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2025 Alberta Teachers’ Association Strike summary

Tsz
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2025 Alberta Teachers’ Association Strike summary

Across Alberta classrooms, something important is happening to all Youth: starting at October 6, 2025, teachers represented by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) began a province-wide strike. In this strike, more than 51,000 teachers stopped working, affecting roughly 700,000- 750,000 students in public, separate and Francophone schools. But why all these happen?

What’s driving the strike?

There are three major issues that cause to this strike:

  1. Classroom conditions: Teachers argue that class sizes have grown and student needs (especially students needing extra support) are more complex and difficult than ever, which making effective teaching harder.
    • The total number (from grade 1 to grade 12) of students enrolled in 2020/2021 academic year is 734,794 to the total number of students enrolled in 2024/2025 academic year is 825,817, which the number increased by 12.39%
    • While the growth rate of the number of teachers only increased by 4% in these 4 years.
  2. Compensation: The ATA reports that teachers felt their proposed increases and workload didn’t reflect the realities of the job
    • The salary growth of the teacher in Alberta is 3.8% while our Consumer price index increase (2019-25) is 20.8%, our salary growth rate is far lower than other province like B.C. (Vancouver) 25.1%, Saskatchewan 15.9%, Manitoba 17.6% which they consumer price index increase similar than Alberta (~20%)
  3. Government funding and policy choices: While the government offered a 12% salary increase over four years and the hiring of 3,000 more teachers, the ATA rejected that offer as inadequate relative to the scale of change needed.

How student and schools are affected?

As a high school student, I am directly experiencing the ripple effects of the ongoing situation. Schools are paused, classes cancelled, and extracurricular activities put on hold. For senior students, diploma exams have become especially stressful, with schedules now filled with uncertainty. This instability can disrupt our learning rhythm, motivation, and overall well-being.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that these suspensions and teacher absences are not without reason. Teachers have the right and freedom to stand up for fair working conditions, and their actions reflect the challenges within the education system. While this creates difficulties for students, it also helps us understand that education is shaped by more than classroom lessons — it’s influenced by policies, budgets, and the values our society places on teaching.

However, the challenges are real. Reduced instructional time, uncertainty about schedules, and potential impacts on university applications all create genuine concern. This situation calls for empathy and understanding, as it affects not only teachers but also students, families, and everyone connected to education.

A wider impact on education and society?

This strike raises an important question about how we invest in public service. If teachers are stretched thin and classrooms are crowded, what does that mean for the quality of education future generations receive? The government’s move to introduce back-to-work legislation (Back to School Act, Bill 2), to force teachers back as a political dimension. The use of emergency law to end labor action.

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://teachers.ab.ca/news/ata-challenge-bill-2

https://www.alberta.ca/supporting-our-teachers-and-students

https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/1.7632720

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-teacher-strike-funding-formula-class-size-data-9.6932618#:~:text=That%20gap%20has%20persisted%20through,by%20just%20eight%20per%20cent.

https://www.alberta.ca/student-population-statistics

https://teachers.ab.ca/news/watch-news-conference-historic-strike-hits-province

https://globalnews.ca/news/11487084/alberta-government-back-to-work-legislation-teachers-strike/

All on the Quantum Technology Breakthrough – 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

Sina M
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All on the Quantum Technology Breakthrough – 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics

Introduction

The recent winners of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics category presented efforts to apply the quantum mechanical effects on a larger scale that could lift barriers to revolutionizing technologies. Quantum tunnelling is the process by which a subatomic particle moves through a barrier based on its wave-like behaviour, with probability distributions, and ends up on the opposite side. The regular stuff you hear about motion is taught in classical physics. However, quantum mechanics raises the question of the nature of subatomic particles, to have what’d be needed to move across a barrier.

Recipients John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, and John M. Martinis used the experiment of taking an electronic circuit made of superconductors that don’t experience resistance in producing a current that was separated by a layer of non-conductive material, called the Josephson junction. The system was designed to reveal its quantum nature, which, in tunnelling, made it possible to use voltage by changing from a state where no voltage was required for current flow. A system in a quantized state, as it’s able to absorb/emit certain amounts of energy. This discovery, although recognized relatively recently (experimented with in 1984-85), is a new stepping stone for the kinds of technologies that apply quantum mechanics and those that rely on them completely, known as quantum technologies.

But what is the subsection of physics, and why is it of any significance to technological developments?

Quantum mechanics has to do with anything subatomic, electrons, protons, neutrons, whose reactions have been later applied to areas of mass productivity in technology. The minuscule processes make for much bigger chain reactions, as used in GPS, MRI scanners, lasers, solar cells (converting light energy into electricity in solar panels), and quantum computing. Scientists have worked to find their own area of research, given the name for a technology that solves problems with higher capabilities than anything classical. Computers may reach unexpected heights in problem-solving and processing through concepts of superposition and entanglement. Typically, these quantum computers are suitable for complex work, as opposed to the usual MacBook or Windows. AI enhancement is an important part of modelling benefits and appropriate uses to speed up processes.

Connections to AI and what’s in store for it right now

Most top companies are all into quantum research that could take their inventions a step further. AI in the past three years has risen in your Google search tool, homework help, and social media. Digital technologies have been presented with the use of artificial intelligence in navigating systems faster and more easily, but issues with perhaps a built-up domination and keeping up with the job market can provide news of tools and a generation of devices second looks. The world of quantum technology offers an economy booming with quantum computing and other applications, as well as solutions to mitigate climate change and cryptography. Of course, we know that the best way to utilize technology is to put its power and development in the hands of ethical power. As of now, there’s more to be analyzed and experimented with before a reveal to the public, and occasionally searching up progress might make use of that innate curiosity instead of soaking up your screentime.

An interpretation of cultural impacts

The social culture of a humanistic way of living is threatened by the ecosystem created through innovative technologies. Homogenization of social culture that does not support the complexity of the human brain to form connections with others impacts mental health. A government may choose to override a system with AI, deeply influencing the beliefs and lifestyles of citizens around the world, but ignoring those in third-world countries that still have unresolved conflicts due to inequality and wealth, which you’ve seen in your news channels often. But I believe that no society, or world in general, will change for the better unless problems are effectively worked out. For youth, AI has affected our communication and humour, from emojis to AI-generated pictures, making it difficult to blend the components that made talking and making friends for well-being, with our economies, people, and quality of life in jeopardy. So, opening the discussion to these kinds of topics can be very useful in the critical analysis of technological innovation.

Final Notes

TL: DR; Discovery applying quantum tunnelling on a macroscopic scale that won a Nobel Prize will help revolutionize fields of human innovation and achievement, such as medicine, navigation, and digital technology. 

This was a completely new topic for me, so researching a bit was my best bet at writing a decent blog. Expanding the mind means many good things for your memory and cognitive development! Let me know if you’re curious about quantum technology and what exactly you hope it may give to humanity, or predictions on how it may be led in the opposite direction, as in implications for culture and the future of human innovation, etc.. I personally think that there’s so much newer tech can do, but it doesn’t need to be settled with the massive companies or necessarily free to the public for any action.

Thank you for clicking and reading. Stay tuned for the next one!

Sources:

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2025/press-release/

https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/quantum-computing

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/07/explainer-what-is-quantum-technology/

https://www.csis.org/analysis/quantum-technology-applications-and-implications

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-83995-z

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rewiring Minds: The Neuroscience of a Better World : The First Edition

Natania V
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Rewiring Minds: The Neuroscience of a Better World : The First Edition
Building a More Conscious Generation
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” — Carl Jung
We live in a time of awakening, where the need to build a more conscious generation is both a challenge and an opportunity. A generation that feels more, questions more, and refuses to accept the world as it is. From climate strikes to mental health advocacy, from decolonization movements to digital activism, young people today are not just reacting to injustice; they are reprogramming the way society thinks. But beneath every protest, speech, and act of defiance, something is happening inside the brain, a quiet revolution of consciousness. Our generation isn’t just changing the world. We’re rewiring it, one conscious choice and connection at a time.
The Science of Awareness
Consciousness isn’t only philosophical, it’s biological. In the brain, self-awareness emerges from a delicate interplay between the prefrontal cortex, which governs reflection and judgment, and the default mode network (DMN), the set of regions that become active when we think about ourselves and others.
When we reflect on our actions, question our beliefs, or challenge our biases, we are literally strengthening the connections between these networks. Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new pathways, allows every act of reflection to carve out a more conscious mind.
That’s why exposure to diverse perspectives, like reading about another culture, listening to stories of struggle, or having a difficult conversation, expands empathy. The anterior cingulate cortex and insula, both linked to empathy and emotional awareness, light up as we begin to see through someone else’s lens. Consciousness grows not in isolation, but in connection.
Rewiring the Next Generation
Young minds are especially adaptable. The teenage and early adult brain undergoes rapid synaptic pruning, a process that refines neural connections based on what we focus on most. If we grow up consuming polarization, cynicism, and outrage, our neural pathways adapt to that reality. But if we cultivate curiosity, compassion, and critical thinking, those become our defaults instead.
This means that the stories we consume, the empathy we practice, and the conversations we choose to have are shaping the neural foundation of our generation.
Education, too, is part of this rewiring. When classrooms encourage open discussion about mental health, identity, or ethics, they aren’t just teaching; they’re building emotional circuitry for understanding. When youth councils and advocacy programs give space for real dialogue, they are, in effect, activating the brain’s learning and empathy networks simultaneously.
The future will belong to the generation whose neural patterns reflect awareness over apathy, reflection over reaction, empathy over ego.
Consciousness as Collective Evolution
On a global scale, we are witnessing humanity’s consciousness evolve. Social media, though often criticized, has also become a digital mirror, forcing societies to see themselves more clearly. Our collective attention, when used wisely, can shape moral progress.
Neuroscientists call this phenomenon collective intelligence, where shared ideas and values begin to synchronize across populations. It’s as if our brains are forming a global neural network, interconnected, responsive, capable of moral learning. Every post, every conversation, every act of advocacy sends a signal through this shared consciousness, asking: Can we become better?
The Future We’re Wiring
Building a more conscious generation doesn’t start with technology or policy; it starts with awareness. Every time we pause to understand instead of judge, to listen instead of speak, we strengthen not only our character but our cognition.
The conscious generation is not defined by perfection but by perception, the willingness to see clearly, think deeply, and act compassionately.
We are the synapses of tomorrow’s society, firing toward understanding.
If consciousness is contagious, then awareness is activism.
Coming Next in the Series
If you found this post meaningful, stay tuned for the next article in my series Rewiring Minds: The Neuroscience of a Better World.
To build a better world, we must first understand the mind that shapes it.

My Journey Through Basketball

Vasundhara Joshi
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My Journey Through Basketball

Learning something new is never just about the final outcome, it’s about the process, the struggles, and the small victories along the way. Every time we try something unfamiliar, whether it’s a sport, a hobby, or a school project, we have the chance to grow not just in skill, but in patience, confidence, and resilience. For youth, these moments of learning are especially important because they teach us how to navigate challenges, take risks, and push ourselves beyond what we think is possible.

For me, one of the most memorable experiences of learning something new happened when I started playing basketball. I joined a local team at the age of six, and I quickly realized how much I had to learn. The older kids were faster, taller, and more experienced. I often missed shots, lost the ball during drills, and felt frustrated when I couldn’t keep up. At first, it was easy to feel discouraged, but my love for the game kept me coming back. I started practicing on my own after school, focusing on small details like my dribbling, footwork, and passing. Each improvement, no matter how minor, felt like a victory. Over time, the frustration gave way to confidence, and I began to enjoy learning the game as much as playing it.

What made the experience even more fun was the opportunity to share what I had learned with others. As I became more comfortable with my skills, I helped younger teammates improve their dribbling and shooting, sharing tips that had worked for me. Writing about or reflecting on these experiences also helped me understand my own growth. I learned that the journey is only complete with mistakes, challenges, and small achievements which are just as important as the result.

Learning a new skill or hobby isn’t always easy, and progress can feel slow. But by embracing curiosity, staying persistent, and being willing to make mistakes, we can transform those challenges into meaningful growth. Sharing what we learn with others not only reinforces our own understanding but also inspires those around us to keep pushing themselves. Whether it’s on the basketball court or in any other area of life, each step forward is a step toward becoming stronger, more capable, and more confident in our abilities.

The Science Behind Fear: Why We Love Being Scared

Elizabeth A
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The Science Behind Fear: Why We Love Being Scared

Every October, we line up for haunted houses, stream horror movies, and tell ghost stories in the dark. Even though fear is supposed to warn us of danger, we seem to enjoy it — especially during Halloween. So why do we love being scared? The answer lies in how our brains and bodies react to fear.

The Body’s Fear Response

When something startles us, our brain jumps into action. The amygdala, a small part deep in the brain, acts like an alarm. It senses possible danger and sends a signal to the hypothalamus. This starts a chain reaction that releases adrenaline and cortisol, hormones that prepare us to fight or flee.

As this happens, our heart beats faster, our pupils widen, and our breathing quickens. Our body is ready for action — even if the “threat” is just a movie monster or a spooky sound. This reaction, called the fight-or-flight response, once helped humans survive real danger. Today, it gives us that rush of excitement we feel when we’re scared.

Why Fear Feels Good

Once our brain realizes that the threat isn’t real, it shifts gears. The body begins to calm down, and the brain releases dopamine, the chemical linked to pleasure and reward. This combination of relief and excitement feels good, even addictive. That’s why people often describe a haunted house or horror movie as “fun scary” — we get the thrill without any real danger.

Scientists call this the sweet spot of fear. Too much fear feels overwhelming, but too little fear feels boring. The perfect scare gives us a balance between the two. It makes our hearts race but still keeps us safe. That’s why thrill rides, scary games, and horror movies are designed to push us right to that edge — and then pull us back.

How Fear Helps Us

Fear doesn’t just entertain us. It can also make us stronger. Psychologists say that facing fear in safe environments helps us build resilience. When we calm ourselves after being scared, we train our brains to handle stress in everyday life. In other words, a haunted house can actually help us manage anxiety better.

Fear Is Part of Being Human

Fear is one of the oldest and most powerful emotions we have. It kept our ancestors alive, but it also connects us to each other today. When we scream, laugh, and jump together during Halloween, we’re sharing a very human experience — one that links biology, chemistry, and emotion.

So the next time your heart races during a scary movie or haunted maze, remember: your brain and body are running a complex experiment. You’re not just getting scared — you’re experiencing science in action.

Fear isn’t only a Halloween thrill. It’s proof of how amazing the human body really is. ¹ ² ³

7 Ways YOUth can Advocate for a Cause

Nelo Anne
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7 Ways YOUth can Advocate for a Cause

 

A lot of youth believe it takes someone older, with more life experience, or inherently bold to advocate for a cause or become a leader. They are scared of rejection, failure, judgment, or standing out in a crowd. The truth is, advocacy doesn’t have to be coordinating a huge public demonstration or going on a hunger strike – it can be small and most often is. You can advocate for a cause you want to support, no matter who or how old you are, but there are a few steps you should take when launching your advocacy journey.

Know your cause

Being knowledgeable about your cause is an excellent way to gain confidence, better develop your end goal, enable yourself to answer questions effectively, counter arguments, and get more people involved and on board. You don’t need to know every single detail spanning hundreds of years, but it is wise to do a bit of research on current updates and the historical significance of the issue, so you are in the know and will have a better chance of success in your endeavours. You can do this by seeking out documentaries, articles, or having conversations with well-informed people.

Be aware of your rights

It’s always a good idea to get to know what your boundaries are when considering contributing to or starting a movement.

Section 2- b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association are fundamental rights for all in Canada. Therefore, you are entitled to protest and express your opinion verbally and in writing at any age. However, it is also important to know about Section 7- 7: everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. This means that you are not allowed to harm anyone in the process of advocating for a cause, and beyond that, you should obviously obey the laws and bylaws in your area.

With that out of the way, here are some safe, meaningful and youth-friendly approaches to advocating for your chosen cause:

School walkout

Based on my experience, conducting or participating in a school walkout is generally allowed as long as it does not interfere with the learning of non-participants. Gathering a group of people who care about the issue as much as you do to create posters and walk around the grounds is a great way to peacefully protest something and raise awareness around the school, as well as in a more widespread fashion, considering events like these often attract public and media attention. It is very impactful to see a group of students who have taken time out of their day to show the world something they want to change and why it is meaningful.

“There are a lot of reasons [we did the walkout],” said Elliot H., a local junior high student who participated in a walkout on October 3rd, 2025, protesting Alberta’s new laws affecting trans kids. “There are many issues with change rooms and sports teams not allowing trans kids in, and there is also a lot of bullying. It’s a big problem. I wanted to participate to show support for my friends who are trans. What the government is doing isn’t fair for those kids.”

Elliot says an older student let everyone know there would be a walkout for trans kids’ rights and to pass it on to others. “Everyone participating went to the far end of the field, near the road. A lot of people had signs and slogans they were shouting.” Elliot’s parents got a notification for unexcused absence, but nobody got in trouble with the school. “The principal said he wasn’t allowed to encourage or discourage it, and the grade nines made sure it was okay before they did it.” They got many cars to honk, and a news truck came over to record the walkout.

Art / Media

Representation and messages in forms such as podcasts, visual art, writing, and even dance can convey your idea by touching people’s emotions, inspiring them or making them reflect.

For example, social commentary graffiti artist Banksy is known for their profound and satirical public art style, anonymity and antiauthoritarian messages. They often protest against the suppression of free speech, mainly in the United Kingdom. While I don’t condone illegal behaviour such as graffiti, these art pieces have influenced some of my opinions and encouraged me to discover how we can exercise our right to free speech through the arts.

Participating in peaceful rallies and protests

Participating in the teachers’ rally shows support and solidarity, letting our educators know they are not alone and motivating them to keep going. Protests get attention and drive social and political change. They stir community engagement and unify people.

Events and celebrations

Your participation is support. Just by showing up to Truth and Reconciliation, Pride and Black History month events, you are fostering empathy, understanding and connection.

Write a letter or create a petition

Something that is important to me is the protection of transgender youth in schools, so I have been composing a letter with signatures to the provincial government regarding the new imposed regulations. One letter won’t get the intended result, but many can – just like how one brick can’t build a wall on its own.

Most kinds of petitions in Alberta require you to be at least 18 years of age and a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, but gathering signatures from youth who have something to say is also valuable and can spark change.

Start conversations and walk the talk

One of the most powerful things you can do is live your life according to your values and support your cause through actions, not just words. Advocacy doesn’t have to be a highly organized and planned event; we can advocate in our everyday interactions by helping those around us learn about how microaggressions and misapprehensions can be harmful to marginalized communities, even just by politely correcting someone when they say something inaccurate and harmful. Using your voice when you aren’t okay with what is being said or done is leadership, not sensitivity. 

Behind the scenes, a lot of people are working towards change. Nowadays, it is extremely offensive and out of line if someone uses the R-slur because it devalues and dehumanizes individuals in our society. What many don’t realize is that it used to be used casually, demonstrating our society’s normalization of derogatory language. Continued action is still required, but changes have been made thanks to the hard work and activism of the disability community and the choices individuals make to no longer use this harmful word.

Be a leader within your community

Advocate for (or better yet, with) those who do not have the platform or resources to speak out for themselves. A couple of ways you can do this are by becoming a student representative or seeking out leadership programs in your city. That being said, your role is to amplify and support marginalized voices, not eclipse them. It is important to actively listen to these voices, as they give valuable insight and are the ones being affected. Keep in mind that leadership can be quiet, too. Leading by example and thoughtful actions reflects an individual’s capacity for empathy, resilience and awareness.

 

Although advocating is generally pretty serious work, it doesn’t always have to be about large societal issues – you can even advocate for things you want to see more (or less) of around your communities, like music, art, or a chicken sandwich in the cafeteria.

Think about what is happening around you that you want to change and how you can be the first to take a step towards your goal. You don’t need to wait, because the youth are the ones who decide the culture for the future, and you have the influence to co-shape the adult identities of the young people around you: the bosses, lawyers and voters of tomorrow.

 

Sources:

Calgary students stage widespread school walkout to protest Alberta’s transgender laws | CBC News

Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms – Canada.ca

How to Advocate for Marginalised Voices Without Speaking Over Them – Unity for Integration Project

Quiet Leadership: The Superpower the World Needs Right Now | Psychology Today

 

 

October is Learning Disability Awareness Month!

Maya McIntyre
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October is Learning Disability Awareness Month!

Yes, it’s time to celebrate Halloween, but did you know that October is also learning disability awareness month? It is never too late to celebrate advocacy. 3.2% of children in Canada have learning disabilities, and everyone one of them must receive an adequate amount of accommodation so they can thrive in all areas of life.  No child deserves to be left behind without these accommodations. Students can fall behind, and retaining jobs and doing well in school can become difficult.  This is why October is a special opportunity for all educational and professional environments to welcome all types of learning.

 So let’s dive into the basics: what exactly is a learning disability?

Learning disability is referred to as disorders in different psychological processes that affect how language is understood and used, affecting how information is received, processed, recalled and communicated.

Some of the different types of learning disabilities

 An LD reading is also commonly referred to as:

( Dyslexia)

 Dyslexia is an LD that affects how your brain processes written information due to problems identifying speech sounds and how they relate to letters and words, also defined as decoding. It is not just a difficulty in reading words, but how you process, understand, and retain what you have read. 

An LD in math is also commonly referred to as:

( Dyscalculia)

 Dyscalculia is an LD that affects a person’s ability to understand work with numbers and Concepts. It is not just a difficulty with counting, but a condition that makes it harder to conceptualize math-related material, theories, problems and calculations. This could develop into challenges in the areas of measuring, estimating, counting money and understanding patterns.

An LD in writing is also commonly referred to as

( Dysgraphia)

 Dysgraphia is an LD that primarily affects someone’s handwriting, manifesting difficulties and spacing of letter, and overall legibility. It is not just the way someone writes or the quality of their writing, but it is also a difficulty in editing and organizing written work. These are usually due to a weakness and motor skills, hand movements and the writing process.

 So it is important to note…

 None of these differences in any four measures is an individual’s intellectual capacity or linked to one’s IQ. The idea of an LD implying lower intelligence is a myth that can be extremely destructive to one’s self-esteem and cause a lack of support for someone’s learning needs.

 Intervention is crucial so that youth can demonstrate their true intelligence and not just in the classroom but in all areas of life. 

 

Source:

https://childmind.org/topics/learning-disorders/

I Got My Flu Shot in Alberta – Here’s Why You Should Too (News Flash: It’s Not Just About You)

Jia J
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I Got My Flu Shot in Alberta – Here’s Why You Should Too (News Flash: It’s Not Just About You)

When the air starts to bite and leaves crunch with every step you take, Albertans know two things are coming: first snow…then the unfortunate sniffles. Every year, the cold and flu season sweeps through workplaces, schools, and homes faster than you can say “Kleenex.” This year, as part of my now annual routine, I decided to get my vaccine; something that seems quite simple, but it has a surprisingly big impact. And in all honesty? The whole experience isn’t as scary – or pointless – as some people think. Here are a few things I learned (and myths I think I effectively busted) after talking to pharmacists, doing my daily reading up on Alberta Health Services, and getting my own jab.

Myth #1: “I never get sick, so I don’t need it.” 

That’s what most people think too – you aren’t alone. But vaccines aren’t just for you, they are for everyone around you. When more people get immunized, fewer viruses have the chance – even if it is little – to spread to those who can’t get vaccinated: those small, cute things that cry all the time (babies) or people with certain health conditions. So yeah, maybe you won’t have to face the annoying flu. But your grandma? Your classmate who’s always coughing? They might, and your immunity helps protect them.

Myth #2: “It’s just a cold, surely I’ll survive.”

Of course, without a doubt, most of us can power through a runny nose – and an abnormally scratchy throat – but influenza isn’t “just a cold.” The sneaky flu fills up hospitals in Alberta with people who thought they’d “just tough it out.” As it often goes, missing a few days of work or school may sound like a great trade-off, until you’re lying there: achy, feverish, angry, tired, and just wishing you could actually taste your soup (a new luxury you’ll be grateful for the next time you can.)

Myth #3: “Vaccines have side effects, so it’s obviously safer to skip them.” 

Ah, yes –  the great horrors of mild side effects; the sore arm or fatigue that takes over you after getting a shot are incredibly common. Serious ones? Not so much; they’re incredibly rare. But what’s way more common is catching the actual flu and feeling a hundred times worse. The nurse who gave me my shot this year said it best: “The vaccine itself isn’t the real risk – the virus is.” 

Myth #4: “You can get the flu from the flu shot.” 

Nope. The vaccine uses inactivated viruses; it cannot infect you. What might happen is that people catch another bug around the same time (because, just for a second, let’s be real: Alberta weather turns everyone into walking Petri dishes by November.)

Myth #5: “It doesn’t even work.” 

You’re definitely right – no vaccine is 100%. Although the vaccine does massively lower your chance of getting sick, and if – by any chance – you do get infected, your symptoms are usually milder and your recovery is way faster. Alberta Health adjusts each year’s flu shot to match the most common strains. In some ways, it’s just like updating your antivirus software. 

The bottom line: 

Getting vaccinated is about being proactive – not paranoid. It’s community care disguised as a five-minute pharmacy visit. 

TL;DR:

Flu shots protect you and everyone around you! They’re safe, and fast across Alberta; staying healthy this cold season means one simple thing: roll up your sleeve – not your odds of getting sick. 

P.S. A little pinch today keeps the tissues away. 💉✨

The “Aura” Obsession

Avy
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The “Aura” Obsession

In 2025, having “aura” is the new status symbol, it’s less about the looks, more about the vibe. Today, your aura decides how others see you, whether it be confident, humourous, mysterious, chill, non-chalant, or chaotic, even if it’s carefully rehearsed. It’s become the new filter, it’s all about how people edit their personalities instead of their photos. People now chase aura, trying to look effortlessly magnetic without seeming like their trying.

At some point in a person’s life, one asks themselves “Do I look cool?” This rise of aura culture reveals how deeply performance is built into everyday life. We don’t just post pictures anymore; we post moods, expressions, and carefully timed silences. To the point that even authenticity feels staged. Everyone wants to seem real, but no one wants to risk actually being vulnerable to the world.

This obsession with aura clearly demonstrates how social media has changed what we value. Instead of focusing on genuine personality or talent, people shape how they feel to others, the vibe they portray. Having “good energy” has become something you practice, learn, perform, or even market. The quote “Be Yourself” doesn’t apply in today’s world anymore, its more of being the version of yourself that gets the most attention.

People are learning to curate their energy like a brand. From the way they walk into a room to the way they speak in a video, every detail is designed to leave a lasting impression. Aura is no longer just a feeling; it has become a form of digital currency. The people who seem to have it gain followers, attention, and admiration, while those who do not are often overlooked. The line between self-expression and self-promotion is fading fast, and what used to be a natural trait has turned into a skill people feel pressured to master.

In this culture, silence can be strategic, eye contact can be calculated, and even laughter can be planned. The smallest gestures become part of someone’s online presence. Aura has become something people try to maintain, just like influencers maintain a brand image. And just like any trend, it can be exhausting to keep up with. The fear of losing your aura, or being labeled “cringe” or “try-hard,” keeps many people performing even when they are tired of it.

The irony of aura culture is that the more people try to seem effortless, the less effortless they actually become. The whole idea of natural confidence disappears when you are constantly aware of how you look, sound, and move. Maybe that is why so many people are starting to feel disconnected from themselves. When you are always performing for others, you eventually forget who you were performing as in the first place.

Still, the rise of aura culture reveals something deeply human: the desire to be seen and understood. People chase aura not only to impress but also to connect and make others feel something. Maybe the real challenge is not to reject aura altogether, but to redefine it. True aura might not come from being perfect or aesthetic, but from being real enough to show your flaws.

In the end, when the filters fade and the act ends, the truest aura is simply being yourself without fear.

The Dead Internet Theory Explained: How Much is Real?

Jeanne Y
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0
The Dead Internet Theory Explained: How Much is Real?

Welcome to my Conspiracy Theory Series, where I break down a new conspiracy theory each month. This first post is a startlingly scary one: the Dead Internet Theory.

What is Dead Internet Theory?

AI-generated content and bots make up a startlingly large percentage of the content we view online. Dead Internet Theory essentially claims that humans have lost control of the direction of the internet because most of what we see online is bot-generated.

Believers of this theory think that the majority of meaningful human interaction that occurs online has been smothered by the sheer amount of fake material. This changes our social media platforms from something to connect with to something that is used mostly to advertise products and ideas.

The theory, originally starting in the early 2010s, has now evolved with the introduction of ChatGPT and OpenAI. It goes beyond just the AI-generated content and delves into the real human interaction that happens on social platforms. Dead Internet Theory claims that most of the comments, likes, tweets, and rants are mostly from chatbots that have nothing to do with the original post, hence creating the dead internet.

We’re drowning in an empty, addictive void of nothingness and meaninglessness because we’re only interacting with machines that feed us more of what we want as we consume mindlessly. Or, that’s what the theory says anyway.

Observations that Back the Behind Dead Internet Theory

Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, I often fall into the trap of doomscroll. But I wouldn’t say I waste my time entirely, because there are a few things I’ve noticed about the content that I’ve been scrolling through, and I’m sure you do as well.

  1. Comments that claim the creator has forgotten to “buy comments/likes”
  2. A completely disbalanced number of comments and likes
  3. An overwhelming amount of AI slop – more on this later, but think internet trend concepts generated by AI, like the brief Italian AI trend of “Tung Tung Sahur” or the Sad Cat Songs
  4. Comments that include seemingly unrelated material to the post
  5. AI Voiceover – there’s so many creators that use AI voiceovers that we’ve learned to associate certain tones and voices with scrolling.
  6. Reposts. So many reposts.
  7. AI in the captions: notice all those em-dashes? The emoji bullet points? That’s not always human.
  8. AI errors in product titles.

Furthermore, many people have observed that after posting, their feed and the responses to their posts are needlessly irrelevant and clogged with AI and chatbot responses.

Evidence Against the Dead Internet Theory

We’re not yet drowning in a mindless void. Most of the posts that go viral are still from extremist views or exaggerated reactions. Unhinged comments and audios are still mostly made by humans, mostly since AI doesn’t understand human behaviour and internet culture quite yet. Social media platforms and large websites have large efforts to delete and remove bots and “inorganic” activity.

The raw experiences, many of the funny cat videos, and most of the stories that are shared are still human. However, the Dead Internet Theory is still a chilling idea because it’s not altogether untrue. There is a lot more AI and bot-generated content circling on the Internet than there was even five years ago during COVID.

The Dead Internet Theory does what many good conspiracy theories do: it takes an existing fearful experience and magnifies it to a depressing and unfortunate scale. But let’s keep in mind that this experience had to exist for it to truly be magnified this much.

TL;DR

A lot of interaction on the internet is generated by bots, which has led many to believe that the Internet is essentially “dead” and devoid of meaningful interaction. This has been magnified by the introduction of AI and bots. However, it’s important to remember its inability to understand contextual cues and internet culture limits bots from truly imitating human behaviour, so the Dead Internet Theory is not altogether true. It is true that there’s a lot more internet slop and meaningless generated content, though, and if we want to avoid creating a real Dead Internet, maybe we should take this as a sign to consume information with more intention.

Source: 1 

How does Advocacy Rewire the Brain?

Natania V
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0
How does Advocacy Rewire the Brain?

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde

There’s a moment, subtle, almost electric, when awareness becomes action. When you scroll past another injustice online, and instead of not thinking about it for more than a second, you stop. You sign a petition. You speak up. You start caring differently. That moment is more than emotional. It’s neurological. When you choose to act, your brain begins to change. 

Our brains are wired not just to survive, but to connect. Within your frontal and parietal lobes, mirror neurons, along with others, fire when you witness someone else’s pain. It’s why your stomach knots when you see someone cry, or your chest tightens during tragic news. The insula, which processes emotional awareness, and the anterior cingulate cortex, which helps us respond to social signals, also activate. These networks, together with oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, spark empathy and the first flicker of understanding that says, “That could be me.”

But empathy alone doesn’t sustain advocacy. What transforms feeling into doing is the collaboration between the amygdala, where fear and emotion form, and the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s moral compass. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex evaluates the consequences of our choices, and the hippocampus recalls past injustices that motivate us to act. When emotion, memory, and reason align, compassion gains direction. It becomes action.

Psychologists describe learned helplessness as what happens when people stop trying after repeated failure or injustice, believing their actions don’t matter. Advocacy reverses that wiring. Every time you take a step, like writing a letter, organizing a discussion, or raising awareness, your brain experiences a dopamine reward loop. Action is reinforced, agency becomes associated with positive feelings, and neural pathways linked to motivation, resilience, and social engagement strengthen. Over time, advocacy isn’t just something you do, it’s something you become. Neuroscience shows that the more we act for others, the more deeply connected and purposeful our own lives feel. By helping others, we heal the parts of ourselves that once felt powerless.

Here in Alberta, advocacy takes countless forms: youth pushing for better climate education, students amplifying Indigenous voices, and volunteers shaping mental health programs that actually listen to youth. At first, these actions might seem small or local. But they mirror what happens inside a growing brain: connections forming, firing, strengthening. Each act of advocacy builds new pathways between communities, ideas, and possibilities, until something larger emerges: collective consciousness. Globally, movements like #FridaysForFuture, #EndSARS, or #BlackLivesMatter follow this same neurological pattern. When enough “neurons” (people) activate around a shared belief, the world begins to learn something new. Humanity’s moral circuitry evolves. Advocacy, at its core, is humanity’s form of neuroplasticity.

True advocacy doesn’t start with outrage, but it begins with awareness. When we listen before reacting, when we question systems instead of individuals, when we replace apathy with empathy, we are reshaping the architecture of our minds. The brain thrives on repetition. Every repeated act of compassion reinforces its neural groove. Over time, caring becomes instinctive. And once caring becomes instinctive, progress becomes inevitable. If our brains can be rewired to grow, then so can our societies. Change doesn’t just happen in protests or parliaments, it happens in the quiet rewiring of human thought, one synapse, one heart, one act of courage at a time.

Ask yourself: What causes lights up my empathy circuits, and what small action can turn that feeling into advocacy today? Every act of advocacy, no matter how small, sends a signal into the world’s collective brain, a spark that says we are learning to care better.

If you found this piece thought-provoking, you’ll love my upcoming series, Rewiring Minds: The Neuroscience of a Better World. It dives deeper into how empathy, bias, and hope shape not only our brains, but the societies we’re building. Stay tuned for the first post coming soon. Because changing the world starts with understanding the mind that makes it.

 

The Hidden Language of Trees

Vasundhara Joshi
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1
The Hidden Language of Trees

When most people walk through a forest, they think it’s peaceful and quiet. You might hear the wind brushing through the leaves, a bird chirping in the distance, or the crunch of twigs beneath your feet. But if you stop and really think about it, there’s something mysterious happening around you. Beneath the soil, trees are talking to each other. Not with words or sounds, but through an underground network that scientists have started calling the “wood wide web.”

This isn’t a fantasy idea. It’s a real scientific discovery that has completely changed how we understand forests. For centuries, people thought trees simply grew side by side, competing for sunlight, water, and space. But now we know that forests are full of cooperation. Every tree is part of a living system that quietly communicates, shares, and even protects its neighbors.

If you could look underground, you would see that a tree’s roots are connected to something called mycorrhizal fungi. These tiny thread-like structures form relationships with almost every plant species on Earth. In return for sugars that the tree produces through photosynthesis, the fungi help gather nutrients and water from the soil. What’s truly fascinating is that these fungal threads can stretch out and connect multiple trees together.

Through this hidden web, trees send each other chemical messages and nutrients. When one tree is struggling, others nearby can actually share resources to help it survive. For example, if a young sapling is growing in the shade and not getting enough sunlight, older trees can transfer carbon through the network to keep it alive. Scientists have even seen “mother trees,” which are large, ancient trees, sending extra nutrients to their own seedlings. It’s almost like a parent looking after its children. Trees can also send warnings through this network. If one tree is attacked by insects, it releases distress signals underground that alert nearby trees to produce chemicals to make their leaves taste bad to pests. In a way, it’s like the forest version of a group chat where everyone warns each other when danger is near.

When scientists first discovered this underground communication system, they were stunned by how similar it was to the internet humans created. The fungal network acts like cables, transferring information and resources between trees. The trees are like users, each with something to share. Some even send more data than others, depending on their size and strength. What’s even more interesting is that trees seem to understand balance. They don’t send signals all the time because the system would become overloaded. Instead, the forest operates with a quiet rhythm, always making sure that the community stays healthy. This kind of collaboration shows that survival in nature isn’t always about competition. Sometimes, it’s about working together.

Learning how trees communicate isn’t just something cool to think about. It’s also incredibly important for our planet. Human activities like deforestation, mining, and urban expansion are destroying these networks. When we cut down a forest, we aren’t only removing trees. We are tearing apart a communication system that has existed for millions of years. Scientists are now trying to apply what they’ve learned from forests to help create sustainable farming systems. Imagine if crops could share nutrients with each other like trees do. Farmers could use less fertilizer, reduce waste, and still maintain healthy soil. Understanding the forest’s cooperation could help us design a future where technology and nature work side by side.

What makes this discovery so significant is that it forces us to rethink what it means to be intelligent. We often assume that intelligence requires a brain, but trees show that information can flow in other ways. They can sense, remember, and respond, all without neurons or thoughts like ours. Now, whenever I walk through a park or see a line of trees along the road, I can’t help but imagine what’s happening beneath my feet. Are they sharing resources? Are they warning each other about changes in the environment? It’s strange to realize that something so silent can be so alive with communication.

Maybe the forest isn’t quiet after all. Maybe it’s whispering, in a language we are only just beginning to understand.

From Addiction to Connectivity: Battling a Social Media Addiction

Sukrutha
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2
From Addiction to Connectivity: Battling a Social Media Addiction

Introduction

You have an important assignment due tomorrow, three upcoming tests this week, and you feel your eyelids drawing shut as the night approaches. You know that you should probably finish that assignment, review for those quizzes, and get into bed as soon as possible. Yet, that glow of blue light indicating an Instagram notification draws your hand towards it. And before you know it, a few seconds of replying to a friend on your phone turns into 30 minutes of mindless sifting through the multitude of possibilities known as Instagram Reels.

And the worst part is that all parts of your body know that it’s better to put away that phone. Your eyes feel it, as the blue light strains them, your heartbeat increases as you begin to feel those long term stress response hormones firing, and you slowly begin to feel restless. Despite all your conscious senses pointing you towards your study, that one small part of your brain still wants to watch just one more reel. I find that bewildering.

I used to believe that the solution to this was to tune out of all social media platforms. From personal experience, however, I realized that merely deleting an app does not address the underlying problems behind addiction. What I experienced was that whenever I deleted Instagram from my phone, I would develop an irresistible fear-of-missing-out that would just prompt me to reinstall it a few days later. That does not solve the problem.

Instagram’s Designed to Addict you:

I think that all of us, to some extent, know this. But personally, I never understood the psychological reasons as to why and how. As I sat down to write this blog, I found this research paper that describes several features of social media apps that are designed to hook you. One that stood out to me was the variable reward system.

Variable Reward System

Social media apps manipulate the reward pathways in our brains. It is a natural human tendency to seek validation from our peers, and in Instagram, that validation comes in the form of likes and comments on posts. The hits of dopamine, a neurotransmitter and hormone that influences the reward pathway, incites emotions of pleasure. Whether the pleasure be from viewing a #relatable reel, or seeing our friends like our posts, we crave more of it. After that taste of dopamine, we want more, and of course, our source is from the beloved Instagram.

If you’ve taken any biology courses, you would recognize this cycle as a positive feedback loop. Yes, our conscious senses want to quit doomscrolling, but our involuntary craving for the sense of accomplishment that Instagram provides keep us going, despite the obvious drawbacks of this addiction.

Great, so what do I do?

It’s frustrating that the success of the multi-million dollar companies that own these social media apps comes from the compromise of our mental health. Still, the connectivity and sense of community fostered by social media is an undeniable benefit. The key, therefore, to combatting an addiction, is to focus more upon this connectivity part of social media.

Adjust your FYP

Your “for you page” is most likely the first thing you see when you open Instagram, or any other app. Instead of consuming the content from trending social media influencers, try customizing your FYP to provide feed that is tailored to your personality. For example, if you’re interested in wildlife, follow the National Geographic Instagram page. That way, whenever you check Instagram, you view content that matches your interests and identity, rather than forcing you to conform to what the majority appreciates.

Take Breaks in your study

Personally, I resort to Instagram whenever I feel burnt out from studying. I crave a quick source of break. The Pomodoro technique, which involves spaced out studying with short 5-10 minute breaks in between, generally helps me. It’s important, however, that these breaks remain short. Ideally, I would advise against doing anything that involves your phone. I usually take this time to finish writing up any emails, or reading a page of two of a book (but make sure the book is one you can easily put down). By taking breaks, you avoid burn out, and are hopefully less tempted to check your phone to distract yourself.

Have clear deadlines

This might seem unrelated to social media addiction at a first glance, but it ties into my previous point. When you have clear, achievable goals in your study, it is easier to avoid burnout. For example, it’s much more achievable to tell yourself “I’m going to complete one set of textbook questions of the Endocrine system unit every night from the textbook for five nights,” compared to “I’m going to do all the textbook questions associated with the Endocrine system.” This way, when you do achieve your goal, you get a sense of satisfaction accompanied by dopamine release. You will not have to pick up your phone for that same sense of false satisfaction.

Conclusion

Of course, while I am attempting to find my way out of an Instagram addiction, by no means am I completely free of it. The guilt that comes with a realization that you just wasted precious time scrolling through Instagram is an awful feeling. However, it is never too late to help yourself by tuning out, and I hope this blog provides you with a meaningful start on how to do this.

“Your Voice Matters” A Youth-Led Campaign

Diya Kunisetty
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0
“Your Voice Matters” A Youth-Led Campaign

Hi everyone! Today I’m going to be talking about a virtual letter writing campaign I started because of the 2025 Alberta Teacher Strike!

Even though it’s all over the news, with political debates and back-and-forth negotiations, there’s a massive crucial voice that’s been totally missing from the conversation. That voice is ours (the youth). As students (all the way from Grade 1 up to Grade 12), we’re the ones sitting in uncertainty. We’re feeling the direct, stressful impact of missed material, delayed exams, and a major disruption to our daily lives.

My name is Diya Kunisetty. A Grade 11 Full IB student and the Chair of the Young Politicians of Canada (YPC) – Alberta Chapter. It’s basically a youth led, nonprofit, and non-partisan organization that aims to foster civic engagement amongst youth and provide them with opportunities to lead initiatives and get their voices heard. Because I was personally affected by the chaos, I knew we couldn’t just wait around, which is why I started (with the help of our amazing team, shoutout to Diva Negi who is also part of the YAA blog) : “Your Voice Matters.”

What is “Your Voice Matters”?

Our goal was to simply give every student a safe, anonymous way to share their honest thoughts, because I know that not everyone wants to be interviewed on camera or use their full name. On the other hand, everyone has a strong opinion when it comes to their education. So, we built a virtual letter-writing campaign where students could anonymously send us detailed, thoughtful letters about how the strike was impacting them.

In just 6 days, the campaign proved how badly youth wanted to engage. These numbers showed us how much students cared about the teachers and their education, and we were thrilled that we could provide a platform for students to showcase their raw and authentic opinions. 

Our campaign generated over 65,800 views on Instagram, 1,300 interactions, 147 followers all in just 6 days ( we started this on October 20 2025 and the day I’m writing this is October 26 2025). We received dozens of powerful letters from students aged 6 to 18 across the entire province.

What do these letters really tell us?

These letters weren’t just angry rants about the government (actually no, if I’m being 100% honest there were a couple rants here and there). However, in terms of the majority of them, we could clearly feel the emotional weight of the situation:

  • The Anxiety for the Future: We’re reading letters from students terrified about diploma exams, stressing over university applications, and feeling like they’re falling behind.
  • The Emotional Weight: Many youth shared feeling lost, unsupported, and stressed out by the constant instability in their learning environment.
  • The Passion: Despite the frustration, the letters show how deeply students care about their teachers, their schools, and the quality of their education.

A Challenge to Every single person reading this post. 

Your voice is your most powerful tool!

Talking from experience, you don’t need years of experience or a massive budget to launch an impactful project. If you have an idea, you just need a platform (even a simple Google Form or a strong social media presence) and the drive and disciple to keep you moving. 

We are so grateful for the initial boost from amazing organizations like Youth Central, advocates like Evan Li and many other accounts such as:

  • @protectpubliceducationab 
  • @airdrieboardofyouthaffairs 
  • @albertastudentstrikewalkout 
  • @ab.students.for.teachers 

Now we want to hear YOUR voice. Before the strike ends, write a letter (even as short as 2 sentences) about what YOU feel about the strike. Your voice is incredibly important and we want to amplify as many as possible. Even if you don’t want to (it takes less than 3 minutes), at least do the bare minimum of sharing it with a friend or sibling (under the age of 18). 

Like the campaign says, your voice matters! As students, we should actively take control of the situations happening around us each and every day (especially in times like this). 

Here is the link to write your letter today!: https://forms.gle/9MpGBc3fEuwz5Ac59

Link to check out our campaign on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/your.voice.matters.ab/

 

Which Classic Horror Movie Character Are You?

Jianna H
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0
Which Classic Horror Movie Character Are You?

Which Classic Horror Movie Character Are You?

In the mood for something spooky? With Halloween just around the corner, take this terrifyingly amazing quiz to find out which iconic horror movie character best matches your vibe. At the end, add up all the points from each of your answers to reveal your horror movie twin!

Warning: All of the characters mentioned in this blog are from movies that are rated R. 

Question 1

What’s your ideal fall day?

a) Biking with your friends around town (1pt)

b) Staying inside and taking long naps in your bed (2pt)

c) Doing your skincare routine and listening to music (3pt)

d) Going out to a concert and partying all night with your best friend (4pt)

 

Question 2

Quick! An intruder has broken into your house. How do you react?

a) Reapply my lip gloss. I can definitely persuade them to leave with my charm. (4pt)

b) Reach for my business card. This is a great opportunity to network! (3pt)

c) Start thinking of a witty pun. Nothing like a quick-witted remark to send someone running (2pt)

d) Disguise yourself. Nothing like a quick outfit change into the intruder’s worst nightmare to scare them off. (1pt)

Question 3

Which statement describes you best?

a) I have killer humour! The darker the comedy, the better. (2pt)

b) I’m very sociable, I can make friends practically anywhere. (1pt)

c) My confidence. When I walk into a room, all eyes are on me. (4pt)

d) I like to go with the pack. I prefer to follow trends. (3pt)

Question 4

Which movie do you like the most?

a) The Godfather (3pt)

b) Mean Girls (4pt)

c) The Greatest Showman (1pt)

d) Inception (2pt)

Question 5

What’s your favourite movie trope?

a) Found family (1pt)

b) Makeover scene (4pt)

c) Unreliable narrator (3pt)

d) Secret Character Backstories (2pt)

Add Up All Your Points!

Using the points from each answer you picked, the sum aligns with one of these iconic horror movie villains.

  1. Pennywise (5-10)
  2. Freddy Krueger (11-15)
  3. Patrick Bateman (16-20)
  4. Jennifer Check (21-25)

Pennywise (IT)

You are a jokester at heart, although sometimes people may find your humour to be more unsettling than amusing. You love to clown around, but are also very perceptive about people around you, and can pick up on what others are thinking easily. 

Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street)

You are extremely confident and love to make a grand entrance. You’re probably really into astrology and finding out what your dreams really mean. When you have a goal, you are determined and won’t stop until you achieve it. 

Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)

Self-care is the most important thing to you (even though that sometimes means making some sacrifices). You usually like to hang out by yourself and enjoy the company of a good movie or song.

Jennifer Check (Jennifer’s Body)

You are a people person; you love hanging out with friends and starting some drama. You probably have a signature scent that everyone knows you by, and you are usually found at the mall with your posse of friends. 

 

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