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Careers in Calgary: A conversation with Carlos Carvajal, Cost Controller in Oil & Gas projects

Mayor's Youth Council
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Careers in Calgary: A conversation with Carlos Carvajal, Cost Controller in Oil & Gas projects

This article is written by Bella, a member of the 2024-25 Mayor’s Youth Council. Bella is part of the Careers and Opportunities committee, who wanted to highlight different career opportunities for youth. 

What do robots, construction sites, and oil rigs have in common? They’re all a part of Carlos’s workday. Believe it or not, his story might change the way you perceive certain careers. The title “Cost Controller” is way more exciting than the title must suggest. From surveying numbers to keeping million dollar oil projects on track, his journey calls to youth, reminding them that you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do outside of high school.

As a teenager, Carlos never imagined his job would one day involve GPS-guided trucks and daily walks through construction zones. “I thought I would be working in an office my whole life”, he admits. Instead, his career has taken him from Venezuela to Canada, and from accepting spreadsheets to Alberta’s oil and gas industry.

Carlos’s story begins in Venezuela, where he majored in accounting and earned his CPA certification. He started his professional life in public accounting, working at an audit firm. While the work was stable and familiar, he started to notice something that sparked his curiosity: many of the people in his professional network were involved in oil and gas. “I built a local network where I got inspired to work in oil and gas,” he says. That inspiration pushed him to rethink his path.

Realizing that oil and gas projects involved much more than office work, Carlos made a bold decision: he went back to school to earn a masters degree in project management.  This move gave him the skills to manage the complex logistics and planning involved in these large industrial projects.

When the economic state of Venezuela declined, Carlos took a huge step. He immigrated to Canada, landing in Alberta, a province known for its strong energy sector. There, he began working in cost control for oil and gas construction projects.

So.. What does a cost controller do? When you think of a construction site, a cost controller might not be the first role that comes to mind, but it’s a critical one. Carlos explains “ I make sure the price of the project does not exceed the budget. I do this by implementing controls to monitor the spending and efficiency of vendors on site.” He starts his day bright and early at 7 am, heading out to project sites around Edmonton. His mornings are often spent meeting with vendors to review progress on the job. “Then I compare that with our budget to see if we’re on track,” he says.“Then I present updates to the project managers.” Every day is different, sometimes Carlos is focused on numbers and reports, other days he’s walking in the site to see how the construction is unfolding in real time. “Its’ a very dynamic job” he says.

One of the most fascinating parts of Carlos’s job is the technology he gets to use and witness firsthand. He’s particularly proud of helping implement a real time construction dashboard that makes project management much more efficient. “ It gives us up to miniature information, which is a huge improvement”, he says.

And that’s just the beginning. Carlos has worked on projects where massive trucks used to transport materials from mines were turned into fully automated driverless vehicles. “These trucks used to require three drivers working 8 hour shifts to operate 24/7,” he explains.”Now, thanks to AI and GPS, they can drive themselves.”

It’s a glimpse into the future of the industry, and Carlos believes it is only the beginning. “AI will provide more concise information on how to execute construction tasks. Eventually, more robots will do the duties that are currently done by people,” he predicts.

Carlos also notes that his field isn’t typically full of young professionals yet. “The people who work here are pretty old,” he says with a laugh. But that is why he thinks now is a great time for young people to get involved and stand out. “If you’re interested in this kind of work, get the project Management Inspire Certification,” he advises. “It only takes about six months and gives you a solid foundation,” He also recommends online certifications, like those offered by Google. “Don’t overlook google certifications. They make you an evolving applicant.”

Whether you’re passionate about numbers, technology, or building things, Carlos believes there’s room for new voices in the oil and gas world.

Talking to Carlos made me rethink what it means to build a career. His story isn’t about knowing exactly what you want to do when you’re 18, it’s about being curious and open to change. From Venezuela to Canada, Carlos has followed opportunities wherever they led. If you’re feeling unsure about your future, his journey is proof that you can find your way, and most importantly have fun doing it.

What Celebration Months Does June Have?

Crystal Lattice
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What Celebration Months Does June Have?

How Many Celebration Months Are There Worldwide?

Does anyone else constantly learn what we celebrate in a certain month? For instance, we have Black History Month in February, Women’s History Month in March, and National Family Caregivers Month in November. While these are well-known celebration months, there are always a lot more that people celebrate for a selected month. In fact, there are a lot of celebration months as more are spreading around through social media and family traditions; there are always new celebrations being marked to a certain month that it is difficult to state how many celebration months we have around the world. In my opinion, after a quick exploration throughout the internet, my guess would be over 500 at this point.

Note: Celebration Months generalize between celebrating famous events to simply bringing awareness to certain things

Calendar
Image by Samuel1983 from Pixabay

What Do We Celebrate In June?

As there are a lot of celebration months in June, only a handful will be tackled in this blog post. However, you are free to explore a short list of June celebration months by clicking this hyperlink.

 

1. Pride Month

Beginning with an exercise of right to peacefully protest, an event called The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement back in 1969. The celebration began as “Gay Pride Day” on the last Sunday of June in the U.S. , but it grew to today’s Pride Month for all of June. Nowadays, June marks the official month for celebrating people’s rights of expressions around the world, spreading the awareness through parades, parties, to concerts.

Pride flag
Image by Boris Štromar from Pixabay

2. Cancer Survivors Month

June also marks the Cancer Survivors Month. The celebration exhibits the reality that life can exist after a Cancer diagnosis. It acts as a wellspring of support and hope to Cancer patients and their families around the world. Along with these goals, it is also a reminder for everyone that Cancer does not necessarily mark the end of lives and that an incredible amount of work is being done to search for the cure.

Cancer awareness ribbon
Image by Miguel Á. Padriñán from Pixabay

3. National Rose Month

In the Northern Hemisphere, June has been considered an ideal month for roses. At this time, more than 150 species of roses bloom around the world. Because they symbolize romance, beauty, and loyalty, roses have been the symbol of poets and artists. Additionally, they are a popular choice of flowers in weddings, further celebrating the month and smelling the roses. As a matter of fact, the month was first observed in the U.S. in 1959 when efforts were made to make roses the national flower; this had not been done until President Ronald Reagan came in office and made it official in 1986.

Roses
Image by Pexels from Pixabay

4. Gun Violence Month

Also, June marks the Gun Violence Awareness Month, reminding people to be alert against Gun Violence. According to Sandy Hook Promise, guns are the leading cause of death among American children and teens. From school shootings to suicides, this awareness month reminds everyone to come together and limit the dangerous usage of deadly weapons in their homes and civilizations. On top Gun Violence Month, campaigns have also been launched to the point where people are encouraged to wear orange on June 6, 2025 to acknowledge unfortunate events and enhancing voices against gun violence.

Preventing gun violence
Image by Flavio Botana from Pixabay

5. Caribbean-American Heritage Month

Caribbean-American Heritage Month also occurs in June and celebrates the Caribbean contributions to American history, life, and culture. It is among many American celebration months meant to honor America’s rich and diverse culture. Additionally, it is a reminder that not only did the Caribbeans promote such diverse cultures in America, but also made great developments into science and medicine. June is also dedicated to recognizing these amazing actions and to teach people more about the culture and the people.

Caribbean postcards
Image by Victoria from Pixabay

There Are A Lot Of Celebration Months Around The World!

As we have just explored, there are at least 5 celebration months being celebrated in the month of June. Every celebration month has a purpose, whether to initiate celebrations or bring awareness, and there are always more things to celebrate as time goes on. Hopefully, this short exploration was able to bring some insight that there are many things and events to be proud of around the world and to celebrate at least some of them from time to time!

Fireworks
Image by Erad from Pixabay

Sources: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8

Finals Week or My Final Week? How to Survive Exam Season

Suha Arvapalli
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Finals Week or My Final Week? How to Survive Exam Season

When it comes to studying for exams and surviving exam season, there are a multitude of resources online. They tell you to study every day, eat certain foods to keep your brain sharp, and to take breaks every half an hour or less.

These tools work perfectly for some people, but aren’t so ideal for others. As a teen, I know that youth can find it hard to balance multiple lifestyle changes at once and stick to a strict schedule that they aren’t used to. It’s hard for growing minds to be disciplined all the time!

As a youth who is about to embark on her final exams, I have compiled a list of small tips for anyone who is studying for multiple exams to incorporate into their lives– without making too many huge lifestyle changes. I have found that these small tweaks in my daily routine during exam season have made a noticeable difference on my stress levels and academic performance. These are what work for me specifically!

 

1. Start The Day Right 

During exam season, you may see tips online that tell you to wake up at 4 a.m. and begin studying, but this isn’t sustainable for most youth. Unless you’re already used to it or have a pristine sleep schedule, I have found that waking up that early has only made my productivity throughout the day worse and I end up tiring out faster. Rather than forcing myself to work during early morning hours, I wake up at a comfortable time (8 a.m.) while ensuring that it’s not too late into the day.

Starting the day right has proven to be the most important method for me, and by this, I don’t mean studying the second you wake up. When you wake up, don’t reach for your phone. Being on your device first thing in the morning makes you incredibly susceptible to procrastination.

Instead, do a small task that sets the tone for the rest of your day. An example of a small task to prepare for your studying includes tidying your study space, opening a window, drinking a glass of water, or going for a walk if you’re feeling ambitious. This allows you to get into the right mindset for locking in.

 

2. Use “Focus Windows”

Photo by Avery Evans on Unsplash

Focus Windows are times throughout the day which you know you’ll naturally feel more alert and productive. Instead of forcing yourself to study when you’re tired or distracted, identify your personal high-energy hours, whether it’s in the mid-morning or early evening. Use that time to tackle your most challenging subjects.

During these focus windows, get rid of all distractions by putting your phone on Do Not Disturb, clearing your workspace, and ensuring your family knows you plan on focusing for the next hour or so. Set a clear goal for what you want to achieve, like getting at least 30–45 minutes of focused work before taking a brain break. This method is more effective than spending hours of distracted studying.

3. Reward Yourself Fairly

Once you know you can’t have something, you tend to want it more. Instead of focusing on studying, your brain will be thinking about the one thing you can’t have, but want desperately. By restricting yourself from TV time, junk food, or doing things you enjoy (whether they’re beneficial to your studying or not), you will only feel the need to do them more.

Rather than letting this distract you, use this to motivate yourself. Give yourself a reward (e.g. a piece of cake) to work towards. If you complete the task, chapter you’re studying, or flashcard set, give yourself 10 minutes maximum for a small treat before getting back in the zone. Ensure that you don’t let the reward fuel your procrastination by saving the “bigger” rewards (like playing video games) till your studying for the day is finished.

 

4. Use Your Breaks Wisely

Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

This may sound contradictory since breaks are supposed to be your designated time to fully zone out, but how you spend your short breaks throughout the day will drastically impact your overall productivity. I’m not saying you have to be productive during your breaks, that goes against the whole meaning of one. Instead, try to stay away from social media or using your devices, and other long-term distractions. A good book can also be hazardous as well, since it’s difficult to stick to the schedule you have when you want to continue doing what you enjoy.

Try using your breaks to get a breath of fresh air, or speaking to someone close by in-person. If you know you’ll be able to go back to work after your time is up, reply to that one text or email that’s been on your mind. To sum it all up, do something that won’t derail your focus and schedule for the rest of the day by finding short-term distractions. If you’re having trouble focusing in again, get yourself a drink or a snack to enjoy while studying. I find that using a new pen or stationery always get me ready for the study grind.

 

5. Make Your Study Plan As Specific As Possible

When it comes to that one subject that you know you’ll struggle in, this tip will come in handy. Your plan shouldn’t be “Study Chemistry for 2 hours”, it should sound more like “Watch a video on acids and bases”, “go through bonding unit flashcards”, and “try one practice exam.”

Break down your weaknesses beforehand and focus on them directly using specific tasks. This way, your brain will have to do much less work figuring out how to study for the exam during your study time. Instead of avoiding your worst subject entirely, schedule short, low-pressure study sessions to get familiar with the topic. It’s okay to have some slow days as well, give yourself less material on days when you know you’ll be more tired.

 

6. Romanticize It (Just A Little Bit)

Photo by Yustinus Tjiuwanda on Unsplash

Before you roll your eyes, note that I’m not telling you to become a vlogger or StudyTuber right before your exam. Setting the study mood and getting the right vibes from your environment can go a long way. It’ll be impossible to focus in a bleak setting, and those math problems will start feeling tedious and boring. By doing something small like lighting a candle, making yourself a cool drink, or putting on a themed playlist, your calculus work might just suck less.

Get into the Rory Gilmore mindset and imagine you live in Stars Hollow if that’s what it takes for studying to be more bearable!

 

TL;DR

A lot of exam tips online can feel unrealistic for teens juggling school, life, and stress. Instead of forcing major lifestyle changes, here are small strategies that helped me during exam season:

  1. Start the Day Right: Wake up at a reasonable time, skip the phone, and do a small task to get into study mode.

  2. Use “Focus Windows”: Find your naturally productive hours and use them for your hardest tasks

  3. Reward Yourself Fairly: Instead of cutting off all fun, use small rewards (like a treat or quick break) to stay motivated without falling into procrastination.

  4. Use Breaks Wisely: Avoid long distractions like social media or books. Take short, refreshing breaks to reset without derailing your focus.

  5. Be Specific With Study Plans: Don’t just plan to “study”. Break it down into small, clear tasks.

  6. Romanticize It: Set the vibe with candles, drinks, or music to make studying feel a little less like torture and a little more like a cozy movie.

Good luck on all your future exams!

Why The Future Never Arrives: The Reasons We Haven’t Built Flying Cars, Floating Cities, and All the Sci-Fi Dreams We Imagined

Avy
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Why The Future Never Arrives: The Reasons We Haven’t Built Flying Cars, Floating Cities, and All the Sci-Fi Dreams We Imagined

Introduction: The Future That Never Came

When people in the past imagined the future, they pictured flying cars, robots doing chores, and vacations on Mars. Books, movies, and even science magazines showed a world where everything looked shiny, fast, and way more advanced than today. But now that we’re in the 2020s, a lot of those things still don’t exist. Why is that?

This post is all about exploring why the amazing inventions from sci-fi and future art haven’t really come true — at least, not the way we thought they would.

 

Imagination vs. Reality

Writers, artists, and filmmakers can imagine anything. They don’t have to worry about real problems like gravity, money, or safety. But engineers and scientists do. They can’t just dream things up — they have to make them actually work. That’s much harder. So while imagination is powerful, reality has rules that we can’t just ignore.

 

How History Fueled False Hopes

In the 1950s and 1960s, people believed that the future would be full of amazing tech. After all, they saw big changes like cars, airplanes, and space travel happen fast. Magazines and World’s Fairs showed cool inventions like food pills and space hotels. But a lot of those ideas were just fun guesses. People mistook fun predictions for actual plans.

 

The Flying Car Fallacy

city w/ floating cars
Image by ThankYouFantasyPictures from Pixabay

Flying cars are in almost every futuristic movie. But in real life, they’re super hard to make. A car that flies needs to be lightweight like a plane, but also safe and strong like a regular car. Plus, flying safely in busy cities would be dangerous and confusing. And where would you park a flying car — on the roof?

 

Cities In the Sky: The Floating Architecture Myth

floating city
Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay

Imagine whole cities floating in the clouds — sounds awesome, right? The problem is, it takes a huge amount of energy to lift and keep something that big in the air. We also don’t have strong enough materials or engines that can make this idea work safely. Floating cities might always stay in the world of fiction.

 

Jetpacks and Personal Flight Devices`

guy on jetpack
Image by Tim from Pixabay

Jetpacks do exist, but they aren’t like the ones in movies. They only fly for a few minutes, are super expensive, and are really hard to control. Most people would crash within seconds. That’s why we don’t all fly to school with jetpacks. Bikes are way easier — and a lot safer.

 

Teleportation, Time Travel & Other Physics-Breakers

Time Travel Machine
Image by Amy Art-Dreams from Pixabay

Teleportation and time travel are fun to think about, but they go against what we know about Physics. Scientists can teleport tiny particles using quantum science, but not people. Time travel causes problems like paradoxes — like what happens if you go back in time and change something? These ideas are cool, but probably impossible.

 

Why Smart Cities Aren’t That Smart Yet

People imagined cities that could think — with talking traffic lights, perfect air, and trash that takes itself out. But even today, “smart cities” mostly just mean more cameras and better internet. Making a whole city smart is super expensive, and not everyone agrees on how to do it. Change is slow, especially for big cities.

 

Material Science: Still Catching Up

Futuristic stuff often needs materials we haven’t invented yet. Things like invisible armor or walls that fix themselves sound amazing, but we don’t have the tech to make them. Even new materials like graphene are hard to make in large amounts. Until scientists figure that out, our buildings and gadgets will stay pretty normal.

 

Energy Limitations and the Fossil Fuel Trap

petroleum tower
Image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay

Almost every cool future idea needs lots of energy. But we still depend on gas, oil, and coal — and that pollutes the Earth. Cleaner energy, like solar and wind, is growing, but it’s not fast enough yet. Until we have better batteries or maybe fusion energy, we just don’t have the power for all those wild inventions.

 

The Regulatory and Bureautic Bottleneck

Even if a new invention works, it has to be tested and approved. Governments have to make sure it’s safe for people and the planet. This takes years, sometimes decades. So while a flying taxi might be possible, it also has to go through tons of rules and laws before anyone’s allowed to use it.

 

Cultural Inertia: Society is Slow to Change

Sometimes, the problem isn’t the tech — it’s the people. Even when something new is available, we don’t always accept it right away. It took a long time for people to trust online shopping or self-checkout machines. And if a new invention might replace jobs, people push back. We like comfort and routine, not sudden changes.

 

Economic Realities: Profit Over Progress

smartphone
Image by Kate from Pixabay

Big companies invest in things that make money. That’s why we get new iPhones every year, but not things like flying cars. A lot of sci-fi inventions are too expensive to make or hard to sell. So unless someone can earn money from it, it often stays in the idea phase.

 

Unforseen Priorities: How Tech Took Different Paths

Robot plate collector
Photo by FDATA ROBOT on Unsplash

In the past, people imagined robot servants and space houses. Instead, we got smartphones, video games, and social media. These weren’t part of the old sci-fi future, but they changed our lives just as much. So maybe we did get the future — just not the one anyone predicted.

 

The Dark Side of Futurism: What We Ignored

Futurism is fun, but it didn’t always think about problems like climate change, pollution, or inequality. A lot of futuristic ideas imagined a perfect world — but our world has real struggles. If we don’t solve today’s issues, it’s hard to build tomorrow’s tech.

 

Where the Real Innovation Happened

Even though we don’t have floating cars, we’ve made amazing progress: Scientists can edit genes to cure diseases; made satellites that connect the whole world; installed space telescopes that let us look back in time; artificial intelligence is helping us do things faster than ever. These changes may not be flashy, but they’re powerful.

 

The Role of AI and the New Imagination

ChatGPT AI on computer
Image by Franz Bachinger from Pixabay

AI is one of the most exciting parts of today’s tech. It helps us write, draw, design, and even solve problems. AI lets us dream up things and test ideas without building them first. It’s not a flying car, but it might help us design one someday.

What the Future Actually Might Look Like

The future might not look like a sci-fi movie, but it could still be awesome. We might see: Smart homes that adapt to us; robots that help care for the elderly; green buildings that protect against climate change; medicine that prevents sickness before it starts. That’s a future worth building.

 

Are We Living In A Slow Future?

girl on phone in the street near bus
Photo by Nellie Adamyan on Unsplash

Maybe the future doesn’t show up all at once. Maybe it comes slowly, in tiny steps. We carry devices in our pockets that let us talk to anyone around the world. We can ask a machine any question and get an answer in seconds. That’s kind of futuristic, right?

 

Conclusion: Maybe the Future is Here- Just Not How We Expected It

In the end, the future didn’t fail to arrive. It just came differently than we thought. We imagined silver jumpsuits and space hotels. Instead, we got Wi-Fi, FaceTime, and smart devices. That’s not bad — it’s just different.

The truth is, the future is always being built — piece by piece. And if we stay curious, keep learning, and care about the world, maybe we’ll build something even better than what we imagined.

The Weirdest Facts You Didn’t Know About Animals

Hafsah A
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The Weirdest Facts You Didn’t Know About Animals

 

Here are the weirdest facts about animals that I have come across:

  1. Axolotls can regrow their brain and spine

Axolotls can regenerate entire limbs, parts of their brain, and spinal cord without scarring. This ability fascinates scientists studying regenerative medicine.

https://unsplash.com/photos/a-couple-of-animals-that-are-in-some-water-H837qHe2Qj4

2. Honeybees recognize human faces

Despite their tiny brains, honey bees can remember and recognize individual human faces using patterns.

https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-brown-bee-lot-TxA8cgFnfNQ

3. Glass frogs have transparent skin

Some glass frogs have such translucent skin you can see their internal organs such as their heart, liver, even eggs through their bellies.

https://unsplash.com/photos/a-purple-frog-on-a-green-surface-3rBJuCBcLkY

4. Lions can sleep up to 20 hours a day

Despite their reputation as fierce hunters, lions are some of the laziest big cats. They sleep or rest for up to 20 hours a day, conserving energy for short bursts of high-intensity action when hunting.

https://unsplash.com/photos/shallow-focus-photography-of-lion-and-lioness-hht33rAqHi8

1 , 2 , 3 , 4

Learning the Real Cost of Fast Fashion: 

Hafsah A
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Learning the Real Cost of Fast Fashion: 

 

As I was cleaning out my wardrobe a couple of months ago, and swapping out my winter clothes for summer ones, I noticed how many pieces I barely wore. I remembered some of the pieces I bought because they were trending for, like, a week. I sat there surrounded by piles of cheap, barely-used clothes and felt this weird mix of guilt and confusion. Why did I have so much stuff I didn’t even like anymore? 

I ended up googling the nearest thrift store to donate the clothes I hardly wore, but I came across an ad showing a massive pile of clothing dumped in a landfill. I was confused because I’d always assumed donated clothes were reused or sold. I never really thought about what happens after those clothes reach the end of their lifespan. 

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-garbage-waste-trash-8394496/

 In the United States, approximately 85% of used clothes and other textiles are either landfilled or incinerated, with only about 15% being reused or recycled. This translates to around 11.3 million tons of textile waste ending up in U.S. landfills annually. Globally, the situation is equally concerning, with an estimated 92 million tons of discarded garments finding their way into landfills each year, out of the 100 billion produced. Many of these discarded clothes are made from synthetic materials like polyester, which can take hundreds of years to decompose, releasing harmful microplastics into the environment during the process. Additionally, a significant portion of donated clothing is shipped overseas to developing countries, and up to 40% of these imported clothes become waste, which litter beaches and waterways harming wildlife. 

This was an eye-opener for me, although I cannot reverse my contributions to these statistics in the past, I have made it a point to make smarter decisions about what I buy and to take better care of my clothes so they last longer. When they’re no longer wearable, I try to repurpose them, like turning an old shirt into a tote bag.

https://unsplash.com/s/photos/cutting-up-clothes

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The Curious Case of Our Obsession with Mysteries

Elizabeth A
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The Curious Case of Our Obsession with Mysteries

There’s nothing more thrilling than the unknown—a puzzle that begs to be solved, a secret waiting to be uncovered. But why are humans so fascinated by mysteries? Whether it’s the eerie allure of unsolved crimes, the excitement of a treasure hunt, or the mind-bending wonder of UFO sightings, we just can’t resist.

1. The Power of Curiosity

Humans are wired to seek answers. Our brains crave logic, patterns, and conclusions. When faced with an unsolved mystery—whether it’s missing treasure, a secret society, or a historical enigma—we feel a deep need to figure it out.

Take the Voynich Manuscript, a 600-year-old book written in a bizarre unknown script that no one can decode. Experts have tried for centuries, but the mystery remains—making it even more irresistible.

2. The Thrill of the Unknown

Silhouette of man standing in front of window photo - Free Smoke Image on Unsplash
Image taken from ALEXANDRE LALLEMAND on Unsplash

Mysteries bring excitement to life. Whether it’s watching a crime documentary, solving an escape room, or reading about lost civilizations, there’s something thrilling about not knowing the answer… yet.

Think of famous mysteries like Area 51 or the Bermuda Triangle—places full of strange disappearances, government secrets, and unexplained phenomena. The lack of answers is exactly what makes them so compelling.

3. The Emotional Connection

When mysteries involve real people, they become even more gripping. Stories of missing explorers, unsolved crimes, and forgotten historical events tug at our emotions, making us feel personally invested.

The Lost Colony of Roanoke, for example, still haunts historians. An entire settlement vanished in the late 1500s, leaving only one cryptic clue: the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Did they migrate? Were they attacked? No one knows for sure, and the mystery continues to capture imaginations.

4. The Pleasure of Problem-Solving

Black puzzle piece on white paper photo - Free Problem Image on Unsplash
Image from Edge2Edge Media on Unsplash

Solving a mystery is like working out at the gym—but for the brain. Detective stories, logic puzzles, and real-life investigations activate our minds, letting us test theories, follow clues, and make discoveries.

It’s why people love murder mystery books, true crime podcasts, and conspiracy theories. They give us a chance to become the detective—to piece together clues and unlock secrets.

Mysteries remind us that the world is full of surprises. And even when answers remain out of reach, the thrill of the chase keeps us hooked. So whether you’re unraveling a historical enigma or just binge-watching Sherlock Holmes, know that you’re part of a long tradition—one that proves humanity’s endless desire to uncover the truth. ¹ ² ³ ⁴

 

How hard is it to learn guitar?

S.R. Spencer
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How hard is it to learn guitar?

Learning an instrument is one goal many strive for, but unfortunately, one goal many give up on. Learning an instrument, especially from scratch, can be difficult for many reasons, and the guitar is no different. 

First off, the arrangement of the strings. The guitar requires you to press down on its strings for extended periods of time while performing songs. As a result, new players may find it hurts to play for more than a few minutes. This is because calluses are required to develop on the fingers before you can press down on the strings, a process which may take many months.

Second, chords on the guitar require hand dexterity in order to form. The simple finger placements required to form even many basic chords may be difficult for a beginner to do, requiring the development of muscle before they can be formed. More complicated chords may require many months of development before they can be played. 

However, these descriptions paint an unfairly negative picture of the guitar. While it is true that the learning curve is steep to begin with, it plateaus rather quickly. Once calluses have been developed, you only need to keep playing to retain them. Pressing down on strings, or sliding between notes, becomes no big deal. And after you’ve learned the basic shapes of chords, your muscle memory is able to kick in, making forming chords and transitioning between them easy. After suffering through the basics, an aspiring guitar player needs only to learn new chords and develop muscle memory to play them.

In short, learning the guitar may be a deceiving process. The basics which playing the instrument rests upon are hard to get started with, but once developed with practice and patience, are easy to build upon. I myself only began learning the guitar in early November. After consistency and practice for around two months, I was able to develop up the skills necessary 

Sources: 

How Hard Is Guitar? Challenges & Tips for Newbies [Complete Guide] – Deplike – Guitar Amps & FX Pedals

 

The Dyson Airwrap (not the vaccum)

Diya Kunisetty
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The Dyson Airwrap (not the vaccum)

A little while ago, my parents got me a Dyson Airwrap, which I think is arguably the best gift ever.

I use it almost every other day to style my hair and not only is it efficient, but the results are beautiful. Today, I’m gonna walk you through each attachment of the Dyson Airwrap package so you know what to expect!

Side note: I don’t have every single one of these attachments so I can’t guarantee that they’re all worth your money. 

Dryers:

Diffuser: Helps to enhance and define natural waves, curls and coils by dispersing air evenly around your hair.

Smoothing dryer: Dry, smooth and hide flyaways⁴ with one multi-functional attachment.

Wide tooth comb: Helps shape and lengthen curly and coily hair as it dries

The Dyson itself: This one isn’t an actual attachment, but sometimes when I’m in a rush I don’t attach anything to the Dyson and I just let the air come out (which is sometimes more powerful than when using it with an attachment)

Barrels

These are used to make voluminous curls and waves 

30mm Barrel: Used to make great curls in both directions (usually for short and medium length hair, but can still be used for long hair)

30mm Long Barrel: Still makes great curls in both directions, but is recommended for longer hair

40mm Barrel: Create loose, bouncy curls and waves in both directions – with one barrel.

40mm Long Barrel: Still creates loose, bouncy curls and wave in both directions, but s recommend for long hair 

20mm Barrel: Works for both long and short hair and creates tighter and more long lasting curls, in both directions.

I love curling my hair with these because not only is it efficient, but it also reduces the heat damage you get from normal curling irons.

Brushes:

Large round volumizing brush: It has long, fine bristles for creating tension when styling. It’s recommended for longer hair to create shape and create more volume (I think it works for all hair lengths though)

Firm smoothing brush: It helps to create smooth, frizz-prone hair using firm bristles. It helps to create straighter styles (which you can then curl afterwards if you want).

Soft smoothing brush: This brush helps shape fine hair with increased control, for straight styles. It’s quite similar to the “Firm Smoothing Brush” in my opinion.

Small soft smoothing brush: Still confined to help shape fine hair to create straight styles, but it is recommended for shorter hair.

Small round volumizing brush: Using its fine bristles to create tension, this brush shapes hair and gives it more volume (basically does the same thing as the large one but is recommended for people with shorter hair)

TL;DR

In terms of time consumption, I personally think the drying part is not much better compared to other brands, but the styling part is much quicker. 

In terms of price range, packages range from $600-$800. Yes, these are very expensive prices for hair products, which is why it took me about a year to convince my parents to get one for me. 

On the Dyson website (or at Costco or Amazon), there are different packages to choose from, which assorts a mixture of these items into one amazing (and portable) box. You can either get one of these packages, or if you are looking to save more money and want only a specific item, you can buy 1 specific attachment on the Dyson website.

Overall, although the pricing might be a little hefty, I think it’s a great investment as you can ensure no more bad hair days, for many many years to come!

 

References:

https://www.dysoncanada.ca/en/hair-care/hair-stylers/airwrap/accessories

 

The Rise and Fall Of Skylanders: Explained

Bowen Zheng
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The Rise and Fall Of Skylanders: Explained

Introduction:

For those of you who haven’t heard of the name Skylanders before, or have been hit with a wave of nostalgia upon hearing the name, let me break it down for you. Skylanders is an character playable action game, that was developed by Toys for Bob and is owned by Activision. The game encompasses the idea of “Toys for life”, and became its biggest selling factor. The Skylander toys were actual figures of plastic, which players needed to buy in order to play the game. They would then place the Skylander on a “Portal of Power” which would read the code off the bottom of the figure, and transfer that Skylander into the video game for them to play.

First Release: Spyros Adventure

Skylanders first actual game was released in 2011, dubbed “Spyros Adventure”. The idea of “Toys to Life” was revolutionary, as many kids with childhood fantasies have probably wished to bring their toys to life. In fact, the hype for this game was so huge that in 2012, Activision revelaed that their console video game had become the most best-selling game worldwide.

Later Releases

Later on in Skylanders rise, they also introduced lots of other games with new types of featured Skylanders.

-Skylanders Giants (2012) introduced gigantic versions of Skylanders, which were capable of doing in-game tasks that normal Skylanders could not.

Free Tree-Rex Skylanders photo and picture

  • Skylanders Swap Force (2013) introduced Skylanders with swappable bottoms and tops, allowing for 256 different swappable combinations
  • Skylanders Trap Team (2014) introduced a special kind of “Traptanium Skylanders”, which were significantly flashier and powerful than normal Skylanders.

By now, the entire franchise had generated around three billion dollars in revenue and sold over 250 million Skylander figures.

The Fall

Despite its huge success, the Skylander franchise were still struggling with a few concerns.

  1. “Too much of a good thing”: With all of their new major releases which introduced new gimmicks and styles, this may have been appealing to kids, but not their parents. This would mean buying the new game, new “Portals of Power” and new Skylanders, which cost around $9.99 each. The series was becoming oversaturated.
  2. Competition: Around this time, mobile gaming had also become a game, and with new video games such as Minecraft and Roblox which were easily accessible and free-to-play, Skylanders just couldn’t keep up.
  3. Fatigue: In spite of the franchise trying to introduce new features, the overall idea of “Toys to Life” was becoming too bland and the initial hype of the game, was starting to lose its colour.

Eventually in 2017 after releasing its final game “Skylanders Imaginators”, Activision announced that there would be no new console games that would follow, and slowly but surely, Skylander toys started disappearing off the shelves and the franchise was no more.

The Legacy (Conclusion)

Although the series only lasted for about six years, it still managed to leave an unerasable mark on the history of video games. It was the first of its kind to introduce “Toys to Life” and paved the path for games like Lego Dimensions and amiibo figures. It also changed the way how figures were looked at. Figures were not only collectibles or pieces of plastic, they became part of the video game. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and I hope that I’ve taught you something, or sparked that old feeling of nostalgia into you.

POV: You’re a Side Character in Someone Else’s Coming-of-Age Movie

Daniella
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POV: You’re a Side Character in Someone Else’s Coming-of-Age Movie

You’re not the one with the tragic backstory, the indie soundtrack, or the dramatic rooftop monologue. You’re the one who sits next to the protagonist in math class. You make one sarcastic comment, everyone laughs, and the camera cuts away. 

Welcome to side character energy.

 

You’re not the star, but you’re the reason the star makes sense

Being a side character is not about being unimportant, often, it’s about being underrated. For example, you might be the best friend who says one line that accidentally changes the plot, or the barista who offers exactly the wrong kind of advice at the right time. The weirdo with the raccoon as a pet with no explanation.

The main character has a destiny. You have free will.

You’re not performing with an identity, you get to live. Hobbies that don’t need to be monetized, outfits that don’t necessarily follow an aesthetic, you’re just you. That’s where the fun is.

 

You’re the world builder

Movies forget that someone makes the town feel real. There always has to be someone walking their dog awkwardly in the background, pretending not to hear anything while the couple fights. Someone has to decorate their locker with stickers. Someone has to start a random rumour that drives the sub-plot. You’re that someone.

You’re the person some would describe as “oddly unforgettable.” The one who shows up in every friend’s throwback photo, even if no one remembers inviting you. Not dramatic, but essential. 

 

Side Character Perks

  • You don’t have to explain your every move: No narration, no life lessons, you might disappear for two days and come back with a new piercing and a story no one needs to know.
  • You work on your own schedule: You’re not bound by plot. Therefore, you can spend an entire Saturday reorganizing your playlists by colour or baking bread at 3 AM just because you wanted to.
  • You avoid emotional catastrophes: You’re not throwing punches or delivering monologues. You’re just sipping your drink in the background, eyes wide, silently judging.
  • You’re everyone’s favourite screenshot: The one dancing in the background. The one photobombing the drama. The one with the funniest facial reaction that becomes a meme.

Side characters don’t need to chase a glow-up. They’re out here being unserious and living off of vibes, snacks, and occasional chaos.

 

But also…sometimes you are the main character

Although you might be the side character in one story, every side character is a main character somewhere else. In your story, the one with the out-of-tune guitar and late-night 7-Eleven runs, you’re it. Finally, you’re the lead. The heartbeat. 

But sometimes, it’s nice to forget that. To drift, observe, maybe narrate someone else’s chaos with a bag of chips in hand. Side characters don’t have to chase meaning. They (accidentally) create it.

 

So if lately you’ve felt like your life isn’t cinematic enough, like you’re watching everyone else have a big dramatic arc while you sit on the sidelines scrolling TikTok and trying not to flake on plans, then take a breath. There’s power on the sidelines. Magic in the minor moments. You don’t need a spotlight. You need a weird hat, an iced drink, and maybe a cryptic comment that makes someone rethink their whole life.

But then the camera pans away. And you keep walking.

 

Sources:

Careers in Calgary: A Conversation with Patricia Jones, President and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation

Mayor's Youth Council
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Careers in Calgary: A Conversation with Patricia Jones, President and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation

This article is written by Tess, a member of the 2024-25 Mayor’s Youth Council. Tess is part of the Careers and Opportunities committee, who wanted to highlight different career opportunities for youth. 

If you want to have a successful, lucrative, career you must be one of the following: doctor, engineer, business person… right? This is something that many of us have heard, over and over again, from parents, or teachers, friends, or maybe that older person, the one you are not quite so sure how you are related to. 

As a member of the Mayor’s Youth Council Careers and Opportunities subcommittee, I have spent the last year thinking up ways to provide opportunities for youth to learn about possible paths after highschool. At our first meeting with Mayor Gondek in the fall, she suggested that we find a way to show the youth of Calgary more unique careers this year. It had never really occurred to me to seek out different types of careers, but as I find myself looking at universities and career options, I have begun to wonder, what other careers are out there that I just don’t know about?

Though I am not quite sure exactly which path I want to take, I know that I want to find a career where I can make a difference in my community. So when I got the opportunity to interview Patricia Jones, the CEO and President of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, I was beyond excited, and honestly a little nervous. The Calgary Homeless Foundation is a charitable organisation that advises the government on how to distribute funds most effectively to organisations seeking to help those in need in Calgary. 

As it turns out, I had no reason to worry, Patricia Jones is an extremely kind and inspiring woman. 

I started out the interview asking her about her background and how she came to be: Patricia Jones, President and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

She explained to me that she grew up in small town Alberta, where the expectation was for her to marry a farmer or get a job in a bank. To which she told me: “I thought, well, I don’t want to do any one of those things. So I went to the University of Lethbridge and got a Bachelor of Social Work degree.  And then went to U of C. I thought in order to make more money, I’ll be frank, I needed to get a master’s degree. So I got my master’s degree and then I worked at Catholic Family Service for 27 years. Started as a therapist and then worked my way around and through into leadership positions and then came to Calgary Homeless five years ago.” 

I was extremely inspired by her drive and the hard work she put in, to break through the boundaries set by stereotypes and sexism. She had decided to go against the path laid out for her and taken the leap to pursue something she was truly passionate about. 

The next thing that intrigued me about this unique and inspiring career path, was the day to day reality. What did the days of this highly educated CEO look like? 

Patricia was more than happy to fill me in: “My job is very external in many ways, and I often say my time is not my own. So I’ll give you an example: Monday I was at a drop-in center touring with somebody from Lethbridge. And then we brought in a speaker from Ontario for the afternoon with all of our colleagues. And then Tuesday morning I had an internal executive leadership meeting with all, with the vice presidents here. And then I had lunch with a board member and a board prospect. Then I met with a staff member and then I had a partner meeting in the community. And then I had a compensation discussion. Yesterday, I had staff supervision. In the afternoon I was at Confluence, our Indigenous G4 Tribal Council, which is our Indigenous partner, had a resource fair there for people experiencing homelessness. And then I was doing strategic planning interviews. And then I was at a launch for the Calgary Affordable Housing Foundation. So it’s all over the map, right? Probably 80% of my job is external. And about 60% of that 80% is government relations. When somebody asks me a question, what do you do all day? Each one of those activities was about guiding the fight against homelessness. And if I’m doing something that is a part of that purpose, I shouldn’t be doing it.”

After hearing how much she accomplished in a day, I made sure to thank her for taking the time to chat with me! Though they seemed like long days, it was clear that each piece of Patricia’s days were powered by purpose and were making a true impact in the organisation and throughout Calgary. It is clear that Patricia’s laser focus and dedication to her work is what allows her to find so much success as well as a sense of fulfillment. Her passion for her work was clear as she animatedly explained to me the purpose behind her work. 

Next I asked her what initiative she took the most pride in. She responded that in her five years with the Calgary Homeless Foundation, she had put in a lot of effort to create a positive work environment. This was not the answer I was expecting, but it makes so much sense with the rest of Patricia’s philosophy. She explained to me that she put in so much work to make the organisation run smoothly internally, so that they would be able to have maximum positive outward impact. Moreover, she ensured that the entire operation had a clear view of their reason for existing and their goals. She emparted her own philosophy, “ Each one of those activities was about guiding the fight against homelessness. And if I’m doing something that is a part of that purpose, I shouldn’t be doing it.”, into each and every one of the organisation’s proceedings. 

Her passion for her work is a clear demonstration of the benefits of choosing a career that aligns with your strengths and goals. I hope that learning about her story has inspired you to search for careers for which you are passionate. 

Education in the Era of AI: Is it Good?

Kheta
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Education in the Era of AI: Is it Good?

 

The rise of AI in the last 2 years has brought substantial changes to everyone’s lives. AI is being used everywhere, whether it be supporting academic growth or assisting one in their professional work. AI has been a topic of debate in the education system, considering its ability to aid students, but also become an answer key. While the perspectives on AI range from for to against, the increased use of AI is starting to unravel some difficulties for both teachers and students. This article will explain the multiple facets of AI in education and how its future can continue to affect us students in both ways.

Learner’s Perspective:

OpenClipart-Vectors, January 31, 2017, Pixabay
OpenClipart-Vectors, January 31, 2017, Pixabay

AI’s ability to personalize its response in the context of the student makes it easier for individuals to grasp onto topics and clear any questions they would have. While some students like learning from in-class lectures, many struggle to keep up or do not comprehend the teacher’s style of teaching. Despite such educational barriers, students can learn with AI through uploading course content and having it explained to them in any way desired. These capabilities allow students to feel confident in their learning while being able to learn more in less time. Before AI was incorporated into our daily lives, textbooks, teachers, and friends were the only options and therefore our generation may have more potential to unlock new streams of knowledge. The assistance of AI continues to allow students to perform active learning. AI tools such as ChatGPT, MindGrasp, Copilot, Gemini, Grammarly and many more have become an active part of efficient and effective learning.

Educators Perspective:

Alexandra_Koch, January 16, 2023, Pixabay
Alexandra_Koch, January 16, 2023, Pixabay

AI has also benefited teaching, in which creating and presenting course material has become more efficient over the past few years. Teachers often use AI to support needs such as creating presentations and assignment descriptions or detecting plagiarism. A rising concern for educators is being able to detect plagiarism and the use of AI in students’ work. While AI is a useful learning tool, its misuse can inhibit the academic progression of students. AI such as Turn It In, Plagium, Copyleaks, Quilbot, etc., are some of the most commonly used software that use AI to detect AI.

What Does This Mean for The Education System?

Alexandra_Koch, February 12, 2023, Pixabay

The issue of students using AI as a shortcut rather than a tool is concerning for the educator’s side of the system. While the easy solution is to advance AI detection software, the advancing AI may be able to overcome the detection barriers, leaving teachers helpless. Conversely, the advancement of AI detection can become an issue for students to prove their originality if falsely accused of using AI. The battle between AI in favour of either learners or educators is only making it more difficult for classrooms and the education system.

What Are The Solutions?

  1. Teachers are using a new learning approach of using process-based assessment rather than assessing a student’s final submission. Dr. Michael Paskevicius, a professor at UVic, describes this strategy in an article where he claims that examining the learning process will enhance the authentic teaching done by teachers.
  2. A common approach seen in classrooms is explaining the consequences of AI use in assignments, however, this strategy can be too general and not as effective at times. Using words and severe consequences may only scare students however teachers tend to use such strategies in classrooms to efficiently explain the message.
  3. Another solution for the issue of false accusations of AI use is developing more trust in the bonds built between educators and learners. Teachers often forget that AI detectors can provide false positives and therefore trusting the detector over the student can disrupt a students hard work.
  4. For students, the solution is not to stop using AI because AI is important to keep up with the advancements and level of understanding one can develop throughout their lives.
  5. A solution towards AI in education can also involve encouraging AI use and developing a system where AI is integrated into learning to enhance the process of learning. For instance, handing out large assignments that can easily be done by AI is not as effective as allowing students to use AI to access information and then analyzing their developments in class.

Conclusion:

The rising concern of AI in the education system can not be solved with one idea, but rather requires intense analysis and attempting to develop the best strategies to move forward. Undoubtedly, AI has assisted teachers and students in their jobs and despite all the concerns it raises for both parties, its main purpose can contribute to an enhanced and intellectually powerful society.

Pope Leo XIV – His Story

Crystal Lattice
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Pope Leo XIV – His Story

 

White Smoke Rises!

On Thursday, May 8th, white smoke had risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new Pope had been elected. As a Pope, his responsibility is to preserve, interpret, and teach the faith of Christianity, acting as the leader of around 2.35 billion Christians worldwide today.

White Smoke on a Cross
Photo by Boudewijn Huysmans on Unsplash

 

How Does One Become Pope?

Before exploring who this Pope is, allow ourselves to understand what it takes to become the Pope. Becoming Pope is a rigorous progress, but it is technically achievable for any men.

Step 1: Be a male upon birth.

Step 2: Devout yourself to Christianity, beginning with Baptism.

Step 3: Consider becoming a priest.

Step 4: Become a Bishop. To become a Bishop, you must be part of the list that the current Bishops make for the case that a Bishop steps down and a priest needs to step up. The minimum requirements for Bishops are to have at least 5 years experience as a Priest and a PhD in Theology. On top of that, top priests in the list have to attend an interview and a congress of Bishops decides the decision… also, the current Pope can veto that decision.

Step 5: Become a Cardinal. Unlike the complicated process of becoming a Bishop, Cardinals are appointed by the Pope directly.

Step 6: Wait for the Pope to resign or pass away. Afterwards, Cardinals vote among each other on who becomes the new Pope.

Step 7: Achieve at least a 2/3 majority vote from your fellow Cardinals to become Pope.

For reference, there are around 400 000 priests, around 5 500 Bishops, and over 200 Cardinals, of which only over 100 Cardinals can participate in the voting process. Once the new Pope is decided, they must provide themselves a new name, similar to enacting a new birth.

Wax Figure Pope
Image by Melanie from Pixabay

Background Story

In 1977, he earned a degree in Mathematics and Philosophy at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, and later, he received his theological education at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Afterwards, he was ordained a Priest in Rome in 1982.

From 1982 to 2014, Priest Prevost was praised over his many works from serving communities, instructing Theology to various people, to being trusted with the pastoral care of the Our Lady Mother of the Church. In 2014, he was recognized by Pope Francis and became the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, one of the main places where he helped many people.

For the next 9 years, he held the title as a Bishop. He continued his incredible works, even serving as president across many Catholic conferences and commissions. He would be appointed again by Pope Francis, and after 4 years of climbing the ladder, he was labelled as a Cardinal on September 2023.

As of May 8th, 2025, Cardinal Prevost achieved the majority vote and deemed himself as Pope Leo XIV (the XIV is roman numeral for 14, revealing that he is the 14th Pope to give himself the name of Leo)

Pope Statue
Image by Adith01 from Pixabay

What’s next?

With Pope Leo XIV as the new Pope, he now leads the faith of Christianity worldwide. In other words, he is essentially the boss, starting with the Cardinals to the Bishops to the Priests to every other Catholic. May 8th, 2025, marks the beginning of his time as the Pope and his promising background story and approval from at least 2/3 of the Cardinals signifies that his great work will stretch from there. Moving on from here, it is unclear on what he may accomplish in the future, but with a new Pope secured, the foundation of Christianity is secured again.

 

Sources: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5

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