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The Problem With Being “The Bigger Person”

D P
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“Be the bigger person” is a phrase that adults commonly say to kids at a young age, teaching them that they must always be “bigger,” more forgiving, kinder, and more charismatic. Although this phrase may sound fine, there are a lot of deep-rooted problems that come with the phrase.

  1. Sets kids up for failures

This phrase might sound nice, but in reality it’s a complete nightmare for kids in the future. It engrains this thought into their brain, from a young age that they must always “forgive” people, even when the action done towards them, should be (or is) unforgivable. This can especially be dangerous for young girls, as it teaches girls, that they must always forgive, even when they shouldn’t. This can be quite harmful, for women who get into relationships, as they were always taught to “forgive people,” and can lead to several harmful relationships in the future (i.e. toxic friendships, domestic violence relationships, couple rape relationships).

2.   Teaches kids to never give up on friendships/relationships

Although this phrase impacts many young girls, it also impacts all of us. It teaches kids that they should never give up on friendships/relationships, no matter how bad it makes them feel. This phrase is dangerous to all of society, as phrases like this can teach people that no matter what you must forgive people, even if you can’t. And if you can’t forgive them, society forces you to believe that there’s something wrong with you. This can eventually lead to suicide/harmful thoughts, as kids believe that something is wrong with them if they don’t forgive others.

3. What it implies to the other person

This phrase implies that the other person is to immature to apologize, and that you should give in. This is extremely dangerous for kids developing relationships, because as they mature, they are less likely (or sometimes more likely) to see the toxic signs. And if their less likely, this can lead to toxic relationships, which is both dangerous and harmful to all individuals involved.

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Bullying: an issue often overlooked in schools

Zainab Majid
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A few weeks ago, my school celebrated anti-bullying day by wearing pink and handing out pink cotton candy. Although it was a good initiative to raise awareness about this important issue, how effective was it?

Studies show that Canada has the 9th highest rate of bullying in the 13-years-olds category on a scale of 35 countries and the rate of discrimination experienced among students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-identified, Two-Spirited, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) is three times higher than heterosexual youth (1). Bullying often goes unnoticed at schools but leaves the victim feeling lonely and afraid. By raising awareness about bullying through pink shirt day, we can help victims of bullying feel like they are heard and help them connect with people who’ve had similar experiences.

We can also do more to raise awareness about this important issue. Children can be taught to tell someone when they feel hurt or victimized by someone else, and have their parents let the school know. If they don’t feel comfortable letting their parents know, they should tell a teacher or another trusted adult who can do something to help them. Standing up to your bully isn’t possible sometimes, so if you know of a place they usually are, try to avoid it. Roam empty hallways with a group of friends and try to stay away from your bullies whenever possible.

It is also important to realize that bullies often have self-esteem or other personal issues, which provokes them to attack others and gain satisfaction. If you begin to develop an understanding with your bully, try to ask them if there is something bothering them. Teachers may play a more important role in this because they would be able to ask the child privately if something is bothering them. Family issues, insecurities, or problems related to school may all be factors that cause a child to bully.

In conclusion, parents, teachers, and students all play an important role in diminishing the effects of bullying through reaching out for help and offering support. In addition, it is also important to recognize that bullying can happen to everyone even adults, and that victims of bullying are never alone.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Pollux and Castor: The Unbreakable Twins – Short Story

Sally Wang
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The storm came in like a surprising knock on the door. Total darkness prevailed, every dismal obsidian cloud formed itself in the night sky. The darkness of the night spread its black wings, closing in like a curtain. The tight storm clouds covered the last silvery glow of the moonlight like a dark veil being spread across the sky. Agonizing sweat gradually raced down from Pollux’s face as his eyes landed on the dead body of his twin brother.

Pollux and Castor, the inseparable twins. Their mother, Leda, was married to King Tyndareus of Sparta while at the same time seduced by Zeus in the guise of a swan. The twins were half brothers, Castor was the mortal son of King Tyndareus and Leda while Pollux was the immortal son of Zeus. Castor was chosen to be part of the crew of the Argo with Jason when he attempted to retrieve the Golden Fleece. A fierce battle formed, taking many lives of innocents, including Castor. 

Liquid droplets of salty sadness tumbled down Pollux’s cheeks, each craving a pathway of grief. The heavy rain poured down, each drop felt sharp like small stones. Its tingling pain paralyzed Pollux’s body and numbed his feelings. Hopelessness through his eyes still held its very own presence. His hands clenched onto the shoulders of his brother like a locked chain, tight and unbreakable. Every silver tear droplet that rolled down his sad face was tickling like an accumulated ocean of brine. His heart broke into a million pieces, shattering throughout his whole body. 

A sudden sound of bright blinding light exploded across the sky like a powerful batter hitting a home run. In the swirling mist, a bold figure stood still. Indeed, it was Zeus. His eyebrows frowned, unable to hide the worriedness he had when the death of Castor was revealed. Pollux looked at him with sorrowful eyes, the evidence of crying still showing on his face. The two stood silent for several minutes, both losing the capacity for speech. The silence was only broken when a sudden shock of lightning flashed before Pollux’s eyes, blinding everything like a striking camera flash. Once his vision returned, he saw Zeus’s thunderbolt pointed directly at his forehead. A wave of chill formed in his blood, coldness bringing his whole body to a sudden freeze. 

“Sacrifice your own immortality, I’ll grant you eternity bond with Castor” Zeus’s voice was dominant, yet it was still shaking. His very decision means a loss for both of his precious sons. Through Pollux’s blurry vision, he noticed the reddened eyes that appeared on his father. He knew exactly what his father was thinking and quietly replied, “immortalizing both me and Castor, we will have to spend half of our time on Earth and the other half amongst the stars in heaven.” Pollux’s raspy voice gave out the uncountable time a tear had rolled down his face. He forced out a smile through his sadness and whispered, “Yes.” Zeus’s eyes showed how much he didn’t want that to be true, yet still held his thunderbolt directly towards Pollux. A flash appeared and covered everything like a white blanket. Several seconds passed and the flash faded away, taking Pollux with it. Zeus still remembers the smile that appeared on his son’s face, the last smile that told Zeus he had made the right decision. 

Since then, when sailors saw these two stars together, they knew their journey would be prosperous. Humans wanted the two twins to be forever inseparable, so the final decision was to name them Gemini(Latin word meaning twins). Even though Pollux was a bit brighter, the two twins still shine prominently in the evening skies of the Northern Hemisphere spring each year, flourishing hope to every human living on Earth. 

How to Make Gilgeori Toast (Korean Street Toast)

Yuri Choi
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Gilgeori toast is a very popular snack in South Korea. It directly translates to “street toast”, which is fitting as it is often sold on the streets. South Korea has a culture of street food, from roasted chestnuts to 3-feet-tall ice cream. Gilgeori toast is one of the oldest snacks sold on the streets, yet it still remains a classic. It is a delicious mash up of eggy-fried cabbage, buttered slices of bread, and a generous helping of ketchup. Of course, it would not be complete with the sprinkle of white sugar on top. Sprinkling sugar on top of the toast might sound strange, but trust me– it makes all the difference. This toast is vegetarian, and also easily customizable. I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients (Serves 1)

  • 2 slices milk bread- milk bread is a softer bread similar to brioche, and can be found in many Asian bakeries. If this is not accessible to you, feel free to substitute brioche bread, challah bread, or regular white bread.
  • 1 cup mixed shredded cabbage and carrots
  • 1 tablespoon green onions
  • 2 tablespoons butter, for toasting the bread
  • 1 large egg
  • Ketchup, to drizzle
  • Pinch of white sugar for sprinkling
  • Kewpie Mayonnaise- this kind of mayonnaise is sweeter than regular mayonnaise, and can be found in the Asian section of most grocery stores. It contributes to the authentic gilgeori toast, so I recommend you use this type.

Instructions

  1. Spread butter evenly onto slices of bread, and toast on a pan over medium heat
  2. Combine vegetable mixture, green onions, and eggs, and stir to combine
  3. Pour mixture made in step 2 over frying pan, and shape roughly into size of your bread
  4. Cook until crisp, about 4 minutes, then flip and repeat on other side
  5. Place egg patty onto one slice of bread. Drizzle with ketchup, Kewpie mayonnaise, and sugar. Top with remaining slice of bread
  6. Enjoy!

Images [1][2]

Showing Appreciation: A Poem for my Mom

Hannah Kuipers
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In elementary school I made you artwork on Mother’s Day,

And I gave you another on Father’s Day. 

In junior high I made you breakfast,

And in high school I bought you a present. 

But the other 363 days I gave you attitude, arguments, and tears.

I yelled at you for making me do chores,

And I was mad because I thought you were pushing me too hard.

When I turned 18 you gave me the books you wrote when you were raising me,

And now I know that everything you did was in my best interest. 

As a new adult I got a rude awakening as to how tough life can be,

And I see how much you have sacrificed for me.

I wrote this to say thank you,

To say I love you,

Even when I forget. 

You are the strongest woman I know,

You raised me by yourself,

And gave me everything you had.

You taught me to be resilient and hardworking, 

But also loving and caring.

I could not ask for a better role model than you.

All that I am, 

And all that I will become, 

It is because of you. 

So thank you,

To the moon and back.

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Within a Black Hole

Pareen Cheema
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As the name suggests, a black hole is a mysterious and interesting concept to fathom. Just thinking about it creates a sense of insecurity. Generally, we recognize holes as hollow, in other words, empty space.  Instead, black holes are great amounts of matter packed in a small area, consequently creating an extremely strong gravitational field, that even light can’t escape. This idea creates further questions such as, what causes a black hole and what would happen if you fell into one? 

What are Black Holes?

As previously mentioned, black holes are created when large masses are condensed into a small space, which then creates a strong gravitational field. As a result, particles and light cannot escape the gravitational pull, so black holes aren’t visible directly. Additionally, they can pull stars towards themselves, which causes x-rays to be emitted into space. Most black holes form from the remnant cores of dead stars that have gone through a supernova explosion. The dead star, which has a mass more than three times that of the Sun, then collapses under the force of gravity. There are two types of black holes; “stellar” black holes and “supermassive” black holes. Stellar black holes are ten times more massive than the Sun, whereas supermassive black holes are over a million times more massive than the Sun. According to scientists, there is an estimated number of ten million to billion stellar black holes in the Milky Way Galaxy. On the other hand, astronomers believe that almost every large galaxy has a supermassive black hole in its center.

Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity

What is general relativity? In Einstein’s theory, the idea of general relativity is related to the forces of gravity, considered as geometric phenomena in terms of the curvature of space-time. Space-time is a mathematical model that creates a four-dimensional manifold by combining one-dimensional time with three-dimensional space. In simplest terms, general relativity explores the idea that gravity comes from the bending of space and time through mass and energy. With that idea in mind, the immense mass of black holes distort space-time and give off energy in the form of radiation. This is a basic description of Einstein’s theory as there are many more elements and even field equations to this idea. So, I would encourage you to further explore this through your research!

What Would Happen If You Fell Into One?

Falling into a black hole is a completely hypothetical idea but very fascinating to think about. To begin with, the gravitational force within a black hole is extremely strong. Your body would most likely change shape. In this case, your body would be stretched out and compressed. This concept is quite literally known as “spaghettification.” Additionally, you would be stretched towards the direction of the black hole due to a tidal effect. However, if you fell into a supermassive black hole, you definitely wouldn’t be able to get out. But the tidal effect would be less, so there would be less stretching. There is another theory of white holes, which are thought to be the opposite of black holes. Also, there is the idea of wormholes, which act as inter-dimensional tunnels. But, white holes and wormholes are concerts that scientists imagine. In the end, the idea of falling into a black hole is clearly not pleasant.

 

Sources: [1]/[2]/[3]/featured image

Places To Eat In Calgary For Under $20

Gabrielle Cadiang
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I have always enjoyed eating out, whether that’s going out to eat with my friends or my family, eating out has given me some comfort. As a high-school student, it has been a staple that my friends and I go out every Friday after school. Recently, my friends and I decided to go on a food trip around the city to find some of the best affordable restaurants. If you are looking for some affordable and delicious restaurants in Calgary, here are four of my favorite restaurants to eat at for under $20

Tokyo Street Market

Tokyo Street Market ( located on 922 Centre St NE ) is a staple place to find Japanese comfort food, right near downtown. My friends and I enjoy going here because of how affordable and good quality the food is. My usual order whenever I go here is a deluxe shoyu ramen and red bean mochi ice cream. Tokyo Street Market also carries a plethora of other foods such as yakitori ( meat skewers ), spring rolls, chicken wings, and many others.

Meshi

Meshi ( located on 630 8 Ave SW ) is home to both Japanese and Korean comfort foods in Downtown. Home to Korean corn dogs, sushi, and Korean rice bowls, Meshi is the perfect spot to eat by yourself or with others. Whenever I am here, I usually order a whole mozzarella corn dog and an iced strawberry latte.

 

Globefish

Globefish has three locations in Calgary, but the main one I usually go to is right outside Chinook Mall ( 6455 Macleod Trail SW ). I always go here after shopping at the mall and I need to refuel, or whenever my friends and I do not want to eat at the mall food court. Having everything from homemade sushi rolls to ramen, Globefish is the best place to eat when you need to unwind. I usually order their Rock ‘N Shrimp ( deep-fried shrimp with seaweed flakes, spicy mayo on top of a bed of green leafy vegetables ) or a Kuro Garlic Ramen.

Globefish has two more locations in Marda Loop (  2009 3 Ave SW ) and in Kensington ( 332 14 St NW )

Regrub

Straying away from the typical restaurants that my friends and I enjoy going to, Regrub is on the list for having the most aesthetically innovative food ever. With gourmet milkshakes and burgers, Regrub is the place to see traditional burgers and shakes upside down into new food ideas that I honestly did not think would be possible. Whenever I am at Regrub, I usually only get their cashew truffle fries and a vintage classic chocolate shake.  Regrub has two locations in Calgary, Beltline ( 625 11 Ave SW ) and Deerfoot City ( 901 64 Ave NE ).

sources | featured, 1,2, 3, 4

Exploring Your Personality & Shaping Your Future

Daniyal Sait
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During one’s teenage years, a common area of thought is in regards to potential careers for one’s future. When thinking about this, it can be useful to explore your interests in order to discover more about a choice that fits. For example, there are many options for someone interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and there are many opportunities in Calgary that youth can get started with in order to learn about those interests. Or, some may have a specific idea of an individually appealing profession, such as one within law, medicine, teaching, and beyond. However, it is also common for many to have no specific ideas, or so many that it’s difficult to narrow down – and these aren’t bad situations. Whether or not you have a clear view of your interests doesn’t define the grasp you have on your future, because there are many more ways to explore potential future plans. After all, interests revolve around things in your outside environment, and your personal response to them. On the other hand, looking within your own personality can provide unique, tailor-made ideas for your future.

One of the most universalized personality inventories is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). You can take the test to find out which personality type you are at 16 Personalities. This website allows you to discover many traits regarding your behavior, thoughts, and more, and there are hundreds of other sources that provide more information surrounding your official personality type result from 16 Personalities.

How it works:

Each of the 16 potential personality type results consists of four letters, each standing for a certain meaning. 

The first letter is either “E” for Extraversion or “I” for Introversion. 

The second letter is either “N” for Intuition or “S” for Sensing/Observing. 

The third letter is either “F” for Feeling or “T” for Thinking. 

The fourth letter is either “P” for Prospecting or “J” for Judging.

Overall, there are 16 unique possibilities for your individual personality type. In addition, your result may end in a “-A” or “-T”, for either Assertive or Turbulent, respectively. The site, in addition to a thorough profile of your type, provides a name for your type, a category containing your type and three other similar ones (there are four categories), and examples of famous figures and fictional characters that share your type. The 16 different personalities are featured in the image below.

After learning about your personality, you can explore various other sources that tell you about careers that match well with yourself. Or, you can use your gained knowledge regarding your identity to look further within and think of future plans that feel right for you. Or, if you’ve had enough of a personal career-finding expedition for one day, you can do my personal favorite: wasting way too much time finding favorite characters that have the exact same personality type as you, and comparing yourself to others. All in all, I think it’s pretty cool how certain technologies and databases, such as 16 Personalities, have facilitated such accessible self-discovery, and in doing so, have created a fun and effective way to take steps in the journey towards creating your future.

Image Source 1

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The Digital Age: A Breeding Ground for Misinformation

Shraavni Patankar
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Misinformation is defined as false or misleading information. While the digital age is beneficial in countless ways, it is also a breeding ground for misinformation. Shortly after the 2016 U.S. elections, a study was done by Pew Research Center. Through this study, it was found that 64% of adults understand that fake news causes great amounts of confusion while 23% said they had shared misleading political stories themselves, sometimes on purpose. This truly shows the significance of misinformation in today’s society and the impacts it can have on our daily lives. Therefore, in today’s blog, I wanted to cover the relevance of misinformation in today’s society and share a few tips to help reduce this problem!

Relevance

Everyday, there are countless issues and events that are covered by news outlets, radio stations and other forms of media. As consumers, the stories and perspectives that are shared within this media influence us in countless ways. By consuming different forms of media, our perspective, attitude and interactions regarding the issue are affected. Therefore, finding trustworthy, accurate information is crucial to truly understand a given issue before providing our own input on it.

Causes

The growing rate of misinformation can be credited to several things.

  • First of all, fake news could come from any source on the internet and be spread across different platforms. This can allow it to travel fast and influence many individuals.
  • Oftentimes, the content may seem reliable as if it has come from an established news outlet. Not only does this make individuals more likely to believe the information provided, but it also makes them more likely to share with others in their lives.
  • Advancing technology. Today’s age enables us to do countless incredible things with a simple touch of a screen. However, this also allows media platforms to use technology to spread misinformation. For example, through the use of deep fakes. This is the action of using artificial intelligence (AI) to create images of fake events. Their ostensible “realness” makes them a source of great misinformation.
  • Misinformation often contains bits of the truth. These bits of truth are then strung together to create a false or misleading story. By doing so, many individuals can be misled and believe the misleading or bias perspective that may be portrayed.
  • Social media, as well as the large number of social media users heighten the problem by spreading and sharing information. Oftentimes, individuals on social media jump on the bandwagon and share posts that may contain misleading information.

While these weren’t all of the reasons that misinformation is spreading like wildfire, these are a number of causes.

Tips

  • Conduct your own research. When reading about issues and conflicts happening in the world, conduct your own research. Rather than relying solely on social media, take the time to get a clear and true understanding of the event from established news sources.
  • Minimize confirmation bias. This type of bias occurs when individuals are more likely to believe information that only enforces what they already believe. Our own bias can often make us extremely susceptible to misinformation. Therefore, when looking at current events and news stories, look at a variety of stories that provide a multitude of perspectives. While this may be hard, be aware of your confirmation bias and overcome it!
  • Check the source. Today, there are countless bias and fact checkers on the internet. Using these tools and our own judgement, we can get a sense of whether or not the source is trustworthy. “Fakey” is a game that you can try playing to understand how susceptible you truly are to fake news and misinformation.
  • Take a second. Before sharing or posting stories on your social media, take a moment to consider whether what you are sharing is true and factual. Do you really want to share this story? Why?
  • Keep tabs on your emotions. Oftentimes, news outlets and other forms of media prey on our emotions, particularly anger and fear. A recent study found that individuals were more likely to share misinformation when they were viewing social media with a more emotional mindset, rather than those who were not.
  • Take a stand against misinformation. While this last one may seem hard, it is important that you point out when a source is spreading misinformation. By doing so, you inform others, encourage them to study it themselves and prevent it from being spread to others.

That’s it! I truly hope that this blog helped encourage you to take a moment to recognize misinformation. While today’s digital age has opened up countless doors, it has also allowed for the growth of misinformation. However, recognizing and preventing it from being spread is vital for each one us to do!

 

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Sources:
1/2/3/4/5/6/7

An Appreciation of Brown Bagging for Kids

youthareawesome
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Brown Bagging for Kids is one of the forefront charities in Calgary that takes on the roles to fight against childhood hunger. 

 

They are a Calgary based charity with the mission to:

“Connect and inspire people to take meaningful action to feed and care for kids”

Since 2005, they’ve focused on providing lunch to kids in school, even through the struggles of online education. They currently feed 4,900 kids every single day. 

Both schools I’ve attended within my time in Calgary were partnered with Brown Bagging. 

I’m in a fortunate position such that I’ve never had to use their service. However, I fully understand the impact this charity has inflicted onto my communities. I’ve had many peers who were heavily supported by their programs. 

21% of Calgarian reported having struggles paying their grocery bills for themselves and their families. Brown Bagging not only assists with food, but also developing that support and trust within the community. While not directly related to Brown Bagging for Kids, I understand how much it means to be that child who takes the outreached hand of a caring adult in the community. 

The workers and volunteers I’ve spoken to are incredibly passionate individuals. Kids deserve to eat and grow, and these people are so hard working to reach that manifesto. I deeply appreciate all of the donors, volunteers, and partners that make this charity possible. Food insecurity is a huge issue, especially with increasing grocery prices, and that’s why I appreciate Brown Bagging so much. 

I choose Brown Bagging because that’s the most familiar to what I’ve seen and experiences throughout my schooling. This link offers resources for food assistance for both children and adults alike. I’m very thankful for all that these charities do, and hope to support them more in my future for how they’ve impacted my communities. 

Links

Brown Bagging for Kids Website

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3 Idiots

Penny Per Thought
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Listed as a must watch for the 100 movies bucket list, 3 idiots is a story worth remembering.

This story follows 3 best friends: Farhan, Raju, and Rancho, engineering students at the Imperial College of Engineering, one of India’s top institutions. Farhan aspires to be a wildlife photographer but is pursuing an engineering degree to fulfill his father’s wish. Raju needs to improve his family’s financial situation and Rancho studies for the joy of building machines. Rancho continually clashes with the dean, Professor Viru Sahastrabuddhe a.k.a. Virus (Boman Irani), by providing creative and unconventional answers, and later blames the institution’s rote-learning mentality for the problems that students face with their learning.

Rancho changes the mindset of his friends too. They face the trials and tribulations of dealing with an education system focused on grades and testing while students forget the main point of learning. The main “idiot,” (Rancho) played by Aamir Khan plays a character born to the assistant of a rich man. He goes all the way through engineering college for the rich man’s son. Since he is driven by his curiosity, he follows it religiously, going where his interests take him, to whichever subject appeals to him. His curiosity and his curiosity earn him the wrath of his grade-driven teachers and the ridicule of his excellence-motivated peers.

Rancho is a firm believer in free thinking and questioning the dominant paradigm. Ultimately, he converts the dean, who was fanatically set on the “traditional” mindset, to seeing things differently. The ending scenes follow Rancho in the future having achieved his dream: running a “school” that teaches kids to let their imagination, innovation and creativity take over.

Some of the lessons portrayed are:

  • Don’t run behind the success: Achieve excellence first, and success will come to you.
  • Creativity: Always be creative, in your answers, work and things you do. Through creativity you will learn to think outside of the box.
  • Learning is everywhere: Learning isn’t limited to a classroom and listening to teachers. If you seek it, it can be found everywhere. For example, in the people you meet from experiences. You just need to grab and go with it.
  • Do it with a passion: To love what you do provides the basis to achieving things that are greater.
  • Never race: Don’t compete for the sake of competing. Always try to gain some knowledge and expertise. If you don’t, then you don’t gain anything from the experience.
  • Say “all is well”:  This is Rancho’s core mantra to help himself and his friends get rid of their fears. He says “This will not solve all problems but will surely give you the heart to face them”.
  • Ignore others: Ignore the haters and move on. Remember:“If you stop and throw a stone at every dog that barks, you will never reach your destination.”
  • Take a risk: Challenge yourself. The worst thing that will ever happen is “failure.” And if you do, then learn from it and take it on again. Don’t back away out of fear.

The film creatively mocks the strict, traditional schooling system in the hopes of outlining the flaws within the system. The exams are never able to quantify the true potential of a student, and ultimately only create a self-destructive cycle of competition. The system fails to appreciate the efforts of students and amplify their talents to ultimately guide them to improve upon their weaknesses. Not only that, but also to learn for the sake of learning. The real purpose of learning is to capture how it’s going to affect us and the people around us, how it will impact the existing knowledge. Nowadays, with how the education system is shaped, we tend to learn the things for the exams. Cramming for exams and missing the value of the newfound knowledge. The need to chase success, and measure it through pay grade becomes the end all for people in this world. People don’t chase excellence to appease their curiosity, but rather to make better money. We restrict ourselves by submitting to the system, and the system is at a huge fault for teaching us at a young age that our life amounts to that. The creative way that the movie captures the morals is just enough to make you want to go to school.

This movie never fails to bring me back to why I love to learn. In moments of lingering burn outs, this movie always brings me back to myself. Giving a heartfelt search for meaning to school and life, it is a perfect movie to watch, anytime of year.

Picking the right highschool for you (a teenager’s perspective)

D P
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Picking the right high school to go to can be very overwhelming. I’m currently in grade 9. Therefore, this year, I had to decide whether I wanted to go to my designated high school, or apply to a different one. Here are all the reasons why I chose to put in a request to transfer high schools.

My Designated School

My designated high school, isn’t known as one of the best high schools in Calgary. As a matter of fact, I think most people would place it at the bottom. “You don’t want to go to that High school” is what I imagine parents say about the high school. Don’t get me wrong, high schools do not determine the person you become. As a matter of fact, I know many people who succeed in their life regardless of going to that high school. But as a result of this stereotype, my desire to attend this school decreased.

What The School Offers

Choosing a high school that best fits you can be tiring. No high school will ever fit you perfectly, it’s just a matter of finding a high school that fits you best. For instance, my designated high school doesn’t have German as an option, and I really want to take German, (or just any language classes I’m interested in.) My designated high school only offers French, but I don’t feel as motivated to learn French. Hence, I chose to request a transfer since I didn’t want to look back on my high school experience and regret not taking an option I could’ve taken. So, it’s just a matter of do you want to look back and regret something from high school? Or not?

Another reason for wanting to transfer can be for a specific class level, such as A.P. (Advance Placement). My designated high school offers A.P. classes, but no I.B. (International Baccalaureate Programme) classes. It’s just a matter of what you want in your future. Do you want to proceed with post secondary in another country? In another Province? Then maybe transferring to a different high school which offers that class will be best. Again, I’m not fully educated on what high schools have what classes. So be sure to talk to your teacher, or guidance councilor.

The People

Transferring high schools can be a big decision, so make sure you do it for the right reasons. For example, I know classmates who are transferring high schools just to be with their friends. Although they may be your friends, is it necessary to transfer high schools just for them? Will your friendship not last if you’re not in the same school? Or are you just transferring because you don’t like certain people? Will you regret it?

These were some of the few reasons I chose to put in a request to transfer schools. Even though a request isn’t always guaranteed, I’m happy that I tried. Remember, if you want to transfer schools, be sure to submit the form before March 15th, (Calgary Board of Education deadline, may differ per city).

Also remember to talk to your teachers/guidance councilors, for more information.

 

Dove in the Sky — An Original Free Verse Poem

Chloe Zhai
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Ever heard of the saying, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”? In life, one must be able to accept change and appreciate the moments that were shared, however difficult that may be. What is destined to happen will happen, so one must keep their head held high and hope for the best. 🙂 Without further ado, I present, my poem…

 

Dove in the Sky

 

Dreams of virtues,

yearnings of freedom,

reverberate inside my cage,

as I gaze outside.

 

It was a scintillating summer day

when you flew above the barn.

I scrambled up,

leaping for your attention.

 

Gracefully, you land beside me.

We converse 

about life, 

about others, 

about anything and everything.

 

We found our similarities

and respected our differences.

Whilst the entire time,

the whole world was oblivious to our soft coos.

 

At last, you broke through my confinement,

setting me free.

I took one step, then two,

on this erratic and foreign land.

 

The days passed,

with you by my side.

Captivated by your skills and talents,

I learned 

to fly, 

to think, 

and to grow.

 

We soared across summer skies,

passing over deep blue lakes.

Summer turned into autumn,

you and I turned into us.

 

All those cloudy days and gloomy nights,

you reassured me and helped me navigate through.

I fought for you,

and you sheltered me from the dark.

 

Then,

winter arrived.

Frost lined your feathers,

feathers that were once my moon and stars.

 

The days grew shorter,

the nights grew longer.

I pleaded to fly South, where life was carefree.

Wings clenched, you disdainfully refused.

 

The blizzard hit us hard,

arbitrarily, one might assume.

But I saw the warning signs;

the frost on your feathers, the stubbornness of your mind.

 

With the weight of the world on our shoulders,

my intuition whispered to me our fate.

A sudden wind forced you to the ground,

you laid there, concealed in delicate snowflakes.

 

I dived down to meet you,

after all, we’ve been through so much.

I struggle to find you, even just a piece of you,

amid this scarring snowstorm.

 

No matter how many times I looked back, gasping for warmth,

you were inconspicuous in the bitter cold.

Where are you,

that graceful dove I once knew?

 

I strained against my conscience,

to continue flying ahead, away from you.

I reached that old barn

and huddled in my cage once more.

 

Do not believe my facade of indifference,

for I have spent the months plagued with 

anger,

anguish,

and nostalgia.

 

The most wicked of them all?

Remorse.

But I know all too well that quite simply, 

this is the only way to help.

 

Colourless days drone by,

as I busy myself with activities to rise above.

Only time will tell what becomes of us

if anything at all.

 

Occasionally, I see,

the shadow of a dove cast outside the barn.

But the shadow never flies down to the ground,

it never comes to greet me.

 

Although you may be long gone,

the freedom you granted is not.

Our memories, everything you taught me—

strength, 

knowledge, 

loyalty,

diligence,

honesty…

It all stays with me.

 

And for that,

I thank you

and appreciate you,

dove in the sky.

 

—Chloe Zhai

 

 

Source: Feature image

Kindness; The Human Condition

Laiba Nasir
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There’s a solid conception within society,

On karma,

 

The idea that what you do,

Makes it way back to you

 

Even if you don’t want it to

 

This idea tends to inspire more kindness overall,

We don’t want bad things coming back to us

 

But what if this didn’t exist?

What if the actions we took had no repercussions on ourselves?

 

Would we still choose kindness

 

After living my entire life in a community of vibrantly different people,

I have no doubt that kindness would still exist

 

Kindness exists even when no one is looking, 

When you anonymously pay for someone’s coffee,

Or help a struggling animal

 

We are all good people inside

 

Perpetuating that however, 

Has seemingly become more and more difficult

 

Why is it harder to choose the right path?

It’s because the other ones are so tempting to follow,

Abandon kindness for self gain,

 

That’s not how it works

 

In this society, 

We foster love and connection

 

And in the days leading up to pink shirt day,

I urge you to choose kindness.

 

More Reading About Pink Shirt Day

 

How To Get Involved!

 

Featured Image

Violence-Still a Big Problem

Suhani Gupta
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Every year, about 1.6 million people die as a result of violence throughout the world. Violence is one of the top causes of mortality among persons aged 15–44 years old across the world, accounting for 14% of male fatalities and 7% of female deaths.

Examples of Violence

  1. Physical violence- When someone utilizes a portion of their body or an item to control another person’s activities, it is called physical violence.
  2. Sexual violence- When a person is forced to engage in sexual behavior against their will, this is known as sexual violence.
  3. Emotional Violence- When someone says or does anything to make someone feel foolish or worthless, this is referred to as emotional violence.
  4. Psychological violence- When someone uses threats and instills fear in others to obtain control, this is known as psychological violence.
  5. Spiritual (or religious) violence- When someone manipulates, dominates, or controls another person based on their spiritual beliefs.
  6. Cultural violence- When an individual is damaged as a result of actions that are part of her or his culture, religion, or tradition, it is referred to as cultural violence.
  7. Verbal abuse- When someone utilizes words, whether spoken or written, to injure another person, this is known as verbal abuse.
  8. Financial abuse- When someone takes control of or misuses a person’s financial resources without their consent.

What is the main cause of violence?

Frustration, exposure to violent media, violence in the home or community, and a tendency to view other people’s acts as hostile even when they aren’t, are all factors that contribute to violence.

How can youth stop violence?

Someone should be informed. Tell someone if you are a victim or witness of violence. It might be a friend, parent, teacher, coach, brother/sisters, or a neighbor you trust.

Take all forms of abuse and violence seriously. Keep in mind that many acts of violence and abuse are illegal.

Take a stand. If you see or hear any sort of violence or abuse, speak out, intervene, or yell that the perpetrator is the uncool one and that the violence must halt.

Be your own person. Consider your options. Don’t go along with the crowd or cave to peer pressure. Don’t engage in any sort of violence or abuse because some of your friends do.

Take control of the situation. To acquire authority, offenders use violence or abuse. By refusing to participate, you are transferring power from the criminal to the victim.

Remember that putting people down will not help you rise. There is never a valid cause to be aggressive or abusive to others.

Wrong 24/7. Violence and abuse of any kind, at any moment, is unacceptable. Period.

Be a friend to others. Encourage the individual who is being mistreated to engage in school activities to help them. The sense of being alone will vanish as a result of this.

Please spread the news. Make the individual who has been injured feel better and let them know that what happened was not fair or merited.

Stay cool. Try not to become enraged in the face of violence. Anger might exacerbate the situation.

What is the most prevalent kind of violence among youth?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a severe public health issue that affects a large number of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24. In fact, it is perhaps the most common kind of youth violence, affecting children of all genders, races, socioeconomic classes, and sexual orientations.

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