Youth of YYC: Elvin, 16, and Ryan, 16
“This internship is taking us places. Not a penthouse, but places.” Elvin, 16 & Ryan, 16 Seen at the EarlyBird Youth Services shortlisted candidates meeting
Youth of YYC: Dan, 18
“Jet fuel can’t melt steel memes, and I can’t sleep because there’s too many pretty girls.” – Dan, 18
Youth of YYC: Chantelle, 14
“Fitness, in my eyes, is a way of release; an outlet. There’s no better feeling than the sense of accomplishment after finishing up a workout routine. That moment when you’re catching your breath and you can feel your heart pounding inside of your chest, along with the fresh ache in your bones. It’s the sort…
Youth of YYC: Paula, 17
“How long do you think we have to walk before I say something inspiring?” – Paula, 17
Youth of YYC: Anonymous, 17
”I just want everyone to have hope. It might not be the same as The Shawshank Redemption, but I’ve escaped death so many times. Thoughts of suicide is a serious thing and shouldn’t be ignored. You deserve to live and make memories until you’re satisfied. Have confidence in yourself. It’s easier said than done, but…
Youth of YYC: Hawley, 18
“I deal with clinical anxiety, so I have a fear of just being on stage. If there’s not a direct path for me to get out of, I start panicking on stage, but it’s slowly getting better. Just that when I perform though, the notes just come to me.” – Hawley, 18
Youth of YYC: Tatiana, 17
“I wish people were more open minded and didn’t judge others just because of what they like to do or their views in life. We’re all different, and although there’s no need to agree with everything other people say, it’s good to at least try to understand them. I believe that people should be able…
Youth of YYC: Ahmed, 16, and Max, almost 18
“I was hanging out with this girl and we realized that we could just buy scrubs, so we bought some. Then we’re talking to the janitor and he didn’t ask to see ID or anything, and we’re like, hey, can you open the janitorial closet? We need something. So he opened it, and just left.…
Youth of YYC: Anjali, 18
“My biggest passion is helping people. When I was little, I went to India and saw a bunch of the poverty and hurt there. There were people living inside sewers who relied on selling the metal they found for their next meal. Living here, we are so privileged and we don’t see what’s right outside…
Youth of YYC: Michael, 17
“For me, dance is communication, every kind of dance is like a language. I express myself through my body movements. Because when I first came back to Canada, my English was so ESL. In order to communicate with other people, I thought I should use something else to express myself. So, I chose to use…
Youth of YYC: Tawndunn Quintet, 13-16
“Music brings people together in a way that nothing else can.” – Tawndunn Quintet – Solana (13), Keilin (15), Mo (16), Joan (13), Haena (15) Shot backstage at the Conservatory and Bella Hall open house with members of the Advanced Performance Program
Youth of YYC: Christine, 16
“To me, belonging is when one can comfortably and fully express their unique self without being judged. It’s about not having to worry if you’re ‘good enough’ to be with someone or a group of people. Belonging shouldn’t ask for change, but rather encourage a person to be who they are. You shouldn’t have to…
Youth of YYC: Anonymous, 15
“So many people in my life have struggled with mental illness and the stigma around it has held them back from being able to properly address their mental health. I wish that this wasn’t something that is so hard to talk about, but the fact is that it’s a real, significant issue. We can’t just sweep this…
Youth of YYC: Julie, 17
“I feel content reading. It opens your soul to comprehend the world in ways you weren’t aware of before.” – Julie, 17
Youth of YYC: Mikaela, 17
“It definitely isn’t the easiest thing to talk about. There is so much stigma regarding mental health (especially since mental illness isn’t always visible), which prevents many individuals from reaching out and getting the support that they need. My advice to anyone struggling is to find someone you trust and start talking about it. Ask…