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How Befriending Myself Changed My Life

Malika Daya
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I am my biggest enemy.

This is a simple truth that applies to every man or women, girl or boy, senior or youth, who has ever lost to self-doubt in any way, shape or form. A lot of the time it is subconscious, we don’t even realize we are hating on ourselves because it has basically become apart of the way we think. But rather than blaming society for self-hate, I blame myself for not being self-aware. Lately, I’ve been more aware of my own actions, listening in on my own thoughts, and readjusting my moral compass which brought me to the realization that most of my pain and suffering is controllable. That suffering and pain is a result of my ego in its highest and most dominating form. Rather than living a life full of fake pride and insecurity, I now choose to live a life of humility and befriend myself instead of allowing my ego to take over and ruin a life full of happiness in my reach.

I choose to be happy by being my own friend.

A simple choice, to respect my self is how it all started, sooner than later I began feeling happier and more in control of my own life which resulted in massive changes in both my spiritual and “material” life. My heart felt enlightened and my soul more peaceful just a few of the many wondrous affects befriending yourself has on you mentally and physically. But why and how does befriending yourself do any you any good?

Well firstly, you begin to savour your own company and enjoy time alone to reflect, contemplate, and learn more about who you are at the core of you being. For me, I began meditating and journalling religiously which has allowed me to reach new insights about life and about how intricately beautiful I am as an individual. I began to realize the importance of respecting myself and realizing that my thoughts and ideas are valuable. By meditating and journalling, I created a platform of which I was able to open myself up to becoming more self-aware of my own emotions and thoughts and the roots from which they’ve spout.

After deep contemplation I’ve also learned that I don’t need a “lover” or a relationship to feel complete. I am whole in myself. I, like many other teenagers out there, used to always imagine what it would be like to have someone special in my life and used to daydream about how perfect life would be. As ridiculous as this sounds whenever I was out travelling I always held onto a shred of hope that I’d run into my own “Prince Charming.” (Obviously I was watching too many romantic movies for my own good) However after befriending myself and really assessing my needs for real, I came to the conclusion that it’s not a romantic love I need right now, it is self-love that my heart craves for. I realized that I don’t need a guy to set my life straight for me, I need a pen, a planner, and ambition.

j
Enjoying a day on a port in Barcelona. #flyingsolo

Speaking about ambition, I’ve regained a sense of direction. I have began setting goals for myself and meeting them regularly, this has allowed me to really grow more as an individual and learn how to sustain a motivated and inspired attitude. I feel as though goal setting has really given me a boost to achieve greatness rather than mediocrity. I have found that my rate of growth as a student, an employee, a friend, a sister, etc has increased exponentially this summer because I am listening to my heart, my thoughts, and filling my ego with humility. I am beginning to understand what it really is that my heart and mind aspire to achieve and running after those dreams like a tiger after his prey.

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A catch-up date with myself @ Starbucks #goalsetting

And lastly, befriending myself has given me the most beautiful gift of all time, confidence. Confidence to take risks. Confidence to have difficult conversations with others and myself. Confidence to fess up to my flaws and embrace my insecurities. Confidence to be content with who I am. I have spent countless hours alone just have conversations with myself about why I feel the way I do, why I want to go where I do, why I matter and why I was wrong… all very ego “wounding” topics in one way or another. But being able to talk to myself and understand why I think the way I have has allowed me to find and create myself to be the kind of individual I see myself as.

jj
Happiness stems from confidence. #Barcelona

I’m embracing the changes in my life.

These changes, this new perspective, a shift in my mentality has allowed me to be happier. Loving, respecting, and caring for myself has given me the ability to see the change within myself that I have been longing for. I am no longer wishing for change to occur, I am making it happen. If we sit and wait life will just fly by us. I’m not immortal, I have a definite amount of years of which I get to live, I am choosing not to waste it by being my own friend. I am no longer my own foe and I am embracing me because I get to live with myself for the rest of my life.

-Infinite Love and Gratitude,
Malika

 

PostSecret – Confessions from an International Community

Kandace Peroramas
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Warning: there is graphic language in this post which may be triggering to some readers.

“You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything – as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative.”

{Source}

This simple request can be found on the postcards Frank Warren handed out to people or left in public places back in 2004. What started as a simple art project flourished into a community of strangers sharing their most “provocative and profound” secrets. Frank still receives dozens of postcards from around the world, even receiving ones in Braille. The overwhelming response to PostSecret allowed him to publish 4 books comprised of secrets he’s been sent.

“I have so many secrets…I don’t know which one to send in.”

After reading the first book, PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, I had mixed feelings. Some secrets were peaceful and inspiring revelations. They would quickly give readers going through tough times hope:

“I am in therapy. Learning to love myself for the first time in my life. I am 26.”

While some would bring an easy smile to your face:

I can guarantee that there are as much random confessions…

….as there are somber ones.

“If I had a million dollars, I would give it all away for one more day with her like it used to be in the beginning.”

On the other hand, there were secrets that were hard to stomach, as they dealt with rape, suicide or evil fantasies. Despite the book’s intimacy and insight on humanity, was it safe to be keeping those secrets, a secret?

“I joined because I was patriotic. But since they succeeded in convincing me my life is worthless, I’m just hoping I get shot.”

It was hard to grasp the fact that the happiness I felt while reading one page would turn into discomfort or disgust the next.

“The medication is not enough to make me forget what he did to me…if I see him again I will kill him to save the others.”

“I like it when animals attack trainers. I think they deserve it.”

Though I’m sure the intentions of PostSecret are good, there is a fine line between keeping a secret for secret’s sake and keeping a secret that can endanger you. I appreciate the people who have sent something to Frank Warren because it takes a lot of guts to do so. But there will come a time and place you will confess the secret you’ve bottled up for years, and that is courage at its finest.

Please remember that there is always someone you can talk to. Whether it be your mom, dad, sibling, best friend, counselor or teacher, someone will listen and someone will help. Especially when dealing with overwhelming sadness or grief, know that there are resources such as the Kids Help Phone available to you. PostSecret, in particular, supports the National Hopeline Network (1-800-784-2433) for anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is. Someone is there to help you.

The secret you read 2 weeks ago that was true might not be come tomorrow. Change is inevitable, so secrets don’t always remain secrets. We must see the value of human interaction at our most vulnerable.

*All images are mine unless stated otherwise.*

“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.” – Marie Lu

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂

The Update on Google and Alphabet, Plus 5 Hidden Tricks

Danielle Leong
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All about Alphabet 

Google.  It’s been a window to the world for what seems like ages, to this generation at the very least. We know it as a single search engine, but did you know that Google (was) actually a large company which owned Youtube, Android, Nest Labs, Calico, Google, Inc, among other Google franchises? The multi million dollar company has been expanding rapidly, and the future for it is nothing but bright. Now if you’re curious as to why I’m using past tense to describe Google’s Franchises, it’s because as of August 10, 2015, Google gave birth to its own parent company.

Meet Alphabet, the world’s newest conglomerate and owner of Google.

Alphabet 2

source

That’s right; Google’s co-founders Larry Page (now the CEO of Alphabet)  and Sergey Brin (now the President of Alphabet) have made the decision to narrow google’s scope by creating the ‘umbrella company’ Alphabet.  Alphabet is now in charge of many of the companies that were previously directed by Google, such as Calico, Google X, and Nest labs.  However, the major subsidaries such as Youtube and Android will remain under the management of Google specifically. Sundar Pichai, the previous Technology production manager, is now the CEO of Google.  Congrats Sundar!

Check this pic out, featuring Larry, Sergey, and Sundar respectively.

Google execs

 

The executives of Google made the decision to restructure the company so that they could focus more on the other branches of Alphabet and enhance their presence, because as of now the Google search engine is taking most of the spotlight.  Here is a brief overview of Google’s Branches.

overview

source

Here are some words from the men at the head of the decision, straight from Google’s Blog.

Google’s Blog:

“Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies.  The largest of which, of course, is Google.  This newer Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead. […]  Fundamentally, we believe this allows us more management scale, as we can run things independently that aren’t very related.”

Well, this latest change is just another example of how fast our world is advancing.  Let’s see what Google comes up with next!

 

 

5 Fun and Quirky Tricks that you Didn’t Know Existed on Google

 

 

1. Type in : “do a barrel roll”

 

2.  Let me google that for you

 

 

 

3. Tilt/askew

 

 

 

 

4.  Zerg Rush

 

5.  T-rex game

The next time you’re bored, don’t have internet connection, procrastinating, or simply wanting to have fun, try these tricks out!

 

 

 

source for featured image:

 

 

Introducing YAA’s News Editor: Kandace Peroramas

Malika Daya
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With great pleasure and extreme excitement I’ve received the fortunate opportunity of introducing to all of you the newest edition to our Junior Editor team, Kandace Peroramas! Kandace is a versatile blogger who is taking up the position of the News Junior Editor with excitement and ambition, we welcome her with warm hearts to our team. Her dedication, hard-work and giving attitude sets her aside from all else. Her vibrant aura is humbling and her ambition is inspiring, without further ado let’s get to know more about our new guru, Kandace Peroramas.

k

Who is Kandace:
“I would describe myself as a person with lots of ambition and motivation to leave lasting impacts in whatever I do. As a lover of music, travelling, reading, and writing, I strive to learn new things and apply that knowledge in my life. Lastly, I am always up for new challenges and taking on endeavours that better me physically, mentally, and emotionally!”

What core values does you guide herself by on a daily basis:
“Core values I live by include: constantly pushing myself to be a better person. Whether it be exploring new topics or meeting inspiring people, no day should ever go wasted. I value individuality and using my strengths and talents to my full advantage. Everyone has potential, so it is important to find and effectively use it. I do my best to see the good in people because not everyone has the privilege of being seen as important. Even with that reality, it’s ultimately your choice to just see the surface of everyone’s personality or dive deeper.”

What does the position of being the Junior Editor for News mean to you?
“To me, being the Junior Editor of News means that I am up-to-date with what’s happening in the world. In my blogger bio, I mention that the world is always changing, and you can’t deny that fact. When you have a grasp of current events and prevalent issues, there is a stronger connection between you and the people affected. With my love for learning, reading or watching the news fulfills the satisfaction that comes with gaining new knowledge. Along with learning, having a good understanding of what you are reading or watching is vital because you are able to see the world and the people in it in a new light. We are entitled to our own opinions, but being able to look at issues in a new perspective is a catalyst for understanding the opinions of others. We coexist, so despite our different views, the news allows us to come together.”

Why do you think News is a prevalent topic that youth should be aware of and kept up-to-date with?
“News is a prevalent topic for youth to be aware of because it connects us locally and globally. Calgary has been my little corner of the world for 9 years, and I’ve learned that when you stay informed, it opens up opportunities. The reason I started blogging for Youth Are Awesome in the first place was to involve myself in the community. Having that involvement is crucial because in just 5 months, I’ve made friendships and taken chances I wouldn’t have otherwise. In addition, YOU decide the kind of news YOU want to be updated on. News isn’t just about politics, the weather, and economy. If your interest lies in fashion, literature, sports, social issues, funny cat videos, etc, there will be an outlet to keep you in-the-know. Especially for youth, our passions and ambitions should play a role in how we perceive the world. News, regardless of what kind, has an ebb and flow that keeps our interests at heart, and it is one we can appreciate!”

With the new school year coming around, do you have any goals or aspirations you’d be willing to share with us?
“With every school year comes new or reoccurring goals and aspirations, and this upcoming year is no different. Going into the I.B. program, I’ve made it a goal to keep regular how much I study and spend time on homework. Those aspects were inconsistent in grade 10, so having that goal makes maintaining a great standard of academics that much easier. I once again want to be engaged in the arts through choir and musical theatre. I absolutely LOVE performing, so dedicating time outside of my block schedule is a breather from the hustle and bustle of school. Lastly, creating connections by joining programs, committees, and clubs is essential during my school year. To accomplish that, I signed up for the Junior Achievement program, and I’m thrilled! I also plan to stay involved in Youth Central’s many programs, so I’m going to be busy.”

What are some possible challenges that you will need to overcome to achieve your goals?
“As mentioned, I am going to be very busy in grade 11, so challenges are inevitable. However, the best way to overcome them are to prioritize and manage my time well. Balancing school and extracurricular activities isn’t as much a science as it is having the right mindset. That’s not to say I’ve mastered time management because I most certainly have not. Learning to dedicate the right amount of time and not waste it is a learning process I hope to get a good grasp on. As much as I’d like to nap all day, I have put responsibilities on myself that I can’t ignore. So in conclusion, plan, prioritize, and manage your time. There are days I don’t feel like there’s enough time to do everything I want to do. However, we all get 24 hours, so it’s what and how much you do in those 24 hours that separates your challenges from successes.”

What advice do you have to share from your own experiences to your peers/readers?
“In general, advice I have is to stay passionate and ambitious. Life can feel like it’s moving at top speed, so do what you can and do it often! There is so much for us to explore, so put yourself out there and learn to be vulnerable until you have a strong physical, emotional, and mental foundation. As youth, we hold so much potential. We must take every opportunity to discover what we’re meant to be doing. It’s a difficult process, but when everything starts falling into place, you know you’ve done well.”

Any last words to share with your readers upon your excitement regarding your new role?
“My name is Kandace and I like the color orange, lace, and thunderstorms. I also like watching documentaries, but as your News Junior Editor, I promise not to talk about those things. What I will talk about are topics important to youth because youth matter and will always matter. Our ability to create and explore won’t go unnoticed, so in the words of Steve Maraboli, “You’re awesome and designed for success; live this day accordingly!” And, like always, best wishes.”

We wish Kandace all the best on this new endeavour and are all extremely excited to begin working with her. Welcome aboard lovely!

-Infinite Love and Gratitude,
Malika

 

President Obama’s Uplifting Speech to Kenyan Youth

Kandace Peroramas
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{Source}

Late last month, President Barack Obama visited Nairobi as part of his historic trip to Africa. His family’s longstanding ties to Kenya brought cheers upon the 4,500 students, government officials, and civil society leaders who gathered at Safaricom Indoor Arena.

Part state address, part commencement speech, Obama’s 40-minute talk started with a personal reminiscence of his first trip to Kenya in 1998, when he was a young law student seeking to learn more about his roots. (Source) He also spoke of his father’s disappointment coming back to Kenya after receiving an education in the U.S. because of the “hard realities” that confronted his country.

Despite Kenya’s arduous journey from British rule to independence, the country’s progress over the years to combat isolation and lack of education should be recognized. President Obama highlights that “we study the past so it can guide us into the future, and inspire us to do better.” Especially for youth, there are lessons we can take away from the President’s speech:

“I believe there is no limit to what you can achieve…because of your potential, you can build your future right here, right now.”

{Source}

Kenya’s economic stability through regional trade and access to education are remarkable, but not broadly shared. Along with closing these gaps, Mr. Obama goes on to mention the high prices paid because of corruption, ethnic divisions, and terrorism. So in order to seize the moments that come with both Kenya’s peril and promise, the country must provide opportunities for all people, and build upon their national identity. Reflecting on his American presidency,

“In the United States, I always say that what makes America exceptional is not the fact that we’re perfect. It’s the fact that we struggle to improve; we’re self-critical. We work to live up to our highest values and ideals, knowing that we’re not always gonna achieve them perfectly, but we keep on trying.”

Much like President Obama encourages Americans to see their diversity as a strength, we must also choose this path in order to achieve democracy, regardless of the circumstance we apply it to. “Democracy means that somebody’s always complaining about something,” Obama jokes. “If you make one person happy, somebody else is unhappy. Then sometimes, somebody who you made happy, later on, they’re not happy.”

In order to change habits and culture that hinder a nation, everyone must work together. Law-breakers must be punished, NGOs need to operate, and ordinary people have to stand up for what is right. America’s partnership with Kenya helps with jobs, food security, health care, and the investment in youth. “So through our Young African Leaders Initiative, we are empowering and connecting young people. Connecting young people from across the continent who are filled with energy and optimism and idealism, and are gonna take Africa to new heights. These young people, they’re not weighed down by the old ways. They’re creating a new path, and these are the elements for success in this 21st century.”

{Source}

No country can achieve its full potential unless the talents of women and children are also recognized. Using the issue of the Confederate flag as to why traditions should not shape the future, the bad tradition of treating women and children as second-class citizens hold us back. “There is no excuse for sexual assault or domestic violence. There’s no reason that young girls should suffer genital mutilation. There’s no place in civilized society for the early or forced marriage of children. These traditions may date back centuries, they have no place in the 21st century.“

Obama states that if communities, in America, Kenya or otherwise, give their daughters the same opportunities as they do their sons, they are more peaceful and prosperous. Educating young girls is a stepping stone to them becoming moms with educated children.

Last but not least, the President speaks of the importance of equality that must be placed on minorities. Terrorists prey on the fact that our diversity can tear us apart, so we must stand united.

“When we start making distinctions solely based on status, and not what people do, then we’re taking the wrong path, and we inevitably suffer in the end.”

When we learn to accept each other for who and what we are, that is when we can root out corruption, strengthen our democracy, extend opportunities, educate youth, and embrace reconciliation. We, as youth, are “poised to play a bigger role in this world.” To take on leadership roles, we bring light and hope to those who suffer inequality. We can realize our dreams and there will be no limits.

Best wishes,

Kandace  🙂

Super Simple Iced Tea

Talia Santarossa
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What better way to beat the summer heat than an ice-cold glass of homemade iced tea? No, not that powdered stuff you get at the grocery store, but real steeped tea. Through much trial and error, I have developed a really easy way to make your own iced tea at home without having to buy any special products for the job.

All you need is:IMG_2150

– A pitcher of water

– A kettle

– Tea of your choice

– One coffee filter

– A metal mixing bowl

– Ice cubes

– Sugar and lemon to taste

– A refrigerator

IMG_2151Directions:

1. Start by filling an empty pitcher with water. Be sure to leave enough space at the top to allow for a bit of overfill due to adding ice. It’s easier than measuring exact quantities or risking making way more tea than you wanted. You can measure if you want to, but if you’re lazy like me, don’t worry about it. Pour the water directly from the pitcher into the kettle and put the water to boil.

2. Take your choice of tea and put your desired amount into the coffee filter. Most teas can be made into good iced tea, but my favourites are simple black teas, flavoured green teas and pretty much any herbal tea. The general rule of thumb is to use is a little over 1 tsp. of tea per 250mL of water. If you’re making about a litre of tea, use a bit more than 4 tsp. of tea. You can obviously adjust this to taste. NeIMG_2154IMG_2152xt, close the coffee filter. You can tie it tightly with thread or close it with an elastic or staples (not recommended, but works if you have no other option).

3. When your water boils, pour it into the mixing bowl and drop the coffee filter of tea into the water. A metal bowl has a lower specific heat capacity and will dissipate heat faster, allowing the tea to cool a bit faster. Careful, the bowl will get very hot! Allow the tea to steep 5-7 minutes, or to taste, and remove the coffee filter.

4. Add sugar to taste. If you wish to add lemon, you may add lemon juice now, but if you are using fresh lemon, add when serving. IMG_2157

5. In order to cool the tea enough to put into the pitcher, add about 3 handfuls of ice cubes to the bowl of tea. The tea may now be cool enough to put into the pitcher, but take extra care if the pitcher is made of glass. If the tea is too hot, it may crack the pitcher. Transfer the tea into the pitcher and allow it to chill in the fridge for several hours.

6. Alternately, you may wish to drink it right away. Fill a glass 3/4 with ice and pour the tea over top. I don’t recommend this because it dilutes the tea, but if you don’t need your iced tea to be as strong as you originally made it, this works just fine.

7. Serve and enjoy! Add fresh lemon if you’d like.

 

 

Sharks Are Friends Not Food

Sarah Nolin
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Chances are, none of you are big fans of sharks. But maybe you can see through my point-of-view of just how important these beasts are. 

Sharks are frightening creatures that apparently lurk in shallow waters of the oceans waiting for us to walk right into their territory and take a bite out of our limbs. The movie Jaws has contributed many fears that people hold regarding the ocean and the danger of sharks. Now, statistics show that shark attacks are A LOT less common than you think. “For every human killed by a shark, humans kill approximately two million sharks.” So, according to National Geographic sharks really are not the threat at all and I stand by that. We swim, surf, and wade into their homes; some people are bound to get hurt. But you don’t see sharks jumping into our homes and walking down the streets to hurt us, so why are we killing so many of them every year? It is proven that at least 100 million sharks are killed a year, but estimates show that there are probably about 273 million killed a year world wide. We are killing sharks faster than they can bounce back. There are so many details and facts that come with this threatening course of action than we are taking, and I urge everyone to do their research on how much of an impact the killing of sharks truly are.

Maybe the sharks are the ones scared of us according to this comical article that has pulled quite the attention regarding the Tiger shark, Simon William’s encounter with the Australian surfer, Mick Fanning.

 

shark-fins

sharkfinsopen

What can I do?

1. It is all about spreading the reality of the information about what killing sharks is doing. Share this information with others. Raise your knowledge and awareness of the issue. Do what you can to get people in the know. Educate yourself.

2. There are countless websites that you can get involved with. Here are a couple that I personally involve myself with Shark Angels and Oceana.

3. Involve yourself locally: There might be restaurants local to you that serve shark fin soup. Contact them and see what you can do to put an end to it.

Scuba-Diving-and-Sharks

 

Sharks are important and in my lifetime I would like to see them and all the other marine life return to their former glory. 

 

xo, Sarah

What to See in YYC: Weekend Preview August 14 – August 16, 2015

Michelle Hua
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With summer quickly coming to an end, check out these local events taking place this weekend to help make the most of the remaining weeks before school begins!

 

Taste of Calgary

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What: Taste of Calgary is the city’s most appetizing festival, giving visitors the chance to sample the city’s food, beverages, music and other cool things. Discover Calgary’s global cuisines from a mix of unique restaurants and beverage companies.  Plus get a taste of Calgary’s great musicians. And, shop at some of the most interesting marketplace vendors in the city. (Source)

Where: Eau Claire’s Festival Plaza

When: Open 11:00 am to 9:00 am from August 13 – August 16, 2015

Cost: Admission is free. Sampling tickets are sold for $1.00 each and can be used to try any of the menu items.

Visit their website for more info here.

 

Bike to the Zoo

bike-to-the-zoo

What: Pedal with your pack, flock or herd to the Calgary Zoo for the second annual Bike to the Zoo event. Last year was so much fun that we have decided to extend the event to both Saturday and Sunday! 

Arrive to the zoo by bike and receive: 

  • $10 off admission for the first 250 people who arrive by bike each day
  • Calgary Zoo members who bike to the zoo receive an ice cream coupon
  • Coupons are available at the bicycle valet parking located at both the North and West entrance

(Source)

Where: Calgary Zoo (1300 Zoo Rd. N.E. Calgary, AB)

When: Takes place 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from August 15 – August 16, 2015

Cost: Free

For more info, click here.

 

Family Favourites

familyfavourites_655x250_ftc_en

What: Join us on Saturday mornings at 11am for Cineplex Family Favourites. Watch a family favourite film each week for only $2.99. A portion of the proceeds goes towards supporting Free The Children. It’s a fun and affordable way to enjoy the weekend with your family! (Source)

This Saturday they will be showing the Seventh Dwarf.

Where: There are three theatres in Calgary participating in this event.

  • Scotia bank Theatre Chinook (6455 Macleod Trail SW Calgary, AB)
  • Cineplex Odeon Crowfoot Crossing (91 Crowfoot Terrace NW Calgary, AB)
  • Cineplex Odeon Sunridge Spectrum (#400, 2555-32nd Street NE Calgary, AB)

More participating theatres outside of Calgary can be found here.

When: Saturday’s at 11:00 am

Cost: $2.99

For details, visit their website.

 

Inglewood Night Market 2015

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What: Over 60 vendors featuring hand-crafted items and local foods! (Source)

According to their site, there will be several live music performances throughout the event in addition to street vendors such as food trucks and local shops that will stay open late for the occasion.

Where: 10th St at 9th Ave SE in Inglewood (South of 9th Avenue between Cafe Gravity & Crown Surplus)

When: August 14, 2015  from 6:00 pm-11:00 pm

Cost: Free

For more info, check out their website here.

 

Calgary Japanese Festival “Omatsuri”

OmatsuriWebLogov2               midnight-taiko-1024x766

What: “Omatsuri” is the Japanese term for a “traditional festival”. Visitors to the festival will be treated to authentic Japanese customs, presentations of traditional music, dance & song, traditional blacksmith demonstration, martial arts demonstrations, and more! (Source)

Where: Bowness Community Centre

When: August 15, 2015 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

Cost: Adult – $5.00
Kids 6 to 12 – $2.00
Kids 5 and under – Free

Check out their site for details.

 

Milky Way Nights

firstqsos_esa

What: Milky Ways Nights are an opportunity for the public to come and observe the dark night sky along with our researchers. Three nights in August close to the new moon, the dark sky conditions are perfect for viewing planetary nebula, globular clusters and distant galaxies. The planet visible in August is Saturn which is always amazing to view through a telescope. During the August Milky Way Nights will be the most active time to view the Perseids Meteor shower. Each evening we will offer a sky tour outside on our viewing terrace and point out some of the highlights of the summer sky. Several astronomers will be on hand to answer questions and talk about what you will be observing through the telescope. (Source)

Where: Rothney Astrophysical Observatory

When: August 13 – August 15, 2015 from 10:00 pm – 2:00 am

No need to pre-register*

Cost: Entrance fee – donation to RAO educational programming*

On a side note, their website states that it will take place outdoors, so if you decide to come to this event make sure to be prepared to be outside all night!

For more info, click here.

 

ReggaeFest

Screen Shot 2015-08-13 at 2.03.35 AM

What: Let the Main Event on Friday, August 14 and Saturday, August 15 at Shaw Millennium Park transcend you beyond all boundaries. Experience why this Calgary family event has become the premier summer Reggae Festival in all of Canada.

Chill out with a brew in the Village, hang with the kids in the Zone, savor the flavours of island spices and see what souvenir you’d like to take home. (Source)

Where: Shaw Millennium Park – 1220 – 9 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta

When: August 14, 2015 from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm and August 15, 2015 from 12:00 pm to 11:30 pm

Cost: For youth (13-17) admission would cost $10.00 on Friday the 14th and $25.00 on Saturday the 15th

For more info, click here.

 

Music in the Park

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What: Enjoy the fresh air while experiencing The City’s free summer concert series Music in the Park, featuring live music in a picturesque, outdoor setting. Bring a picnic and folding chair, settle in, and enjoy the sights and sounds of summer. (Source)

Their feature act this Sunday are the ‘Bownesians‘.

Where: Bowness Park, Calgary

When: August 16, 2015 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Cost: Free

To find out more, click here!

 

Books to read this summer

Sara Naqvi
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As any avid reader knows, summer is the perfect time to lounge around on the couch and tuck in to read a nice, thick book. With August already upon us and summer break beginning to draw to a close, it’s important to relish in those remaining hours of freedom by fully taking advantage of the book-reading opportunity in front of you. For those who don’t know where they should start on this literary journey, here’s a list of books to check out for your reading pleasure.

 

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell:

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This is a great novel for anyone looking to get a taste of the contemporary genre. It’s a dual-perspective story about two teenagers who unexpectedly find themselves drawn to each other. It’s not your typical love story though. Rife with drama surrounding issues like racism and familial relationships, Eleanor and Park definitely holds your interest for one reason or another. This is a good, lone-standing book to read during the summer and will really get you thinking.

 

The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner:

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Anyone looking for some action and suspense should get their hands on The Maze Runner trilogy during the upcoming weeks. Not only has it been successful enough to warrant a movie adaptation of the first novel (released last year), but the sequel film The Scorch Trials is coming out in September. If you watched the movie and enjoyed it, definitely read the books so you know what’s in store. Just be warned that once you’ve started, there may a possibility that you won’t be able to put them down.

 

Entwined by Heather Dixon:

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This is another great stand-alone novel to read, especially for lovers of fantasy. It’s a retelling of the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses but it’s not all ballet and tiaras. There’s a sinister twist to the story involving all sorts of magic and secrecy. The novel will definitely keep you gripped, and you won’t expect the plot twists that the author brings into play.

 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:

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Very different from the other novels you’ll see in the young adult section of the bookstore these days, this classic is absolutely worth a read. It’s been considered by some to be one of the best books of all time, and it’s definitely worth the hype. You’ll find yourself becoming immersed in the culture of old, Victorian England and wrapped up in a story about breeding and first impressions, love and hate. Make sure not to pass by this novel, even though it was written two hundred years ago!

 

Be sure to add these books to your reading list for what’s left of the summer, you definitely won’t regret it. Happy reading!

 

5 ways to get involved in Calgarian Arts & Culture

Hui Wen Zheng
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Calgary has been home to a growing arts and culture scene over the past few years and many aspects of it can go unnoticed for the speed at which new ideas are popping up. With summer half over (how did that happen?), now is the perfect time to take advantage of the remaining month before school starts off again by exploring this vibrant side of our city and appreciate it. Grab some friends and make the most out of the rest of summer; get involved in Calgary’s diverse arts and culture with these 5 ideas!

 1. Visit #YYC festivals and markets, and special arts events

Summer is the prime time for many festivals taking place in Calgary. See and shop the products of local businesses at Market Collective, celebrate the diversity of Calgary at Globalfest, and indulge in the dramatic side with Opera in the Village.

List of more related events taking place this summer below:

Festivals/markets:

To see a list of more events taking place this summer and beyond, check out Where.ca

(Image Sources from L to R: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

 

 

2. Read Calgary-based publications 

One of my personal favourite ways to connect with other arts-oriented people and businesses around me is to read the many Calgarian magazines and online publications. They showcase local masters in their trade and bring about new ideas about what to do in our bustling city.

Choice magazines include Dote Magazine, a beautiful lifestyle magazine that has tons of aesthetically-pleasing spreads that would look great cut out and framed, as well as Branded Magazine, a magazine of a similar kind that speaks to many topics ranging from food, yyc living, and advice. Both magazines can be found for free at their listed locations on their website and articles found in the magazine can be found there as well. UPPERCASE Magazine is also a no-brainer, especially for the design geek. In it’s 6th year now, it has published 26 issues to date and is still churning out more. Though it isn’t free like the other publications, you can subscribe to receive free emailed content every Tuesday on their website.

(Image sources from L to R: 1, 2, 3)

If magazines aren’t your thing, there are tons of great blogs run by talented Calgarians out there. Some of my top picks are as follows:

– Hello Lidy: a lovely DIY blog that also offers glimpses into Lidy Dipert’s life as a mother of two adopted children and her various home improvement antics. Hello Lidy is filled with inspiring, innovative, and cute ideas that will surely keep you busy!

(Source)
(Source)

 

– Calgary is Awesome: Does that title sound familiar? Much like us at Youth Are Awesome, CIA is a blog that sees many columnists write about all sorts of posts about life in Calgary and they all aim to bring positivist to your day.

 

 

3. Follow Calgarian accounts on social media

Though I personally have to force myself to use Twitter at times, every time I do decide to go on I always find tons of earlybird updates from local arts and culture accounts such as @SwerveCalgary, @DowntownCalgary, @Mruconservatory and @Calgaryphil, keeping me updated with new events and milestones. #YYCArts is another great way to see what others have to say about arts in our city.

 

And if you didn’t love our city enough already, be prepared to love it more after seeing the Instagram adventures of fellow Calgarians in and around our area. It’s a great way to decide where your next dine-out location will be and will surely inspire you to get out and enjoy the rest of your summer.

– MIKESEEHAGEL: Mike is a freelance photographer based in Calgary who loves showcasing the beautiful nature close to home and all around Canada. His feed will make you want to plan that trip into the mountains.

– CHRISTOPHERAMAT: Another Calgarian photographer who loves to share his appreciation for the natural landscapes of provinces all across Canada. The composition of his photos are perfectly serene with a hint of melancholy and is great for a introspective day.

– MELANIELAURENE: Melanie is proud city girl who is basically #goals. Her feed features her enjoying various locations within our city, as well as pieces of her personal life and stunning style.

– YOUTHAREAWESOME: A shamless plug I know, but following the weekly adventures of our bloggers is a great way to keep in touch with Calgarian culture.

If you’re looking for more ways to get involved socially, make sure to check out the social media accounts of events/places/businesses found in this post for more!

 

4. Visit these Calgary locations

Calgarian arts and culture isn’t limited to the web or festivals, in fact, some open year-round locations in our city have tons to offer. Listed below are some of my  places to hang out with friends.

– Glenbow Museum, Arts Commons, Olympic Plaza and Stephen Ave: Perhaps the best go-to locations in Calgary when you want to appreciate the beauty of our city. The area immediately surrounding Stephen Avenue has everything you need: a mall, plenty of meal options, a museum, a concert hall, several theatres, and a functional park. Enjoy it in the summer when the fountains are running in Olympic Plaza and there are flowers lining Stephen Ave or love it equally in the winter with beautiful light displays and a free skating rink.

 

Stephen Ave, Summer and Winter (Sources: T, B)
(Sources: T, B)

 

– 17th Ave + 4th Street: Having attended Rideau Park School and now attending Western Canada, 4th street and 17th ave have basically been my home for the past 8 years. Filled with vibrant shops such as Krickets, Phil + Sebastian, and 3 separate sushi places, 4th street is a lesser-known shopping street in Calgary. That certainly contrasts the rowdiness of 17th ave, which is home to tons of locations such as Tutti Frutti, Freak Lunchbox, and Buttermilk Fine Waffles.

– Reader Rock Garden: Certainly my favourite location in Calgary for picnics, a low-key hangout, and overall prettiness. It is a small garden in the heart of our city (right beside Earlton-Stampede c-train station) with a great café at the heart of it. It’s not uncommon to see picnickers, painters and bridal parties in the garden, and once you see it for yourself, it’s easy to see why. Its beauty deserves a blog post in itself.

(Source)

 

– Kensington: A stone’s-throw away from Sunnyside C-train station, this hip little piece of Calgary is home to tons of small businesses ranging from food to miscellaneous majesticness. See their website for the full list. My (highly condensed) favourites include the Higher Ground Cafe, Gummi Boutique, and Plaza Theatre.

– Inglewood: Similar to Kensington, Inglewood is also bursting with the unique and hip new businesses such as Plant, Gravity Espresso & Bar, and tons of live music venues, gallery hours, and events as can be found on their website under the “arts & culture” heading.

 

 

5. Catch live entertainment from Calgarian talent

Speaking of live music, you have probably seen some of my posts regarding CPO performances and Mount Royal Conservatory programs. However, there are many more ways you can hear more live classical music in our city. The Calgary Youth Orchestra, Calgary Civic Symphony, as well as the Calgary Wind Symphony are all additional options.

I know that classical music isn’t the most popular genre nowadays, but don’t worry, there are plenty of lyrical artists in Calgary that are worth checking out. When Ailin and I had the opportunity to go to this year’s TedxYYC event, several Calgarian artists such as Dragon Fli Empire and Hello Moth performed during the show an thoroughly opened my eyes up to the variety of non-classical talent. Since TedxYYC was in late June, I can hardly call myself an expert on this subject. That’s why I found this great list of both past and present bands from Calgary you should know.

 

Listed above are my tips on gettin accquainted in Calgary’s arts & culture scene, what are yours? Comment below or tweet me at @Hui_Wen_Zheng

 

Featured Image: Source

Dynamic classics and contemporary whirlwind: an evening with the NYO

Katja
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Picture this: the vibrant, atmospheric, pulse of the Jack Singer Concert Hall, buzzing in the way that it always does in the final minutes before the musicians walk onstage. Now, as the orchestra members file in and the chairs begin to fill, imagine that same feeling quadrupled.

That was the aura when Canada’s National Youth Orchestra settled into their unusual setup for the first piece of their performance on Sunday night. The usual pre-concert buzz in combination with the irreverent passion of the nation’s most promising young orchestral musicians made for a fantastic energy throughout the entire performance

The National Youth Orchestra, established in 1965, is a summer music institute that aims to provide a world-class training experience to 90-100 Canadian musicians aged 16-28. A two-time winner of the “Best Youth Orchestra in the World”, its June-August residency provides a professional and transformative experience for all members. Ultimately, 40% of Canadian orchestral musicians are NYO alumni.

It is an NYO tradition to commission a piece of music from a Canadian composer each year, and Sunday’s performance’s repertoire began with Emilie LeBel’s Monograph of a Bird’s Eye. It was a piece rich with mystery and subtlety, and featured the usage of a wind machine to create a series of sonic episodes. Personally, I’m generally a fan of more traditional pieces, but I did appreciate the inventiveness that was evident in this piece. I would be intrigued to hear more from LeBel’s future compositions.

Michael Francis Conductor Photo: Marco Borggreve
Michael Francis – Conductor of NYO 2015 
Photo: Marco Borggreve

Next in the evening’s lineup was Richard Strauss’s Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra, composed in 1945. Oboe soloist Hugo Lee was what took my breath away during this performance– his finesse and impeccable tone made him an excellent vehicle for the lyrical style. Even as the unusual lack of pauses between movements left the concerto feeling a bit repetitive, Lee kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

After a brief intermission, the concert closed with the iconic suite that was my favourite part of the evening– Holst’s The Planets. This is one of my favourite orchestral suites, and going into the show, I hadn’t realised that I would have the incredible opportunity to hear it played live. As for the musicians, well, they seemed equally enthusiastic about this selection; I noticed a clear feeling of excitement and animation particularly in the first three movements. This was where the orchestra had the opportunity to showcase their full range of ability, and I was left quite blown away.

Overall, it was a highly enjoyable evening with spectacular music made even more impressive by the young faces of the musicians. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing many of them in concert again over the years as they move onto bigger and better things.

 

Top image source can be found here and feature image is my own

Roosh V: The Controversial Blogger

Emily Donville
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roosh1Source

If you haven’t heard of Roosh V yet, you will today. Daryush Valizadeh is an American blogger and self proclaimed pick-up artist. He’s made waves around the world for his derogatory blog posts where he’s advocated that rape should be made legal inside a private home and he currently edits a website that published an article entitled “5 Reasons To Date A Girl With An Eating Disorder”.  If that doesn’t already make you terribly uncomfortable, read on!

“I thought about this problem and am sure I have the solution: make rape legal if done on private property. I propose that we make the violent taking of a woman not punishable by law when done off public grounds.”—Roosh V, an excerpt from How to Stop Rape

Recently Roosh V has met widespread opposition on his world tour. Feminists and citizens alike of Canada have been protesting Valizadeh’s appearances in Montreal and Toronto. Roosh posted to his YouTube on August 6th, two days before his August 8th appearance in Montreal. He expressed his concerns over feminists delaying or even preventing his seminar from happening, so he went calling on his “followers” to aid him in his fight. Roosh went as far as stating two outcomes: one where he would host his event and another where he’d end up in jail, his reason being he’d confront the protesters verbally but “we know how that’s going to end up and if there is any physical altercation, the person going in jail is me”, suggesting that he would meet anyone who opposed him with physical action.

Recently Toronto Mayor John Tory spoke out on the situation, voicing his opinion over Twitter and refusing to support Roosh or allow him to host his event without a fight.

“While free speech is the law in this country, promoting violence against women is wrong. #topoli“

Toronto Counselor Norm Kelly was also not one to stay quiet, instead opting to add his commentary to the discussion as well.

“Urging all venue locations in Toronto to deny @rooshv the opportunity to use their space. He and his views are not welcome in Toronto.”

Roosh V’s appearance drew protests and a petition of more than 40,000 signatures arguing that he should not be allowed entry into Canada, however the petition did not succeed and Roosh V entered the country and successfully hosted his Montreal show at a different venue after the original venue cancelled. While his event may have went on despite the mass amount of opposition, there is hope that his hopes of hosting an event in Toronto will fizzle out.

haley-firkserSource

Haley Firkser, a feminist who helped organize the Montreal protests against Valizadeh spoke out, stating:

“Some people say it benefits him, but if you look at the petition, there are more than 45,000 who signed up,” she said. “That’s 45,000 people who are learning about this who hopefully are taking part in discourse surrounding consent.”

While some fear by adding to his popularity, more men will follow his ideals, others argue that by sparking discussion it will help raise awareness surrounding women’s issues. If you’re looking to get involved, I urge you to educate the men and women in your lives on the importance of women’s rights and why rape is wrong. By recognizing that what Valizadeh does as misogynistic and incredibly offensive, we are one step closer to ensuring that his hate speech won’t influence/or reach anyone else.

Introducing YAA’s New Life Editor, Richard Lee-Thai

Ailin Li
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Introducing YAA’s New Life Editor, Richard Lee-Thai

Richard

On March 26, 2014, a post appeared on the Youth Are Awesome homepage titled ‘Why do we need writers?’. Being a writer myself, I was naturally drawn to the article. After being blown away by an insight I had not yet seen before, I began to await eagerly for the weekly blog posts from the author known as Richard Lee-Thai. (‘Who are you?‘ was the second post to come from the aspiring blogger, and continues to be one of my personal favourites.) During his first Youth Are Awesome meeting, Richard’s maturity and intelligent thoughts radiated from him and brightened up the room. By that time, his talent as a writer was also obvious.

A few months later, Richard showed up to the recruitment meeting for the ConocoPhillips Youth of Distinction Awards (YODA) committee. I had no doubt in my mind that he would be an amazing addition to that team, and nobody was disappointed by his work. On YODA, Richard’s skill as a leader showed through. Fast forward a couple more months and I am sitting at a table deciding who gets to take over as the new Editors when I, and my fellow graduating Editors, departed. Once again, I was delighted to see that Richard was stepping up to the plate and taking on the responsibility of guiding others. Even though I have known Richard for the past year, the chat I had with him inside a busy Starbucks last week was (un-surprisingly) filled with observations I did not know he had. Here’s an inside look into Richard’s mind!

The Early Moments

Before his debut on Youth Are Awesome, Richard had his own blog on WordPress (that he is hesitant to share with us due to some rather embarrassing quality). It seems that writing has always been in Richard’s blood. When asked how he felt about blogging, Richard said, “I like writing because you can go back and edit your thoughts to make sure they express what you want. When you’re talking in real life, you only have one chance to make your ideas come through. Like, I’ll probably see this post with the interview and wish that I would’ve said something else. I don’t feel that a lot of editing with your writing takes away any authenticity because, at the end of the day, it’s still you and your own words.”

“I like seeing what people my age have to say about issues around the world, because we can have deep and insightful thoughts, too.”

We at Youth Are Awesome count ourselves lucky every day because we have Richard on our team. But he loves the platform, too. “Writing, to me, is a really solitary activity because it’s just you and your screen and your keyboard. I really enjoy being in a group of bloggers and being able to hear their ideas. I like seeing what people my age have to say about issues around the world, because we can have deep and insightful thoughts, too. There’s not anything out there like Youth Are Awesome right now. Everything we read is from the perspective of adults, and there aren’t a lot of youth talking. It’s really important to promote youth voices because a lot of young people don’t read the adult-driven news, so they can go to Youth Are Awesome and see what other youth have to say.”

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The shining young man you see today wasn’t always so confident, though. “Before I started blogging, I would write a lot but I would only share the posts with people who were pretty close to me because they were my deep and personal thoughts, and it’s hard to share that. Experience and getting positive feedback has allowed me to be more open about it. I can also help people now, and see how much of a difference I’m making with each person who reads my blog posts.”

A Word To Fellow Writers

With the number of social justice and self-help articles that Richard has written, you’d think that he was some sort of walking idea machine. Although, like everyone else, he also gets stuck in some ruts.

“If I don’t have any ideas, I’ll just ask my friends, ‘What do you think I should write about?’ Like one day, I asked my friend what I should write about and he said racism and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s a good idea. I’ll start writing about that.’ [This lead to, ‘Is a world without racism possible?‘.] But other times, I feel like you can just go outside and try to experience things in order to get inspiration.”

It’s not always easy to produce engaging content. Sometimes, even the best of minds feel limited. In our day and age, it’s necessary to put ourselves out there. But the fear of ridicule is always sitting at the back of our minds. As Richard says, “I did used to feel some pressure at the beginning, but now I kind of just do what I want and not care too much what other people think. For example, as a male, there’s this stereotype that we have to be manly and unemotional. But for me, I feel that I’m a pretty emotional and expressive person. I’m able to talk to people about my feelings and serious issues. For some time, I felt quite isolated because a lot of other guys weren’t like that. But I’ve come to recognize that it’s a strength I have and it’s a unique part of me.”

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“If you always feel self-conscious about what you’re saying then you’ll always be held back.”

To aspiring writers, Richard wants to say, “The best advice I have is to not be afraid to write. Even if you’re not happy with the product at the end, you have to do it in order to improve. If you always feel self-conscious about what you’re saying then you’ll always be held back. The only way to get better is through practice and finding out what you can work on.” Breaking down those personal barriers of insecurity is the only way to truly shine through your writing. “Live life the way you want. Everyone should be able to make their own choices and pursue what they’re passionate about—people shouldn’t feel oppressed by what society expects of them.”

Looking Into The Future

We reached a point in our interview where I asked Richard what his plans were for his future on Youth Are Awesome. To this, he replied, “That’s a good question!” As his sophisticated and calm demeanor would suggest, Richard is the type of guy who goes with the flow. There isn’t currently a grand vision for the future, but he knows that he will find his purpose when the time comes.

“Writing is a means to express yourself and to share your story. Every person has a story to tell and can bring a unique perspective to the table, even if they don’t write. It’s my goal as an Editor to aid people in sharing their thoughts.”

Despite the uncertainty of the future, Richard is sure of one thing: the voice of today’s youth shall live on. He is not the type to become easily discouraged by what some others may think. I know that myself, and many other bloggers, have often been afraid of not being taken seriously as a youth blogger. Although, Richard sees it differently.

“I don’t feel like I’m under qualified to write about Life or any other topics, because I’m just one person. It’s true that I haven’t experienced as much of life as other people have, but everybody’s voice is important. I don’t think that my perspective is any better or any less important than anybody else who can contribute to a topic. Because of a person’s experiences, they will have more expertise on a certain subject than I do and it’s good to hear every side. Even if a person might not know everything about a certain topic, once they start writing they become more informed about it. When somebody else disagrees because they have other information, the two people can start a discussion and both sides will end up learning something they didn’t know.”

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Getting To The Essence Of Richard

If you’ve read any of my interviews with other youth, you’ll know that I like to throw in a curve ball question at the end of my meetings just to spice things up a bit. To Richard, I asked: If you found out today that you only had one year left to live, would you change the way you currently live your life? Why or why not? His answer was just as heart warming and well-thought out as I figured it would be.

“Yes, probably. I mean, this time next year it would be the summer after I graduate and before I go to university. If I found out I was dying, then there’d be no use in going to school. But that’s not the point.” (Showing us he’s witty and wise, all in one.) “I would value the life that I have a lot more and try to make the most of my life by doing meaningful things like volunteering and talking to friends. One of my favourite books is Tuesdays with Morrie, and it taught me was that we shouldn’t be afraid of death and that we should make the most of our lives. It’s a great book, and I think everyone should read it. I don’t want people to be sad when I die, because that’s a part of life. My passing away doesn’t mean that I’m gone because I’ll still live on in their memories, as cliche as that sounds.”

And That’s A Wrap

Taking a page from Richard’s book, I hope that I will also live on in all of your memories. The past two years on Youth Are Awesome have been some of the best for me. I’ve had so many amazing opportunities that would not have been possible at all without this blog. I will miss this platform and all of the bloggers fiercely, but I wish everyone the best. There is still so much more growth left for this blog, and I can’t wait to see the wonderful direction we head in.

But this isn’t goodbye. Rather, it’s a “see you later.”

Until we meet again…

The Science of Attracting Mosquitoes

Jasmine
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Have you ever wondered why mosquitoes are sometimes more attracted to some individuals more than others? The common belief behind why mosquitoes like certain people more is that some blood types are more attractive to mosquitoes, however, this theory is actually false. Mosquitoes are, in actuality, allured by a person’s body heat, sweat production  and emitted carbon dioxide. Due to how certain people have varying amounts of sweat excreted, mosquitoes can single out their more favourable targets. However, the common misconception pertaining to blood type and how certain types allure more mosquitoes is not completely unsupported. Because some blood types give the characteristic of having more sweat excreted, mosquitoes seem to be more attracted to certain blood types but what they are attracted to is not blood type but the sweat. Mosquitoes are also shown to be more allured to females more than males and younger children.

So how do we prevent mosquitoes from biting us? Using this information, we can find common solutions around the house that help decrease body heat. This includes water melon skin, mandarin skin and liquids specifically for decreasing body temperatures (these can commonly be found in Chinese markets). Compared to mosquito repellants, orange peels are actually more effective when applied through rubbing the inner peel abrasively onto your skin. The same applies to watermelon skin when all the red insides are cleared off. To soothe mosquito bites, you can also utilize watermelon skin, toothpaste and tea bags soaked in hot water and then cooled off (I find this personally to work, but that’s my preference). There are also several ways to get rid of mosquitoes around your house instead of using sticky and poisonous solutions bought from stores. One thing you can do is boil apple cider and keep it warm to attract all kind of bugs (not just mosquitoes). The insects will be allured to the sweet scent and mosquitoes will be fooled by the carbon dioxide (from the bubbles/gas inside of the apple cider) and the heat. After dipping into the solution, they will get wet and no longer have the ability to fly.
I hope my tips will assist you in your battle against mosquito-inflicted discomfort, whether it’s coping with a bite or repelling them.

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How Privileged Are You?

Ailin Li
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What Does Privilege Mean To You?

As defined by Google, privilege is “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.” To me, it means being able to go to school every day, to live in a democratic country with freedom of speech, to have money in my bank account and access to food everywhere I go. It also means being able to sit here and type up this post and film this type of video. To you, it could mean something entirely different.

Taking a look at the events progressing from the advent of mankind to the year 2015, we are living in the best of times and the worst of times. For us certain lucky folks, we have access to clean drinking water, the internet, and modern medicine. But we also sit in the midst of economic and political instability, war, and discrimination.

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There isn’t anything wrong with privilege, as some may argue. It is my opinion that we should all be able to live in prosperity and take any opportunity presented (as long as it’s not at the great expense of others). So long as we remain grateful. At the end of each day, we must go home and reflect on how truly amazing it is to live the lives that we do. I am a believer in the philosophy that there is always someone who is doing worse than myself. There is connotation that this mantra belittles ones problems, but I view it as humbling. Instead of always thinking about what we don’t have, it is much more productive to focus on what we do have. Perception is one of the most powerful tools a person can wield, and you can use it to make your life miserable or magical.

Inside The Project

Try as hard as I may, at the end of the day the results of these projects come down to the people who are involved. I originally reached out to around 20 people and had about 15 RSVP confirming their attendance. Just like any group activity, though, I had half those people cancel last minute. To say the least, it was fairly disheartening. I don’t hold anything against these people, family emergencies are inevitable, but my plot to have diversity was essentially shot in the face. A mixed cast of participants is important for a project like this, these “social experiments” if you will, which I totally understand. Nonetheless, those who did make it out were really good sports and gained quite a bit of insight as a result. At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask for.

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Unfortunately, there were no accessible “free rent” boardroom spaces I could find, thus forcing the filming process to the great outdoors. The wind was not our friend and random people kept walking through our set. Our awesome camera woman, Rebecca, was feeling quite under the weather that day and was working with a single non-motile tripod. She apologized fiercely for any shaky shots, but she can’t be blamed, either. Additionally, my editing is nowhere near stellar. The royalty free music was actually quite cooperative for my purposes, and was, admittedly, used more so to help to mask background noise than add ambiance. Thanks to iMovie, the sound in the original video also got messed up during exporting and I had a ton of fun fixing that whole debacle (resulting in this post being published much later than the previously intended date).

Nonetheless, it all worked out in the end. For what we were working with, I feel that the video turned out spectacularly and am proud of the results. After all, I wasn’t seeking an amazing video. What I hope resonates with people is some sort of lesson, whatever that may be to certain people. At the least, I wish for everyone to take a moment to be grateful for what they have in their lives.

How Privileged Are You?

The video only featured a fraction of the questions that I asked the participants. If you’re interested in trying out this project for yourself, here are the questions that I used:

1. If your parents worked nights and weekends to support your family, take one step back.
2. If you are able to move through the world without fear of sexual assault, take one step forward.
3. If you can show affection for your romantic partner in public without fear of ridicule or violence, take one step forward.
4. If you have ever been diagnosed as having a physical or mental illness/disability, take one step back.
5. If the primary language spoken in your household growing up was not English, take one step back.
6. If you came from a supportive family environment take one step forward.
7. If you have ever tried to change your speech or mannerisms to gain credibility, take one step back.
8. If you can go anywhere in the country, and easily find the kinds of hair products you need and/or cosmetics that match your skin color, take one step forward.
9. If you were embarrassed about your clothes or house while growing up, take one step back.
10. If you can make mistakes and not have people attribute your behavior to flaws in your racial/gender group, take one step forward.
11. If you can legally marry the person you love, regardless of where you live, take one step forward.
12. If you were born in Canada, take one step forward.
13. If your parents have ever gone through a divorce, take one step back.
14. If you felt like you had adequate access to healthy food growing up, take one step forward
15. If you are reasonably sure you would be hired for a job based on your ability and qualifications, take one step forward.
16. If you would never think twice about calling the police when trouble occurs, take one step forward.
17. If you can see a doctor whenever you feel the need, take one step forward.
18. If you feel comfortable being emotionally expressive/open, take one step forward.
19. If you have ever been the only person of your race/gender/socio-economic status/sexual orientation in a classroom or workplace setting, take one step back.
20. If you get time off for your religious holidays, take one step forward. 
21. If you had a job during your high school and/or college years, take one step back.
22. If you feel comfortable walking home alone at night, take one step forward.
23. If you have ever traveled outside the country, take one step forward.
24. If you have ever felt like there was NOT adequate or accurate representation of your racial group, sexual orientation group, gender group, and/or disability group in the media, take one step back.
25. If you feel confident that your parents would be able to financially help/support you if you were going through a financial hardship, take one step forward.
26. If you have ever been bullied or made fun of based on something that you can’t change, take one step back.
27. If there were more than 50 books in your house growing up, take one step forward.
28. If you studied the culture or the history of your ancestors in elementary school take one step forward.
29. If your parents or guardians attended college, take one step forward.
30. If you ever went on a family vacation, take one step forward.
31. If you can buy new clothes or go out to dinner when you want to, take one step forward.
32. If you were ever offered a job because of your association with a friend or family member, take one step forward.
33. If one of your parents was ever laid off or unemployed not by choice, take one step back.
34. If you were ever uncomfortable about a joke or a statement you overheard related to your race, ethnicity, gender, appearance, or sexual orientation but felt unsafe to confront the situation, take one step back.

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Since this was a project for youth, I had to modify the questions a bit from the originals that I found on Buzzfeed. What I loved about the project was the fact that these questions were so blunt, vital, and overlooked in daily conversations. This experience was definitely worth it and I would recommend it 200% to anybody who’s even remotely curios.

Thanks For Watching!

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