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.
It is a natural and obvious response that a cone will roll down if it is placed on an inclined plane. This is not the case in this experiment. In the video, a cone placed near the bottom of the inclined plane and cone starts sliding up. Why? This is explained in the video that because of the way the cone and plane are constructed, even though the cone itself is riding upwards, its centre of mass is still going downwards.
If you take a non magnetic object and drop it though a copper pipe, the object simply drops as it would outside the copper pipe. However, when a magnet is dropped thorough copper pipe, it falls really slowly. This is explained by the phenomenon of electrical induction by a moving magnet. As the magnet in the copper pipe starts to drop, it induces an electric field in the copper wire in such a way that the copper pipe produces a magnetic field that opposed that of the magnet. This behavior is summarized by Lenz’s Law. This causes the magnet to drop slowly… see it yourself!
I’m probably not the only one who’s sick and tired of teachers, speakers or whoever else giving the “believe in yourself” and “reach for the stars” speeches. It’s the same thing said time and time again and by the time we hit adolescence, it’s difficult to not want to press the figurative mute button. However, as cheesy, long-winded and overused these monologues can be, it’s hard to deny the applications of their main points. Here’s a small compilation of the completely familiar tips and tricks given since the beginning of time that may change your life. Well, maybe.
Apply yourself
You’re never going to get anywhere unless you make an effort to take the journey (excuse my corniness). The most successful people are the ones who work their butts off their whole life to be able to accomplish their goals. By getting everything served to you on a silver platter, you never get to learn what real work is and what it takes to make it in the real world. By applying yourself in your work, you’ll actually be better able to gauge whether something is worth your time or not and if it’s perhaps something worth pursuing in the future.
Go the extra mile
No one ever tells stories of how they attained success by just putting in the bare minimum. No, the people who have the best situations always put in that 110 per cent. The extra effort that it takes to do that extra bit of work might just tip the scales. There is no such thing as being overly prepared or overachieving. That extra step doesn’t say that you want to show off, but it speaks to the kind of person you are; a person who knows when a little bit more could mean all the difference.
Stop complaining
If all you do is moan and complain about your work, you’ll never see the good in any of it. Try to see through whatever is so undesirable about it and find a silver lining. Even by knowing what minuscule benefit can come out of what you’re doing or are forced to do, it makes it all seem worthwhile. Life is full of steps, some big some small. If you do nothing but groan about not being able to getting past that one step without a catch, that’s a problem, because I can guarantee you that that will not be the hardest, most strenuous, taxing, or even monotonous thing you will ever have to do.
Practice makes perfect
What?! Another cliché? Oh well. As truly overused as this expression is, it speaks to something that we all need. Practice. Experience. If you just expect to be good at something right off the bat, then you’re in for some pretty major disappointment. By practicing something over and over, asking for help and not being afraid to make mistakes, you will get significantly better at what you’re doing in a much shorter time.
I know that was really cheesy, and I apologize for that. But this is the kind of thing that we should all keep in mind every day, whether it be in studies, work, sports or pursuing any passion. Just remember, in order to be successful, effort and attitude trump skill.
Going through my years in the Calgary Board of Education and the Alberta Education system, I have had times where the things we learned in math class seemed useless. And it stems beyond that, from choices such as school locations to curriculum content. I feel, in many ways, disconnected from those who make the decisions. That’s why when I first heard of the National Student Voice Initiative, I became very interested in this movement to empower youth with the capability to voice their opinion on education.
That being said, the Calgary Board of Education certainly has its own methods of collecting student input, ranging from the Tell Them From Me surveys to the annual student-run Student Results Symposium. Alberta Education also has the local Speak Out Forum, as well as the annual Speak Out Conference to seek student opinions. But what the Student Voice Initiative is about is to increase this student feedback even more.
In fact, Student Voice Initiative is a Canada-wide movement, ranging from British Columbia to New Brunswick. Many school districts in Canada have implemented a Student Trustee position, a student which would be able to attend official meetings of school board members as a stakeholder, sharing the student perspectives and concerns. This was first mandated in Ontario through the Education Act since 1998, and Vancouver has recently approved a Student Trustee Pilot Project. Although these Student Trustees do no have the the power to vote, they have the power to ensure a diverse range of opinions are being channel to the board.
Student Voice is a national movement. Check out other SVI movements here.
This is what the SVI branch in Alberta, Student Voice Alberta, is trying to establish: a Student Trustee position. An entirely student-led group trying to voice their opinions, they have contacted school boards in Edmonton and Calgary to establish this initiative. They are trying to get as much support as possible to implement a province-wide policy mandating each school to have a Principal’s Advisory Council to deal with local education issues, as well as an establishment of a District Student Advisory Council. This would ultimately culminate the the establishment of the Student Trustee position in school boards across Alberta.
The default clock widget on my Nexus 5 lock screen ain’t too bad – it’s your basic digital clock, after all, and there’s not really much it can do beyond that. I’ll admit I’m a bit lazy to enter the unlock pattern, but in a world where features like active display on the Moto X are becoming widespread, the demand to be able to faster access to notifications is definitely there. All phones with Android 4.2 (the second “Jelly Bean”) and above feature the ability to add and remove lock screen widgets; of course, I chose this custom apps route and came across dashclock.
A departure from the simple clock, the range of separate custom extensions allow you to check out the battery life, data usage, text messages, and all that jazz. Even though dashclock can be used both as a lock screen widget and a home screen one, the ability to customize these add-ons to your liking is especially an asset when it’s on your lock screen. Tweak away at the clock itself too for a sleek look.
My most frequent use for this widget would have to be checking for the sender of a text or facebook message quickly before reading the actual thing. Similarly, the battery statistics and data usage extensions I use as pictured below are also fantastic and are my top two picks.
In terms of storage, this app is very light, taking about only 2MB with extensions taking about 700KB. The same can be said about it’s performance, of course. Grab this free widget out from the Play Store and feel free to shoot me a comment on your experiences.
This is what dashclock looks like when it is not expanded.This is the expanded view of the widget on the lock screen.
The setup screen asking you to choose extensions when you first add the widget.A link on the setup screen directs you to the Play Store to install more nifty additions.
Customization galore once again.Customizations galore.
As the athletes of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games are pitted in fierce competition with each other and against the ticking clock, two European women raced each other to a perfect tie in women’s downhill skiing. On Feb. 12, 2014, at the Rosa Khutor Alpine Center, Tina Maze of Slovenia and Dominique Gisin of Switzerland both finished with a record time of 1 minute, 41.57 , in addition to surpassing the previous world record. This historical feat has never been achieved before; it is the first time a double gold will be awarded for the an Alpine Olympic tie.
From [http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2014/0212/oly_g_maze11_400x600.jpg]If you wonder how such a perfect time resulted from the skiers, here it is: the rule for the Olympic timing. According to Daniel Baumat, vice president of Swiss Timing, the members in the Olympic timing booth are to only report the times only up to the rounded hundredth. This regulation is in place to protect the integrity guaranteed by the number, as downhill is an outdoor winter sport and the slightest fraction of a second could be affected by many factors. Because of this rounding rule, the times of the female athletes came to an identical number. No one, including the F.I.S. – International Ski Federation – will ever know who was faster in the ten thousandth of a second; even Baumat himself chose not to look at the number. Despite this, the fact remains that a double gold was given to two outstanding women and a world record was doubly broken in sync for the very first time in Sochi 2014.
Cold weather just seems to do something to the skin which makes it irritated and uncooperative. Fortunately, I am here to review a product which has helped me to offset this winter blues and satisfy my demanding skin. Tea Tree Water by LUSH has helped me to keep my skin hydrated and combat the oiliness which prevails no matter what season it is. (Disclaimer: I am in no way being sponsored by LUSH for this review.)
I know what some of you may be thinking, “What is a Tea Tree?” I asked myself the same thing. To put it simply, it is a broad category used to classify a certain family of trees. The specific extract found in this product belongs to the Melaleuca genus, known for certain cleansing properties.
“Oily, dull, tired and spotty skin brightens up with a routine spritz of Tea Tree Water. Cleansing tea tree, juniperberry and grapefruit waters keep skin clear of blemishes and balance skin tone. Light and refreshing Tea Tree Water reduces redness and clears excess oil without drying so you can put your best face forward.”
Ingredients: Tea Tree Water (Melaleuca alternifolia), Grapefruit Water (Citrus grandis), Juniperberry Water (Juniperus communis), Limonen, Perfume, Methylparaben
Price: ♔♔♔♔
The product I have is in the 250mL version (because I anticipated to be using it for quite a long time). Since LUSH uses natural ingredients, you would expect the price to be a bit higher. Considering there is a lot of product and you can use it for a very long time, the price evens out in the end. (There is a 100mL bottle as well if you aren’t planning on using it too often.)
Smell: ♔♔♔
There are some undertones of grapefruit in this product and something that I suspect to be the juniperberry water. It isn’t an unpleasant smell, at first it smells slightly sweet, but it leaves a strange lingering in your nostrils a few seconds after you first spray it.
Application: ♔♔♔♔ There is an easy-to-use spray nozzle that you can press down to spritz the product all over your face. The bottle is slightly bigger and since I have tiny hands, I actually have to use two hands to spray this which makes things slightly difficult. Aside from that, the application is very easy and flawless. The spray disperses evenly and doesn’t come out in a weird string like some other products, and usually I use three or four sprays on my face after washing with Ultrabland by LUSH (find the review here). I still apply moisturizer after the Tea Tree Water has dried, which I still strongly recommend you to do. Many people don’t moisturize their face because they don’t want their skin to be oily, but oily skin is actually caused by dryness. The more you moisturize, the less oily your skin will be.
Effectiveness: ♔♔♔ Since I have been using this product alongside another, I can’t say 100% the effectiveness of this product. From what is advertised and the results I see, it doesn’t actually reduce the oiliness of my skin by too much. Halfway through the day I will feel some oil start to building up around my problem areas. Unless I’m supposed to carry the product around and spritz throughout the day (maybe you are, I don’t actually know), it’s not doing as much as I expected. It still hydrates my skin for the dryness of Calgary’s air, so that’s still a plus.
Overall: ♔♔♔♔
This product has helped to hydrate my face and alongside with Ultrabland reduce redness and control acne. For it’s price, I can’t say the effectiveness was worth it, and I would recommend people to get the 100mL bottle if they are looking for a good skin toner.
The original iPhone was released on June 29, 2007, and it completely changed the world. Before this new phone was released, many manufacturers knew that phones would eventually be like computers, but no one was able to pull it off. There were many attempts, but before Apple no one could pull it off and market it in a way that the general population would see it as something worth buying.
Today, we believe that this exact same situation is happening with the wearable technology market. Many manufacturers have had an attempt to this market including Pebble (a kick starter campaign company), Samsung, Sony, Google, QUALCOMM and soon, Apple.
The three most outstanding attempts are Samsung, Google, and most importantly, Pebble. Google has its widely-known glass. Glass currently is in its second generation. It is interesting because it gives you the ability to always be able to see your phone’s notifications, can answer any question with the simple voice command “ok glass,” and finally, it allows you to take pictures of anything you can see. A large portion of the public is worried by this feature because you could never know if someone is taking a photo or video of you.
Pebble being the original smart watch maker is, until today, one of the best smart watches on the market. Unlike any other product in its category, it has a wide variety of apps. Its battery lasts for days on a single charge, making it better than most of the market.
Samsung’s attempt at the smart watch was one of the most interesting. It has a camera feature but the photo quality is poor. It has an LCD screen, making it the best quality on the market but this feature has diminishing returns. Because of this screen, you are lucky if the battery lasts 24 hours. It has a large lack of apps due to how few people bought it. The main reason for its unpopularity is because of how few products it is compatible with. The gear (the Samsung watch) only can connect to Samsung phones, making it work for less than half of smartphones, forcing it into a niche market.
Overall this market still hasn’t reached its peak. While we have many options, we do not have something that is world-changing. When we come to this day, everyone in the developed world will have whatever the piece of wearable tech is.
Someday, wearable tech will change the world, but that day is not today.
I promise you, this will be a gift your special one would cherish forever. Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate your love for your special one. And I feel, love is about those special moments and the little things that matter the most. Share those moments with your loved one on this special day. Gift them a MEMORY ALBUM!
Materials:
A blank diary with a colorful cover
A pair of scissors
Cardboard Cutter
Glue
Decorative articles of your choice
Photographs
Procedure: Cut a small square of cardboard from the centre of the cover page of the diary. Decorate all the pages of the diary, stick pictures. Write simple love notes on the sides of the pages. Write blurbs about those special moments. Doodling is your friend!! Make this diary beautiful…just like your relationship!!
Draco Malfoy: Draco is my favourite character from Harry Potter hands down, and many would disagree. I truly believe that Draco Malfoy is not as evil as people think. Sure, he has negative qualities and can be mean sometimes, but that doesn’t make him completely evil or a heartless person. Whether you believe it or not, Draco cared. Draco cared enough not to kill Dumbledore. He had known this man all of his life and Dumbledore guided him through his schooling and was a better father to him than Lucius ever was. Although Draco did become a Death Eater, I think he was more or less forced into it by his father. Lucius was very controlling of Draco and you could see the pressure that was on Draco to try to meet his father’s expectations, in a way he is very much like some of us “muggle” teenagers who feel pressure from family members or our parents to follow in their footsteps and do what is expected of us.
The 9th doctor (Christopher Eccelston): When you think of the new 2005 to present Doctor Who, most automatically think of David Tennant or Matt Smith, hardly ever thinking of Christopher Eccleston. You know, 9th Doctor, leather jacket, old guy who was in love with Rose? It seems like he has been forgotten by almost everyone. Eccleston only got one season, and that really upset me. He wasn’t young or attractive like some of the other Doctors, but he shouldn’t have to be. The Doctor can’t always regenerate into some young and hot man; the show wouldn’t be the same. Each doctor should be unique, looks and age included. Nine was hilarious, not too sarcastic, showed great emotions, introduced to us the Doctor’s love for bananas, and most of all truly showed to me, at least, that the Doctor really does love Rose. Sure, Tennant confirmed that and took their relationship even father in the following seasons, but for the short time Nine was on the show, we got to see the start of the wonderful relationship between Rose Tyler and the Doctor, which will not soon be forgotten by me.
Overrated
Tate Langdon: American Horror Story is not insanely popular for the most part, but Evan Peters sure is and Tate Langdon makes many appearances on Tumblr which really bugs me (as you can see in the picture below). Don’t get me wrong, Tate Langdon was an interesting character and was really dynamic and well played, but Tumblr and thousands of teenage girls around the world show him as this wonderful boyfriend and soppy romantic by using some cheesy quote and a black and white effect on his picture. But may I remind you of what he actually did throughout the season!? (Let’s just say, for all of you who haven’t seen the show and because it is highly controversial and pretty inappropriate; Tate Langdon killed a lot of people and ruined lives. This man was a horrible guy and definitely not someone that should be praised for being a wonderful person and a great boyfriend to Violet. Yes, he was an essential character (and a good one at that) for the show, but he was definitely overrated, highly misunderstood, and remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Today I will be doing a review of a beauty product from LUSH called Ultrabland, a facial cleanser with rosewater and honey to even out your skin tone, while other natural ingredients prevent breakouts and reduce acne. (Disclaimer: I am in no way being sponsored by LUSH for this review.)
This is a product that I just stumbled upon by chance. Normally, I don’t shop at LUSH (okay, more like I’d never actually shopped there), but I decided to step into their store a month ago and I’m not regretting my decision. Known for their all-natural ingredients, LUSH’s products are all extremely effective without using strange chemicals you can’t pronounce which will ultimately go on your body. After using so many products from different brand names who are known for their “acne treatment” or “oily skin control” formulas, nothing has topped this facial cleanser for me.
“A hugely popular cult product, Ultrabland is a thick, rich emulsion of essential oils, honey and beeswax to take off any make up or residue that has built up on your face throughout the day. Unlike most make up removers, Ultrabland leaves your skin feeling soft and nourished, thanks to soothing rosewater and iris flower extract. Suitable for all skin types, Ultrabland is a classic LUSH cleanser coveted by staff and customers alike for it’s effectiveness. Not so bland after all, is it?”
Ingredients: Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Rose Water (Rosa centifolia), Beeswax (Cera alba), Honey (Mel), Fresh Iris Extract (Iris florentina), Glycerine , Rose Absolute (Rosa centifolia), Tincture of Benzoin (Styrax benzoin) , Methylparaben, Propylparaben
Price: ♔♔♔♔
For the 100g tub (which is the one I bought), it came to around $30 with tax. At first I thought it was a bit pricey, but then I realized how cost-effective it actually is. Each time I wash my face with this product, I use no more than the amount needed to fill a water bottle cap. It’s been over a month that I’ve been using Ultrabland, and I haven’t even made a dent in it. Overall, it’s more cost-effective than the 45g tub, but if you want something cheap you won’t use every single day (which will be hard because this product’s effects are irresistible), then the $17 (45g) tub may be more suitable for you.
What the product actually looks like.
Smell: ♔♔
Since this is a beauty product, and I am all about smell when it comes to anything, I decided that smell was an important factor to review. As you can tell by the rating, I didn’t put it too high since it does have a strange, indescribable smell to it. One of the ingredients is beeswax, and I can tell there are some hints of that mixed with honey. Otherwise, the smell isn’t too pleasant, but you don’t have to have it on your face for more than five minutes. It also does not leave any fragrance on the skin, so you don’t have to worry about it lingering. I do wish it smelled more like roses, though. That would be nice.
Application: ♔♔♔♔♔
I have no complaints with the application of this product, since it is a thick and creamy formula which you can massage right into your face. Some people like using this product at night since it does remove makeup (I can testify), but I use it in the morning when I wake up. I gather a bit of product on the tip of my finger then massage into my entire face. I leave it on while I brush my teeth, and once I’m done I wipe it off with a damp face towel (you can also use a cotton pad). To follow up I use another product by LUSH called Tea Tree Water (find my review for it here).
Effectiveness: ♔♔♔♔♔
Any time I buy a product, I have to be skeptical of it’s effectiveness. Many times, a product is advertised as extremely effective, but what they don’t tell you is how the product works. Certain chemicals have different reactions with our skin, and it’s really hard (and a waste of money) to try out 100 different products before finding a solution which works for you. Using products from LUSH, there is no dilemma since all (most of) their ingredients are natural. Your skin is left to repair itself on its own accords, while the natural compounds guide your skin along. Within two weeks of using Ultrabland, there were visibly less red patches on my face and I also have no broken out since I began my use (around 5 weeks ago). As advertised, it did even out my skin tone and has been keeping my face hydrated despite Calgary’s abysmal weather.
Overall: ♔♔♔♔♔
Despite the other categories, the sheer amazingness of this product outweighs the price and strange smell. I have recommended this product to two other people who have both come back to me with thanks. It is definitely a product I will be using for a very long time!
If you are anything like me, then the beginning of every semester is: “this will be best semester ever, I will work and get good grades,” and within two weeks you are in the old struggle of staying above passing mark. If you don’t struggle, then first off all why are you reading this? LET ME TELL YOU WHY… because these tips can not only make you go from 49 to 60, 80-91, but also 100-102 (sounds pretty!)
And here they are in no specific order:
1. Study place: change where you study frequently- study on you bed, on the desk, in the corner, in the basement, in the kitchen, on the stairs.
2. Be prepared: gather ALL the stuff that you might need (like pencil, eraser, brain, etc.)
3. Read right: be aware of what you read, so you don’t end up reading over and over.
4. Notes: don’t copy the textbook, take notes.
5. Reward system: when i finish writing this blog post, I get to watch five minutes of YouTube!
6. Organize: keep your binders labelled and neat so that you are not repelled by the mess.
7. Videos: videos on the internet explain some things simply too well… with 3D illustrations, effects etc. you can easily visualize stuff.
8. No coffee: alternatives like green tea and Nestea are better.
9. No chatting: no social media, unless its your reward.
10. Distinguish and eliminate distractions: learn to know what distracts you. Reading a YAA article isn’t a distraction, so keep reading 🙂
This is my second post in the series Common Health Problems Among Teens. In my last post I touched base on eating disorders, so you should check that out to learn more. Today the blog post will be on depression, which strips your confidence and builds monsters in your head.
DEPRESSION
Depression is a concern that all teens, as well as parents of teens, should be aware of. Many people begin struggling with depression but do not know what it is or that they are struggling with it at all. Depression can happen to anyone that is why you should know how to deal with it and when you should start getting help. Depression during teen years can be very stressful, challenging, and can bring confusion to your family and you. Depression is known to actually set you up to other health issues as you continue your life if you do not take care of it. Some struggles that it may lead to are early pregnancy, drug abuse, self harm, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts, use of pharmaceutical drugs in an irresponsible way, and the list goes on. If you are feeling depressed, you should not just ignore it. If you or someone you know is dealing with depression there are many ways you can help, but do not keep it to yourself. Letting a responsible adult know such as a parent or a teacher who can help you in the best way possible is the right decision to make. If you know someone who is depressed, be sure to pay attention to their emotional health. If they do not feel comfortable talking to you, make sure that they have someone that they can talk to.
Parts of the brain that are involved in depression.How depression takes over.Some ways you can notice depression.
It’s the time of year again when you celebrate with your loved ones; whether your boyfriend/girlfriend, or immediate family. Many people take this opportunity to show their love and appreciation by baking something nice and sharing it with the people around them. So… what should you bake? Here are some ideas:
Hidden Heart cake:
Want to surprise your family? Make this lovely bake that holds a sweet surprise. Watch the look on their faces then the cut the cake open to find something they’ll love. It might take some time, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.
These simple treats will get everyone to like you even more! Bring them to school and share them with your friends or have them as snacks to enjoy your love for even longer. This one will only take 45 minutes!
Love Oreos? Love Red Velvet? Bake Red Velvet Oreo cookies this Valentine! They’re perfect for this occasion because of their color and Oreos are perfect for any occasion. This recipe will bring your baking to a whole new level. Enjoy!
Now this just takes it to a whole new level. Red Velvet. Cinnamon. Nutella. And rolls. Wow, as if Red Velvet and Oreos weren’t enough. But sorry if you’re allergic to nuts, I just really love them. Oh, and remember that if anyone you’re giving these treats to are allergic, don’t give them any. They won’t like you if you’re the reason they’re in the hospital.
These mini-cakes are sure to make an impression. Personally I love eating cream, and the chocolate just makes it so much better. So, if you’ve read this far and endured all my blabbering, I’m guessing you and I have something in common; so you’ll definitely love this one!
Racism, ageism, sexism are among the common forms of discrimination polluting our present society. Are today’s children being bullied due to their level of “intelligence”? Beyond the problems of skin colour, age or sex, my demographic seems to also be subjected to “IBism,” what I refer to as the prejudice against students not in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program, offered as one of the most esteemed alternate learning programs in various high schools through out the globe, has curated a reputation to manufacture the perfect, well-rounded student. Students are encouraged to select the IB program to challenge oneself and to rapidly conclude the standard high school curriculum. As many of you may be aware, the IB program also provides university level courses and credits.
Every student is sharpened different. Thus, there are distinctions in each student’s value of success. But every students deserves to realize their potential to realize this success,without the corruption of any type of discrimination .
I am a non-IB student; I must absolutely refrain from using the term “regular” student due to the fact that there are students in standard high school classes who are beyond “regular.” These students present an astute passion for learning as well as the same, or even greater work ethic than the average IB-student. As a student in the standard CBE high school curriculum, I have been discriminated by what I like to call IBists, people who attain a belief that non-IB students are lacking compared to an IB student.
There have been countless times at my high school and at outer gatherings, in which I have been asked the following questions: Are you in IB? What IB courses do you have? Do you have so-and-so for this IB course? To all of these questions, my answer has been, “No, I am not in IB,” followed by an impertinent look from the turning head of the face of my inquirer. Other times, I have been asked what my marks were, once told I was not in IB, IBists have said to me that their marks were incomparable to mine. Yes, I am not an IB student. However, all of our marks have been standardized to be equitable in the education system. One may argue, IB students have less time on their hands or are subjected to a greater work load. This is a valid point, however, there are non-IB students out there, who strive for more in the free time that is allotted to them for not being in IB. Just because the non-IB student receives a “less challenging” and a slighter amount of homework, does not mean that non-IB students are also deprived of sleep, studying and participating in a vast array of extra-curriculars. The fact is, I am not alone in the suffering of IBism.
Extra-curriculars have seemed to have become a sort of currency among IB students and high-school students in general. The IB program encourages its students to engage in extra-curricular activities with its requirement of CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) hours, thus, curating the well-rounded student. I rightfully commend the IB program for inputting CAS into the IB curriculum. However, it seems to have become exploited in this idea that volunteering or engaging with others in sports and other extra-curriculars is only being done because it is a “requirement.” There have been many times at volunteer projects or in classrooms, upon which IB students become stressed that they are far from reaching their CAS hours. Volunteering and extra-curriculars should not be done merely for a quantifiable “requirement.” As sentimental as this may sound, things like creativity, action and service should be spawned from the student’s own will. There are non-IB students who volunteer the same, even without the incentive of a requirement of hours. Of course, this does not speak for all IB students. The majority of IB students are truly genuine well-rounded youth. It is just the fact that non-IB students are not getting the reputation from parents, teachers and students that they are also well-rounded academics.
In school hallways and beyond, students are being discriminated by not only the colour of their skin or their sex, but the academic program one is in. With or without IB, students should not be segregated by what curriculum one chooses to partake in. IB is an excellent academic program. It is merely the notion of some, who believe that non-IB students are less capable than IB students. This prejudice is what raises a concern. The true measure of a “well-rounded” student should not be prejudged upon whether or not he or she is in IB. A student’s value is founded upon that individual’s hard work and the results that follow, regardless of what program they are in.
I love cupcakes. This month alone I can safely say I have had the privilege of having six, AND the month is not even halfway through! (I think this should be the definition of success) So of all the cupcakes I’ve had this month which one was the cutest? Since it is coming up on Valentine’s Day, I would have to nominate Crave’s Valentine cupcake: “Fresh baked chocolate cupcakes brimming with whole raspberries and swirled with raspberry buttercream icing.” Um yum?!? I mean, I love strawberry buttercream, but raspberry? I love raspberries even more! Plus chocolate, plus cupcake and I think I’m set to go!
Before I even knew what this cupcake actually was, I was 100% convinced to buy it. Simply because, the light pink icing topped with a darker pink heart shape gummy was probably the cutest thing (here we go with the cute cupcake thing again..). I would say, that this is probably a great gift for a friend or significant other this Valentine’s Day, its simple, sweet, and completely adorable. Furthermore, once they bite into this delicious delicacy, they’ll know that you are their sweetheart, because who else would get them the yummiest cupcake ever?!
First of all, Crave never disappoints with their cake, which is always soft, moist, and deliciously rich. Not some stale thing which has been sitting on the bakery shelf for almost a week *shudders.* Their cake though, is not what I love, and not to diss any other bakeries, but honestly no store-bought cupcake has icing that even rivals Crave’s. One thing I will mention though, is that if you’re Valentine doesn’t like sweet things, this probably isn’t for them (but why would you be buying them a cupcake if they didn’t anyway?). The icing on this cupcake was amazing, sweet, smooth, and creamy in texture, the buttercream had just the right balance between the raspberry flavour and sugary-sweet so as not to overwhelm the taste of the chocolate, or your taste-buds. Another thing to note about the icing, for those picky eaters it does have seeds in it, but that’s because ITS MADE OF RASPBERRIES! If it didn’t have seeds then its fake and yucky and nobody wants that.
And just because I want to do as complete a review as possible, I will touch on the heart gummy which crowned this magnificence. It too, fit the theme perfectly, not just with Valentine’s, but it too was raspberry flavoured. And, like the cupcake, it seemed pretty fresh, it was chewy and enjoyable, not hard and stale like some gummies which would have been quite unfortunate considering the rest of the cupcake.
For complaining’s sake, I would have to say the problem with this cupcake was the batter. No, it was not bad in the least, it was very good in fact, but the description states that there are indeed raspberries to be found in amongst the chocolate, in fact it was supposed to be “brimming.” Now, I did see some reddish tones in the chocolate cake, but honestly, I couldn’t taste any raspberries in the cake. I’m not sure if this is due to the richness of the cake, or the sweetness of the icing, or both, but regardless, it didn’t really make a difference that there were raspberries in the batter, but it would have been a nice touch.
Still, I’m just being nitpicky. On the whole this cupcake was great, honestly, I think I’m going to have to try making a raspberry buttercream one of these days now. The flavour was awesome, and for a cute Valentine’s gift, its safe to say this takes the cake!
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