories to look back on, especially when you leave for university.

And finally, find enjoyment and gratitude in everything. These three years of high school passed by so fast – the month of May didn’t seem to happen at all? – so make sure to find the silver-lining in all situations.

P.S. Coffee will be your best friend.

Sincerely,

The new, and somewhat improved, you

Concert Review: Sepulcher of Life

Richard Lee-Thai
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On May 14, I had the absolute pleasure of watching the Calgary Youth Orchestra and the Cum Vino Cantus Society perform in the beautiful Bella Concert Hall at Mount Royal University. Featuring talented soloists and breathtaking performances, I was reminded of why I love music so much. Simply put, the concert was moving and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Here’s a taste of my experience at their “Sepulcher of Life” concert.

Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto

Although I listen to a lot of classical music, I don’t know why I’ve never listened to Sibelius before. I should have done so a lot sooner because this piece was something special. Writing music during the late Romantic and early-modern musical period (late 1800’s to early 1900’s), he is renowned for being a famous Finnish composer and violinist. Some of his most popular pieces are Finlandia, The Swan of Tuonela and of course, his violin concerto. Written in 1904, this is Sibelius’ only concerto. A concerto is a type of music which features a soloist and is accompanied by an orchestra. In this case, a winner of the 2016 Frank Simpson Concerto Competition, Yan Li, took to the stage.

Yan Li

She performed the first movement of Sibelius’ violin concerto. The first movement features an extended cadenza – this is the portion of the concerto where the orchestra stops playing and the soloist gets to show off. You can listen to the beginning of the cadenza below and even if you can’t read music, I’m sure you can hear the immense skill that it takes for someone to play this piece. I was blown away by how easy it seemed for Yan. Conveying feelings of fiery passion and heavy remorse, both the soloist and the orchestra did a phenomenal job of keeping the audience captivated.

 

Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto

Unlike Sibelius, I have listened to Elgar’s music before and got to play a part of his Enigma Variations, one of his most famous pieces. This English composer also wrote the Pomp and Circumstance March, a.k.a. the iconic graduation march music. You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about once you hear it. If you’ve always wondered what the name for this piece is, you’re welcome.

Anyway, the concert featured another of Elgar’s gems – his cello concerto. Did you know that the premiere of this piece was actually a disaster? It turns out that the performers did not have adequate rehearsal time and as a result, the premiere ended up being a flop. This was not the case for Solina Lee – it was clear that she put in the time and effort and it paid off in stellar performance.

Solina

Compared to the violin, the cello has a much deeper and darker tone. This hits you immediately in the opening chords of the piece. The opening features a technique called multiple stopping. This means when multiple notes are played at the same time on a string instrument. I don’t know how else to describe the sound except that it is resonant and heart wrenching. Although Elgar’s cello concerto has a much more contemplative nature compared to the previous piece, it requires the same technical skill and musicianship. Solina impressed me with her virtuosity and her expression.

As the last note of cello concerto echoed across the concert hall, there was a moment of silence before applause erupted from the audience. The only word in my mind was “wow” and I’m sure this sentiment was reflected by everyone as the audience got up for intermission. This was only the first half of the show and I couldn’t want to hear what was to come.

“Sepulcher of Life” by Christos Hatzis

Being the feature piece of the concert, Sepulcher of Life did not disappoint. “Sepulcher” is another name for a tomb and judging just by the name of the piece, I know that it would be interesting. The conductor, Edmond Agopian, explained how the piece featured unorthodox musical directions. While typical musical directions are adagio (slow) or dolce (sweetly), Christos Hatzis used adjectives like apocalyptic and exalted. Surely enough, the piece was haunting, surreal, and yet, celebratory and angelic.

(Photo Credit - Bo Huang - Image Source)
(Christos Hatzis – Photo Credit: Bo Huang – Image Source)

As a Greek-Canadian composer, Hatzis initially drew inspiration from his heritage to write this piece. The piece is based on encomia (plural of encomium, a song of praise) that are sung in Greek Orthodox churches during Good Friday. He had begun working on the piece a few months prior to a trip to Egypt. However, after a trip to the Great Pyramid of Giza, he started rewriting the piece from scratch and incorporating his experiences: Middle-Eastern influences and a story of Christ ascending the Great Pyramid as part of an initiation test. (https://www.musiccentre.ca/node/28520)

A highlight of the piece was the second movement “Encomium”. The choral part was put into our programs and we were invited to sing along with the choir. This was intended by the composer and I think it’s a clever way to engage the audience. It also ties directly back to his inspiration of the encomia that are sung during Good Friday. Speaking of singing, the piece also featured two spectacular soloists: Michelle Minke, who sings soprano, and Chenelle Roberts, who sings alto.

Encomium

I got shivers as the choir and orchestra played together. There is something indescribable about the strength of voices and instruments filling a concert hall. I was honestly speechless once the concert was finished and I had to take some time to gather my thoughts on all the amazing music that I got to listen to.

It was my first time hearing the Calgary Youth Orchestra (CYO) and the Cum Vino Cantus Society perform. The CYO is composed of musicians from age 14-24 and I am even more impressed because to me, they are on par with a professional ensemble. I am studying music in university in the coming September and this concert reminded me of how great music can be – for the audience to enjoy, for the performers to challenge themselves, and for arts and culture scene to be showcased in Calgary.

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To learn more about the Calgary Youth Orchestra, please visit this link.  

Make sure to also check out Kandace and Danielle’s interviews with the soloists, Yan Li and Solina Lee!

Inspiration From Nature: A Stream of Water

Hafsah Syed
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How easily water slips through one’s fingers and hands. Such flow and delicacy. A stream of water starts very small, pushing it’s way through hard, heavy rocks and boulders. Over time, water carves it’s own path through which it flows through; something as soft as water manages to erode something as hard as rock through the works of numerous years. Is a human, or any animal for that matter, able to break apart rocks with our bare hands as easily?

I compare this example to one of the absolutely brilliant quotes I remember from years ago:

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child… If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”

― Margaret Atwood

There is no non-cliche way to say that you are the water, and the goals you try to reach are on the other side of the mountain, over rocks, fallen trees, and other barriers. If you stay persistent in your goals and keep trying, you will get through, just like water. No matter how big of the rock it is, no matter what lies in your path. 

Sometimes the greatest barrier in achieving our goals is, our-self. When you procrastinate, when you don’t try your best, you are stopping yourself from reaching your potential. That is virtually the easiest, yet the most difficult barrier to overcome.

Good luck.

 

featured image: source

Difference: An Original Poem

Hafsah Syed
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Why is it that I was born in a safe country, embraced by my parent’s loving arms

While another like me was born and soon abandoned in a dirty orphanage?

What was the difference between him and I?

Why is it that I had the privilege to scamper my beautiful streets, wildly laughing and carefree,

While children like I, joyfully kicking a soccer ball on a glorious beach,

Were blown up, only because they happened to be “in the wrong place at the wrong time”?

What was the difference between them and I?

Right now I peacefully relax at home whilst typing gibberish on a sleek, gorgeous laptop,

While a girl like me, who has just as much potential and motivation as I,

Stands instead at home, perfecting only her motherly skills and house chores…

What is the difference between her and I?

 

Nothing

There is no difference between them, her, him, and I.

 

Grab a marker and draw lines, representing national borders, on your body

And when you trip and look down to a gushing, bleeding wound

Dare to tell me:

That the wound does not affect the rest of you,

That it does not affect your mind and your movements,

Because the wound only lies within the “borders” of one part of you

Dare to tell me:

That the skin within a particular “border” on your body

Is absolutely, utterly different than the skin everywhere else.

And therefore, it is intolerable and should be treated harshly

Because being different is rightfully, and solely a crime.

Dare to tell me:

That the person who lives next door to me

Is a terrorist, scum bag, or criminal

Because the colour of their skin, or what they wear on their head

Proves them guilty and finagle

 

Dare to tell me,

Of every hateful thought your heart holds

Dare to tell me,

Until dawn follows noon

Dare to tell me,

Until your words have exhausted you

 

And then I’ll ask,

What is the difference between you and I?

 

Nothing.

Above all our contending beliefs,

everything that sets us aside,

We are humans:

Without borders

Without barriers

Except the ones we individually

Choose to fabricate.

 

 

Featured Image: Source

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