Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
I know that the title is a little bit confusing. Of course, all of us know what it’s like to be “hungry.” We experience it on a daily basis. After breakfast, into late morning, you’re sitting at your desk and suddenly your stomach starts growling. Your thoughts drift into the land of pizza and macaroni, the clock starts ticking even slower as your mind drools. “I wish it were lunch time,” you think to yourself. This is being hungry, right?
This picture does not include all the participants, as I believe there were around 70 in total. Nonetheless, I’m very impressed with the turnout.
Recently, I participated in the 30-Hour Fast at my school. I remember participating in it once before during middle school, although the event was organized by World Vision. This time, one of our own teachers took the time to create the forms and sign up all the students, as well as collecting food donations for the food bank. There are plenty of less-fortunate individuals in Calgary who could use this support, as for some these donations mean survival. But I thought back to the first time I participated and collecting donations for those in third world countries. I thought about how I didn’t truly understand the cause I was supporting at that time.
In many third world countries, being hungry doesn’t mean not being able to eat for 30 hours. It might mean not being able to eat for 300 hours. Any food that’s come by doesn’t last long, and it usually isn’t prepared under the most sanitary conditions. Although, these thoughts are quickly sacrificed as many orphans and homeless families cling on to every grain as if it were the last drop of life.
I must admit that I didn’t feel overwhelmingly hungry throughout the duration. (Most likely because the first day I drank 2L of water and juice, then slept for 10 hours.) The only real physical effect was how tired and lethargic my body felt. Climbing up the stairs at school became a challenge and my eyelids felt like they were attached to weights. Then I tried putting myself in another child’s shoes. I imagined walking for over ten kilometers a day, with water buckets weighing over 15 pounds in my hands or on my shoulders, being abused by the sun’s rays without proper eye or skin protection. I thought about then bringing that water home and having to drink it despite the filth or parasites hiding within. Then I thought about doing that every single day on an empty stomach. And it made me feel guilty that in about six hours I would be able to eat again, but most people in those situations didn’t have that luxury. Although, that did not stop me from enjoying food when I finally could. After the fast we were provided with snacks, and I must say that food has never tasted better. You truly don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
Image taken from: http://www.sharegoodthings.com/pics/t/1546.jpg
Mostly, it made me realize just how lucky I am that I can even complain about being hungry. When you’re truly hungry, it’s the last thing you want to think about, because once you do it starts to consume you and slow you down. Being truly hungry means not allowing yourself to be hungry at all and just keeping yourself distracted to get through another day.
Perhaps my little story has provoked you to take an initiative. If you would like to participate in the 30-Hour Fast, I’m sure most schools organize it. If not, you can start it up yourself. Otherwise, try to make some sort of difference in another person’s life. It could be as simple as donating two cans of soup to your local food bank. Should you wish to expand your help further, you can donate to Free the Children, World Vision, or simply check out my article on freerice.com!
On April 24th, I had the pleasure of going to Future in the Arts: A Panel Discussion for Youth Week Calgary 2014. It featured Jennifer Johnson, the Director of Programming and Arts Learning for the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, Vicki Stroich, the Executive Director of Alberta Theatre Projects, Jodi Lucas, Programming Associate for the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts, and local musician Jonathan Li. During the panel, each member discussed their experiences working in the arts, and gave advice to adolescents that are thinking about a career in the arts.
Can you have a successful future in the arts? That’s the big question here. Many parents and professionals believe that the arts are not a serious business that will give you a sustainable career, but these panelists were here to tell you that it’s not true. Just like every other professional path, you have to work hard in order to be successful in the arts, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible to do. At first, you may find yourself working smaller jobs, but as you work your way up in the field, eventually you will find yourself in a good position full of many opportunities. Weather you wan to be an actor or musician, or stay behind the scenes with directing or casting; a career in the arts is possible.
I also had the opportunity to ask Jennifer Johnson an important question outlining education; do you need to have a strong education in order to get a good job in the arts? Although the answer is a bit complicated, for the most part, not necessarily. She said that obviously every boss’ preference and opinion is different, but she doesn’t think you need a Bachelor of Fine Arts, for example, to get a good job. Johnson explained that she likes when people have an interesting personality and are willing to work hard for what they get. Some skills you need to have a future in the arts can’t be taught, such as responsibility and drive. You need to be willing to work for what you want in the industry and that’s all there is too it. If you want to be something like a music teacher at school for example, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in a good thing to have, but if you are interested in being an actor, musician or anything to do with technical theatre, you don’t HAVE to get a big education, and something as short as two years in college will do. You will always find bosses or scouts that are looking for someone with a big education, but you can also find people that care more about personality than education. There’s always going to be preferences in the arts industry but if you work hard and love what you do, why does that matter?
This past Sunday was 2014’s Youth Week Calgary wrap-up event at the Deerfoot Meadows Tutti Frutti. Just like at the kick-off event (which Rebecca and Wentao attended on Easter Sunday), youth could pile an unlimited amount of froyo and toppings into “youth cups” for a flat rate of $4. This was only my second time ever having frozen yogurt and my first time at Tutti Frutti and I can confidently say that I was not disappointed by the froyo, but the turnout at the event was less than I had prepared for.
My delicious half-eaten frozen yogurt.
Upon arriving at the event, I was immediately surprised by how quiet it was. I was pretty much the first one to show up and after hanging around for over an hour, I could still count on both hands the amount of people who had come in to have their share of the frozen yogurt fun. This was surprising simply because being the Youth Week wrap-up, I had expected a better turnout.
All of the youth I had a chance to talk to were not aware that this was a Youth Week event prior to arriving. Only one even knew of Youth Week to begin with! That aside, there was still a general consensus; the frozen yogurt was great!
This brings me to my main point: Is Youth Week receiving enough exposure? With the added support of Virgin Radio Calgary and Funny 1060AM, Youth Week has definitely been more publicized than it has been in the past and there was a record number of events that Calgary’s young people have had the opportunity to participate in. However, this event in isolation, and I am sure that there were others, had a rather low attendance. Sure, the people who do come without prior knowledge of the event are pleasantly surprised, but I feel that that defeats the purpose of Youth Week, which from my view and the views of the patrons I talked to, is to get Calgary’s youth involved and engaged in what’s happening in the city. So was the lack of engagement I observed simply due to youth not wanting to come indulge in the creamy deliciousness of frozen yogurt or a shortfall in terms of Youth Week’s publicity?
It was quiet…too quiet…
However, upon talking to Tutti Frutti’s insightful and enthusiastic manager, I got a different point of view. She pointed out that Youth Week is still growing and has not yet reached its peak. That being said, Youth Central’s many initiatives are still developing Calgary’s youth into active citizens who have the power to make an impact on the city and the world. This success cannot really be judged by the success of Youth Week, simply because the people who want to get involved are already making an effort to become engaged in the community. It’s Youth Week’s job to try and get young people excited about getting involved our city, but it can only do its job as far as that. It’s our choice if we want to get involved or not.
So what do you think? Was Youth Week a success? I think it will come to grow bigger in the future and that for a rather young event, it had great success, even though what I got to see was perhaps less than I had initially expected. The success of an entire initiative cannot be gauged by one moment in time alone, but by how it grows over time and sees success in the long run.
The Olympic oval seemed crowded with the beaming crowd young scientists and curious minds attending the 2014 Calgary Youth Science Fair, which was a part of Youth Week Calgary. Students in Grades 5-12 presented the projects they have been working on from months.
It was very nice to see students being so excited about science, and they all had a passionate vision of their future. “I want to be a neurologist specializing in the use of stem cells in treatments,” said Grade 6 student Kithin Nov, who presented a research project on the role of stem cells in neurological treatments. Presenting the “Earthquake Attack,” Kevin Hu and Jackson Spence talked about how they are interested in Geoscience and will most likely have a career in Geoscience. The two also won the elementary level award.
As I saw the projects and met the students, I realized CYSF is not about doing a project for the sake of it. It is about exploring your passion and sharing your knowledge with other people. It is definitely not about winning the awards, but rather about the learning and experience. The curiosity and compassion that a scientist has was seen in each and every person present at CYSF.
I look forward to going to CYSF 2015 and would strongly recommend that everyone should go visit the fair. Even if you are not a science person, it is still such an awesome experience- thanks to the diligent and very intelligent researchers. CYSF offers an opportunity for the city to come together and celebrate our generation scientists.
I’m sure we have all been through boring lectures that drone on and on about why the environment is important. But they never really seem to tell us how we can do little things in our lives to go green every day. It doesn’t have to be a huge lifestyle change. These are just small tips anyone can do, no matter how busy their schedule is.
Reuse
From http://www.ecodepotrecycling.com/reuse.html
Have extra clothing you’ve grown out of? Donate it to a local charity. This way, you’ll not only get rid of unwanted items in your closet, but you’ll also be a good citizen by helping out those in need.
Reusing items can also be extended past just donating clothes; you can also try to opt for reusable water bottles and bringing your own shopping bags when you go to your local grocery shop. The plastic bags you get from stores take centuries to decompose, harm wildlife, and require tons of oil to produce.
Don’t Waste
From http://www.dna2life.com/environment/some-details-about-waste
We’ve all heard mom say not to waste food, but that can be extended into helping the environment as well. When you brush your teeth, turn the water off so you don’t waste the excess water you don’t even use. By doing this, you can save 8 gallons of water a day!
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also try unplugging your electronic devices when they are not in use and save electricity, especially if you have a plasma TV, which consumes a lot of energy.
Throw like a Pro
From http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battery_recycling
You can also try learning more about where things should be properly discarded such as batteries, household cleaning products with harmful chemicals, light bulbs, etc. Many local stores such as Home Depot will take your used batteries and bulbs. You can also try to find local recycling center near you to dispose of items properly.
These tips will help lower your footprint on earth and help insure a healthy future for the generations to come.
I wasn’t sure what I expected when I arrived at the Eau Claire YMCA last Wednesday, but it was likely not the dynamic and enjoyable experience I had.
The focus of the session I attended was urban art, and so, being right in downtown Calgary, we went for an urban art walk.
Before that, however, we began in the plaza, each equipped with a piece of chalk and an assignment to draw what we believed the world needed more of—whether peace, equality, love, environmental awareness or empathy. Chelsea, the leader of the project, was extremely passionate about art and used the chalk as a way of leaving our own temporary mark .
Downtown scavenger hunt: at which office buildings can the following pieces of art be found? Hint: start by Eau Claire and work your way south.
Our group was fairly small, around 15 youth, yet contained quite the demographic variety, from a number of small and adorably precocious elementary students, the regulars, all the way up to me, the much larger high school student.
Most of my fellow artwalkers took art in school, and everyone, regardless, was quite passionate about art. The last time I took art in school was back in junior high, but this made me wish I had taken the option in high school.
We spent some time stopping by the Bow Building, with a number of the pieces scattered around the perimeter.
Cerebral. Infinite. Trippy. A few words we came up with to describe the experience of being inside the head.
As it turns out, the reason of number of newer buildings in Calgary have such art pieces is due to the city’s encouragement, providing tax breaks and increasing height restrictions (thus, perhaps no wonder the Bow Building is Calgary’s new tallest tower).
Our next destination was the Art Central building, unfortunately soon to be torn down sometime this coming year. We stopped by the alleyway to admire the large graffiti mural by David Brunning, a friend of Chelsea’s. Its presence became even more spectacular when she told the story of the frantic 10 hours he was given to create it.
The art walk experience wasn’t rigidly planned, allowing us to visit a small gallery when we ran into the owner on the c-train platform. The Sunglass Centre, containing a small eclectic gallery with a large collection of art (and a surprising lack of sunglasses) crammed into a single room, had pieces of varying styles closes fitted together on the walls and stacked in piles against the floor.
The walk consisted of a great deal of crouching down at crowded street corners and ogling art through windows, causing some minor consternation among the pedestrian traffic.
By the time the walk wrapped up, most everyone was a bit exhausted after two hours of walking through an occasional slight drizzle, but still enthusiastic. Talking with them, this was a unique Art in the City experience–every week, something different happens. Usually it encompasses multiple aspects of art: the leader, Chelsea mentioned their plans to visit the Glenbow and the theatre in future Art in the City sessions.
Art in the City happens every week on Wednesday from 5 to 6 pm (that means tomorrow!). Anyone with a burning passion, interest, barest curiosity, or free time should drop-in at the Eau Claire YMCA.
Alright so my obvious commitment issues aside (ranging from boyfriends to weekly posts [sorry!]), I attended the Calgary Expo on Saturday – a tradition I’ve started for myself about three years running now (literally the longest tradition I’ve ever committed to), and every year I go home regretting something I did or didn’t do. So although my weekly posts aren’t… weekly, I’ve decided to tell you some tips about the Expo so you can enjoy it next year (with some cosplay tips thrown in there).
!!WARNING!! This post has a lot of pictures of my face. For those of you that have seen it – this is your last chance to escape. For those of you that haven’t – well, you’ll learn. They all do.
Snapchat selfie? Don’t hate me.
1. This year was the first year I cosplayed/did an inspired outfit. I went as the eleventh doctor from Doctor Who simply because Matt Smith was there and I wanted an excuse to look fancy – this being said, I also did a red lip for part of my look (paired with TARDIS blue eyeliner – no idea how I pulled that off). So, here’s the tip – IF YOU PUT ON ANY MAKEUP, ALWAYS USE A PROPER PRIMER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LIPSTICK. I’ll make a separate post completely dedicated to this because man, the struggle was so real.
2. COMFORTABLE SHOES. You think walking in heels is bad? It is. Waiting in a photo op/autograph line for 45 minutes MINIMUM? It’s worse. Calgary Expo changes location of things constantly, which means you’ll be walking all over the grounds – bring comfortable shoes or be prepared for stopping partway through to patch up your feet.
3. BAG OF HOLDING (go D&D reference!). Every year I both regret and love bringing a bag to the Expo. Where else am I supposed to put my prized possessions? But be prepared. What feels like nothing the first five minutes will suddenly turn into a bag of bricks 4 hours later. Shoulders will get sore – that I promise you. However, there are lockers stationed around the Expo to stash your stuff! Rejoice!
4. Don’t rejoice. You have a slim chance of getting an available locker. Rub A535 will be your best friend when you get home.
5. Photo Op/Autograph lines are long. Worth it to stand next to the glorious Matt Smith, but LONG. Line up as early as possible – this year we were forced to wait outside in the SNOW and I nearly cried.
6. People will be in revealing costumes. You WILL see arms, legs, chests, stomachs, necks and occasionally butt cheeks flailing all over the place. Some of these tips may be reiterating the Expo FAQs, but I have to put emphasis on this – PLEASE RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE AND THEIR COSTUMES. The Expo is meant to be a safe place where you can dress up to pay homage to your favourite _____. It’s not a place to get lewdly stared at or catcalled or anything of that manner. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself in a costume and put yourself out there.
7. Have fun. Don’t judge other people’s costumes, don’t judge other people, watch out for costume props to the eye, and just immerse yourself in the wonderful Geek culture!
Promotional Poster for “My Family and Other Endangered Species” Source
Written by and starring Artistic Producer Ellen Close and Puppet Master Braden Griffiths, My Family and Other Endangered Species is something you cannot miss. It is a piece of theatre that everybody must see, a piece of text that everybody must enjoy, and an experience that everybody must venture on. It is simply wonderful.
The experience is one-of-a-kind, beginning with founder and Artistic Director Simon Mallett greeting and welcoming guests while working the ticket office. To put this into perspective, that would be the equivalent of Colonel Sanders greeting you as you walked into KFC. After grabbing a program and taking a seat in the Big Secret Theatre – which had a capacity of about 70 for this event – you notice a sticky note on the program. To find out what the sticky note is, and its purpose, check out the post about Downstage Theatre Calgary, which talks about what it is, its mandate, its staff, and everything in between. As the lights dim and the show is about to start, Simon “stand-up comedic” Mallett delivers a humorous speech welcoming everybody to the show.
The show starts with Ellen and Braden reciting a line in-sync, as the audience is introduced to the character of Phineas William Walsh. Dealing with his parent’s recent divorce, nine-year-old Phineas Walsh just cannot understand why his parents can’t be as harmonious as animals living in the natural world. Tired of “artificial” human behavior, Phin has developed a special bond with the environment, especially animals. Phin just cannot understand why his parents are not following the principle of “mating for life.” On top of this, Phin is scared to death about how humans are treating the environment. Through a beautifully written script, filled with multiple themes and motifs, My Family is able to captivate the audience right from the start.
Although Phin is the main character, each character is properly established and plays a key role in the progression and storytelling of the play. Among many other characters, Braden plays Bird, and the psychologist, while Ellen also plays the Mom. Switching characters in a heartbeat, with no costume changes, and sometimes without a sound or light cue, Ellen and Braden command the stage with two hours of solid storytelling. Each character, unique and distinct from one another, are portrayed terrifically, and the audience is able to easily differentiate from when the actors are playing Phin, to when they are playing another of their roles. The actors seemingly have developed an intimate relationship with their characters. Each character has their unique voice, personality, attitude and perspective. These two actors are therefore able to masterfully tell a meaningful story that is suspenseful, humorous, creative, dramatic, but most importantly, thoughtful. One theme that is excellently developed throughout the play is this idea of identity. Phin has a hard time understanding why nobody understands him. Why nobody want to hear the truth? The truth about what humans are doing to the environment. The truth about how things should be? Fourth-grader Phin spends the entire play trying to discover his identity, amid all his personal challenges. From being bullied, to having to deal with his parents divorce, to having to deal with the ignorance of the citizens who don’t seem to care about the environment, Phin embarks on an up-hill journey to discover who he is.
With fantastic scenes that are sure to be engraved into your memory for a while, Ellen and Braden have written a remarkable script. The humour is not cliché or overused, nor is it strictly crude and offensive. It is light and creative and complements the dramatic nature of the play. I was just about to make a list of notable scenes that exemplifies what I mentioned above; however, there really isn’t any scene that is not notable. There is no wasted motion in this play. Every scene serves a purpose and is written and acted so phenomenally well that each scene feels of equal importance.
Riley Miljan did an outstanding job of working the cast and crew to create a phenomenal set. About 80% of the set is transformable. Thus, the two settings, Phin’s home, and at his school, are easily differentiable. The fridge transforms into a drawer, Phin’s room into a classroom equipped with a whiteboard. Phin’s bed can even transform into a gigantic creature! The set is thoughtfully designed, providing the actors with everything they need for the two hour show, right from the start. There are no pauses to change set pieces, thus contributing to the fast pace of the play.
The skill and talent needed to execute this piece cannot be overlooked. Braden and Ellen not only had to memorize two hours worth of lines, but also two hours worth of cues. They were able to pull off rapid, crisp, and clean set transitions. Nothing was rushed, and nothing was clunky. Moreover, puppets were used in the show as well. Braden spent over 650 hours hand making each puppet for the show, and while I questioned the purpose of the puppets prior to the start of the show, boy did they make an impact. The puppets act as characters in Phin’s dreams, and the scenes involving the puppets not only help to characterize Phin, but they establish Phin as a character that you just cannot help but sympathize for, and root for. Although at times, Phin is portrayed as a stuck-up brat, this actually is beneficial as it makes him more of a realistic character, for every character needs to have strengths and weaknesses. The dreams involving the puppets especially help to reveal what Phin is going through on many levels. Although on the surface, it may just seem as if Phin is struggling with his moral conscience, deeper thought reveals much more. Instead of telling you what it is, I am now leaving you with a reason to go check this play out.
My Family and Other Endangered Species has so many layers and thus provokes many different emotions, while creating a story that will be with the audience for more than the duration of the show. As the audience begins to peel away at the layers of the story, different understandings are reached, meanings are discovered, and more interpretations are made. This commitment that Downstage has to create theatre that “never sleeps” (in the mind of the audience) is truly exemplified by My Family and Other Endangered Species.
I do however have one, and only one piece of criticism for this show. I was not a big fan of having Phin being portrayed as a nine-year-old in Grade 4. A lot of the meaningful scenes in which Phin questioned the intelligence of society as a whole became diluted by the fact that it simply wasn’t realistic. Although Phin is billed as a genius with “encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world,” some credibility is taken away from some of the fabulous scenes as it is just very difficult to buy into the fact that a nine-year-old would act like how he did at times.
In conclusion, Simon Mallett does an excellent job of helping Ellen and Braden put their project to life. Almost four years in the making, My Family and Other Endangered Species is well worth the wait, and truly has viewers questioning why Downstage, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is still such a small theatre company that is barely recognized. From the opening to finishing sequence, masterful performances are put on not only by the actors, but by the crew. There is at least one theme or motif in the show that everybody can relate to.
If you’re a hockey fan, then you’re probably doing nothing but watching the playoffs. This year’s playoffs feature several exciting battles, including St. Louis vs Chicago and San Jose vs LA. Today, I’ll be talking about my playoff predictions, and who I think will win the Stanley Cup for the 2013/2014 season. So lets get right into it!
This week, I’ll be looking into the Western Conference, whereas next week, I’ll be looking into the Eastern Conference. I’ll be going through each series individually. The first matchup features the Ducks and the Stars. As we all know, the Ducks were the heavy favourites going into this series, considering they finished 1st in the western conference. The Stars however, were major underdogs. Finishing last in the conference, they barely managed to clinch a playoff spot. Even though the Stars put up a good fight, they just weren’t able to compete with the Ducks, who took the series 4-2.
The following series features the Sharks and the Kings. These teams have been rivals for years. The Sharks eliminated the Kings 2011 season, and the Kings managed to do the same last season. This season will be the tie breaker between the two California rivals. They are both tremendously talented teams who both have past Olympians on their teams, strong forwards, and amazing goalies. Since the Sharks are my favourite team, I’m going to have to go with them for this series.
This leads us to the third series, the Avalanche and the Wild. I’m going to have to place my bets on the Avs for this one. They’ve been determined all season with their new coach, Patrick Roy, taking over as head coach. They also managed to get the 1st overall pick, Nathan McKinnon, last year. They’ve been solid all seasons, and they’ve managed to outplay the Wild.
One of the most exciting series was Chicago vs St.Louis, two very solid teams. I already knew Chicago would win, considering they’ve won two Stanley Cups over the course of the past five years. The St. Louis Blues put up a very interesting battle, but it simply wasn’t enough to bring down the defending cup champions.
So now we’re left with two match-ups, the Ducks and Sharks, and the Hawks and Avs. In regards to the Sharks vs Ducks, I’m placing my bets on the Ducks. They’re just a bit stronger than the Sharks, in my opinion. With the Hawks and Avs, I’m going to have to go with the Hawks, only because they’re the defending cup champions. This leads us to the western conference final, featuring the Hawks and the Ducks. This one was tough to decide, but I had to go with the Hawks.
Well, those are my predictions for the western conference! Stay tuned for next week when I’ll be talking about the eastern side of the bracket.
Our Nature Foundation is a great organization where children, and youth of all ages can express their voices. They spark environmental conversations that are interesting and engaging. Thorough debate and many other actives, children and youth can learn different ways in which their environmental visions can be displayed. A healthy future is something that is ideal for them, and they want to spread the word. Due to the fact that they provide a platform it really allows someone with a small idea to grow and elaborate it by working with Our Nature Foundation, whose mission is to do just that.
They believe that the roles of people have to be deepened, and Our Nature Foundation is where their environmental ideals can do that. Also they think that nature is very important in a child’s or adult’s life it is something that remains with your forever. It is out civil responsibility to care for it! They reach out to the broader public to allow then to experience the power that they have to bring change.
On April 22, they had a Youth Week event in which many youth were given the opportunity to come and engage in a conversation about a healthy movement towards a better environment. It was a pleasure to be a part of it, as I learned so much about ecosystems and how each one is connected. The ecosystems play a role in our everyday lives. Even if the smallest invalid were to occur, the whole system would be out of order. I was able to think further on how I can change myself to help the environment. I was able to connect it to my thoughts on how even if one person makes the smallest change regarding the environment, in the long run it would pay off, and the future generations would not be in turmoil.
The best thing to learn about was how saving the environment does not have to be a boring process; it can be fun and engaging. We were shown videos on how recycle bins were turned into a game. The game relied on how many plastics bottles you had, etc. The more plastic bottles that you got into the holes, the more points you got. It was really cool to see places taking the initiative to relate fun and games into everyday life. The fact that it was connected to the environment made me even more excited about it. All of the youth were all thinking about how cool it was, and that there should be something like this everywhere.
The next project was a tank filled with fish which bacilli represented marine life with growing plants on top. Now you may be wondering, what? How does that happen? It’s actually really simple, first the fish generate waste. The waste is then used as a fertilizer for the plants because of the microbes. The plants filter the water and they absorb the nutrients. Thus it also resolves to the water cycle. How cool! Anyway, then the clean water is released into the tank. The cycle repeats over and over again, proving you with such amazing plants, and fishes.
The event was a successful full of so much information, and fun.
Many adult think youth don’t have worries and concerns. It seems to them that all of us should be happy, but that is not always the truth. Our generation grew up with modern technology, but these things don’t always bring us happiness. It isolate us from the outside world and our surroundings. How many of us talk in the bus while we going to school? The result, I see myself, is very rare.
Many youth may have experience a time of loneliness. We smile and laugh at school, but at home we always sit in front of the computer and wondering what to do? Loneliness lead to depression. Personally, I have experienced this before. It was not a nice memory. Here are some things that you can do to be more socialized. It is the time to cast away that stupid feeling that we all have from time to time.
Volunteer
It feels good to help others. It can help you to meet new friends. It puts a smile on your face. It pays off by end of the day.
School Clubs & Teams
Find a clubs or sport team in your school that you like. It is chance to try new things, meet new friends and be yourself. This takes up a lot of your time. Remember to do your homework!
Loneliness does not last forever. Depression is just for a while. Close your eyes in your bed and open it. It will be a brand new days. Make every day a new start. We are young and this our privilege.
There are many things out there waiting for us to explore. These are just two things that we can do to make use of our time. Don’t sit home and waste your precious time. We are too young to sit and do nothing. There are always things out there for us to be passionate about and to be enthusiastic.
Did you there are common running mistakes made by runners, often unknowingly? These mistakes can cause an injury, so it is important to correct this before you get yourself sidelined and in non-running form. So what are these common mistakes and do you practice this in your runs? As a certified trainer and running coach, I have helped many amazing runners to correct their mistakes to become champion runners. Here are the most common mistakes and how you can correct them:
NOT WARMING UP
If you are like most of the people put there you probably just lace up your shoes and head on out, failing to warm up. This is unhealthy for your heart and can cause injury. Warming up allows you to gradually increase your heart rate and prepare your body. If you go all at once it has side effects. Even if you spend ten minutes warming up doing jumping jacks, push ups, squats, etc. it will be extremely beneficial to you.
NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER
Many runners out there head out for a run without even drinking water, and failing to at least bring one along with them. The real reason behind not taking a water bottle I would say is laziness. Runners have to make sure that they bring a water bottle or else it can lead to dehydration and is not great for your health. If you are going on a 5-10 mile run maybe leave some bottles in your course before hand. Just make it a habit to bring water along.
INCREASING MILEAGE TOO QUICKLY
This is very common among runners. Many people who are trying to lose weight want instant results. The key is to work hard everyday and go slow to prevent injuries. Running mileage should be increased by no more than 10% every week. If you are increasing it by more than 10% you may wind up with injuries. Thus make sure you are safe, and search something up or ask someone us you are unsure.
RUNNING WITH ARMS IN FRONT
You have been told wrong information! Running with your arms in front is not the correct way to run. This is the most common mistake, and even some athletes do it. The proper way to run is with your arms at your sides. What thus does is it prevents breathing problems. Also you are not constricting yourself. Basically, you should run with your arms on your sides like a pendulum.
Would you like the adventure of dining in the dark? How about at Unsicht-Bar In Germany? It seems this is a popular destination for people all around the world if they are looking for something exciting in their lives. The customers are lead to their seats by waiters who are mostly sight impaired. The restaurant was opened in 2002 when two men, one impaired and on with normal vision, talked. Sandy, one of the waiters said, “They thought it would be a good idea to create jobs for sight-impaired people and to give people an experience of what it’s like to not see.”
No light is allowed at all in the restaurant (including your cell phones)! However, you will find that the food is arranged in a special way so you can eat your food without being too messy. One person who has went to this restaurant also noted that people seem a lot more open about their unmannerly habits when you can’t see them in the dark.
Have you even been to London? Las Vegas? The Eiffel Tower? How about dining there 180 feet off the ground? You can pay $11,000 to host a party, or wedding, or even a business meeting on a platform holding 22 people for eight hours. Or you could even have different people up even hour. In addition, you also got a photographer, although catering costs more.
Paris
But how safe is it? You get strapped to a seat and there are well-trained professionals overseeing the event; however, there also is a $10 million policy if someone happens to fall off.
Las Vegas
2. Cannibalistic Sushi:
A Japanese restaurant has now been made for people to eat humans. You can cut the human open with a surgery knife along with a lot of scotch for you to disinfect your forks and convince yourself that committing cannibalism is not as bad as people make it out to be. Then you cut open the stomach, and realize that this is just a sushi mannequin shaped like a real human. I scared you for a second there, didn’t I?
The “organs” inside the body is actually sushi and a red “blood sauce” that is embedded in the skin layer is used to mimic bleeding as you cut open the human body.
1. A Chinese Teahouse:
How scary does that sound? Not scary? Well be warned because it will take scary to a whole new level. You’re going to have to risk your life climbing up Mt. Huashan for a single cup of tea.
First, customers take a tram up to the path. If you think this is scary, then this might not be for you because the adventure is only starting. Visitors reach the path that just happens to be only three planks of wood wide. What about a harness, you ask? No harness, although you do get to hold on to some metal chains connected to the mountain.
Then, further along the path you’re only left with… yes, footholds.
Lastly, the world’s steepest staircase awaits you. But the scary part is over.
This part is gong to tire you out until you are definitely ready for that cup of tea you came for.
Spring is here and summer is nearing! It’s finally that time of the year again where we Calgarians get a small taste of what our summer is going to look like. The sweet cool breeze rushing past our faces, the scorching sun pounding down covering every inch of our body with the warmth we’ve been seeking since October – it’s all just within our grasp. Every summer has a story, why not make yours an active one?
I know… running! How could that ever be something you would want to do? Most days I’d rather spend my day in bed and curl up with my laptop and Netflix, but since I discovered running I’d choose it over everything. There are more benefits than you could imagine.
From my personal experience of running, I have come up with a six benefits:
1. Healthy Heart – I’m sure most of us have taken Bio 20, so we know that it’s important for the heart to get a good work out! Running is quite effective, it improves circulation and reduces our chances of heart diseases! (Basically, we get to live longer, yay!)
2. Weight loss– This means slimmer thighs and a flatter stomach.
3. Mental health– Running helps me clear my mind, cheer me up and make me feel accomplished and proud!
4. SLEEP– Sleep, sleep, sleep. Generally on my mind most of the time. Running helps improve sleeping habits, it makes it easier to fall asleep and get a longer one too! (Insomniacs, take note)
5. Stress– Increases your tolerance with everyday things and relieves any tension.
6. Happiness– Yenno, your typical runner’s high! Except it’s actually true, exercise releases special endorphin’s that allow you to feel that way after a good run. It not only makes us happier, but it increases our ambition, patience and humor.
These are a few of the great benefits that I’ve experienced! It is important to take note that running alone does not only improve your health, but smart decisions when it comes to food choices and keeping yourself hydrated! Remember to put on sunscreen, eat your vegetables and smile! Like Nike says, “Just DO IT.” Happy running!
