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Author: Maria Cruz

  • Pride in Toronto- What’s Going On?

    Pride in Toronto- What’s Going On?

    Summer comes with a ton of great stuff to do and see in the city of Toronto. One of the best cities in the world not only houses cultural diversity and acceptance but their annual Pride Week is coming up this June 25 – July 3.
    Every year the week provides tons of incredible events to attend and lots of guest speakers and musical guests to ensure that party goers and community supporters get their entertainment fill. This year guests like George Takei and Yalla Bara are set to arrive to deliver speeches and perform.

    For first time goers there are lots of tamer events to attend to ease your way into the week’s energy. An AIDS candlelight vigil will be held in Barbara Hall Park on June 28 at 9:00 p.m. this year. Pride Toronto’s website describes the event as, “Take a solemn moment during your Pride festivities to hold the torch high and remember. The theme this year is Taking Care of Each Other, in recognition of all who have supported and helped each other along over the years.” To celebrate Indigenous culture, Two-Spirit will perform on July 1 at 77 Wellesley Street E with DJ Shub. The Art Fair happening on July 2 in Alexander Parkette is an all ages event showcasing art depicting identities, legal rights, experiences of mental health and wellness, and other social justice initiatives. The week will also have Family Pride days on both July 2 and 3.

    For those who are more interested in the party scene or if you’ve attended before, some of the events you have to look forward to are the Cabana pool party, Drag ON!, and Bear Garden. As added incentive for those who attend this year, Drag ON! offers the chance to be a part of history as the event takes home the title of Largest Drag Stage Performance in the Guinness Book of World Records. The event will take place on July 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the Molson Canadian Stage. Bear Garden (July 2, 2:00 p.m., OLG Central Stage) will feature performers such Vjuan Allure, DJ Blackcat, Nik Red, Kris Steeves, and Aeryn Pfaff.

    These are only some of the events taking place during the week. The month also holds tons of events to attend or things to see such as karaoke at Second City on June 15 for 10:30 p.m. Hit up www.pridetoronto.com to check out all the wonderful events coming to the city this month and for Pride Week.

  • Office Life in the Construction World

    Office Life in the Construction World

    My Nonno (Italian for grandfather) arrived in Canada back in the 1950s. Like many Italians of the era looking to better their lives, he found work in construction. However, unlike many of his fellow immigrants, he shifted into the office side of the industry. He partnered with another man and started his own business, which he eventually became the sole owner of. His experience and skills in construction played a huge part in his success, but working in the office demanded additional skills and an understanding of how businesses operate in Canada.

    As a sole-proprietor in Canada, you are considered a business in the eyes of the government. Construction is no less complicated than any other industry; you cannot complete everything on your own and will have to take on employees or other contractors. My Nonno was fortunate in having a bounty of talent that he knew personally, as they came with him from Italy. You will want to ensure that you can similarly depend on the people you work with.

    In the trades industry, there is still administrative and customer relation work that needs to be handled just as in other industries. An office assistant can help in scheduling and maintaining receipts for projects. A great number of supplies must be purchased and managed with care; this requires a focus on details as many construction companies have run into trouble for both ordering too few supplies and ordering too many. Construction is extremely deadline-oriented, and small mistakes that are not caught immediately can lead to large-scale problems very quickly. It is very common to take on subcontractors for projects, and their work has to be scheduled carefully to avoid delays. There are also various permits that must be thoroughly researched and filed before tight deadlines.

    Salesperson skills are also of great importance, as a great deal of office work is needed to manage contracts and put out bids for potential projects. Many organizations, such as condominiums, will put out a request for proposals, or RFPs, and having someone in the office ready to respond to these is essential for the long-term success of a company.

    Although working in an office performing these roles requires strong skills in communication, organization, and time management, educational prerequisites are generally not difficult to meet. When my Nonno was managing his office, a high school diploma was more than enough to land you a job. Nowadays, training programs and associate degrees from a college will provide you with sufficient training in business math and organizing business records that can put you ahead of the competition.

    The trades industry is varied and filled with opportunities for those with manual skills, but it takes teamwork for a company to operate successfully. My Nonno succeeded with natural talent for the manual labour, and from there gained knowledge of the office aspects through experience. Today, many college programs and internships can give you a head start. The industry is filled with opportunities for a variety of skillsets.

    Source: Study.com. Construction Administrative Assistant. http://study.com/articles/Construction_Administrative_Assistant_Job_Description_and_Requirements.html

  • How to Get Help: Mental Health Resources

    How to Get Help: Mental Health Resources

    Leading Canadian media organizations such as Maclean’s and the CBC have covered the mental health crisis on Canadian campuses. According to a 2012 article from the CBC, journalist Kate Lunau offers a long list of reasons for this crisis: homesickness, loneliness, the pressure to succeed academically, the fear of not landing a job after graduation. Other causes may be financial woes, housing problems, interpersonal conflicts. There is no question that today’s college and university students are stressed out, feeling depressed, maybe even suicidal. If you are reading this and nodding in agreement, please seek help.

    Use your school’s mental health services
    Most if not all colleges and universities offer mental health services to their students. Larger universities likely offer more services and have more staff. For example, the University of Toronto’s Health and Wellness Centre provides mental health services such as counselling, individual psychotherapy, group therapy, and pharmacotherapy. Smaller schools may only have a handful of counsellors on staff, but they will be able to refer you for more specialized care if necessary.

    If you are uncertain whether your school provides mental health services, Google the name of your school and the words “mental health services”, “counselling”, or “student health”. Different schools name their mental health services differently. If nothing comes up, email your registrar’s office, your student union representative, or an upper-year student—any one of them should have this information.

    Look for off-campus mental health services
    There are also a variety of off-campus mental health resources available to you. Please note that not all of these services are student-specific.

    1. Helplines
    Different mental health helplines are available for each Canadian province. In Ontario, for example, post-secondary students may call the Good 2 Talk helpline (1-866-925-5454), a completely free and confidential service available 24/7/365. Callers receive professional counselling, information, and referrals.
    Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Mental Health Helpline also provides free, confidential, and 24/7 help. In addition to the phone line, it allows you to get help via email or web chat. This resource is not specific to students.

    2. Your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch
    Established in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) broadly speaking provides mental health services. CMHA tailors their services to specific communities, helping individuals with mental illness and their families heal and recover.

    Find your local CMHA branch by going to their website (http://www.cmha.ca/get-involved/find-your-cmha/ ) and searching by city or postal code. You can also find a list of branches per province by selecting that province. After finding your local CMHA branch, look up their services and programs. The Toronto CMHA branch, for example, offers support services in mental health as well as employment, housing, and social justice. Because of the range of stressors that students experience, the variety of programs available may be useful.

    There are two important points to take away: first, your mental health should not be neglected; and second, free and professional resources are available to students. This article is an introduction to finding mental health resources for you, on and off campus. Start with on-campus services because school staff are likely more experienced with student issues and concerns, but if these resources are unavailable, look off campus.

    References:

    http://www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/the-mental-health-crisis-on-campus/
    http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/offcourse/
    https://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/hwc/services-offered
    http://www.good2talk.ca/
    http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/Home/About
    http://www.cmha.ca/about-cmha/

  • Inclusion in the Workplace: A Perspective

    Inclusion in the Workplace: A Perspective

    After working in a busy newsroom for the past four years, I understand how stressful it can be to get cramped into a room with a bunch of other people. I usually arrive at 10:00 a.m. and leave (on good days) around 9:00 p.m. On bad days I don’t get out of there until midnight. It doesn’t take much to get drained by that time and it’s the same story for a lot of people in other workplaces.

    I also know that it can be difficult to make the accommodations necessary to placate everyone, especially when there’s a larger team involved. But to include everyone is the gateway to making things easier for everyone – you included.

    I’m not just talking about including people on group projects or on decisions that you make. These can be great ways to let your team know that you care about their opinion and want to work with them, sure. But the added benefit is a mutual respect forming because they now know that you appreciate them enough to ask for their opinion. And two heads are better than one in certain situations, which is why it’s good to include others. To include those you work with on other smaller activities as well (even something small as lunch) allows for a stress-free environment when you guys get to know one another.

    But, of course, there are always those who will push your buttons. I’ve had it happen. Everyone knows the story: regardless of what it is sometimes people just don’t click. And that’s okay. But what’s important to remember is that airing dirty laundry in a workplace is unprofessional and a sure fire way to stress you out along with any involved. Many bosses have said it and it is good advice: you don’t have to be best friends but you have to be professional. It may really difficult to include these people in a project or to work with them but it’ll be easier for you to just stick it out because they’re not the only person you work with. If they continue to cause any serious issues, speak to someone.

    With greater issues like those who are struggling with their mental health, any physical ailments, or issues at home, it’s obviously important to include them as well. These are the people that you work with and regardless of whether or not you’re fond of them or understand their struggles; everyone has their own thing to deal with. To respect people’s individual issues and to not get involved in said issues keeps you at an advantage to be able to work with co-workers and to not carry any extra baggage home.

  • How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    How Physical Activity Helps with Depression and Anxiety

    Depression and anxiety often go hand in hand and are all too common. If you have been wise enough to see a councilor and talk about the issues you deal with, oftentimes this can help to alleviate the symptoms. Nowadays antidepressant and antianxiety medication is prescribed rapidly—some need this, but others may want to look into other ways of dampening their anxiety levels. One sure-fire way that helps combat these things, is getting enough exercise. Never a bad thing to do, exercise holds special powers for those who struggle with depression. All you need is to work up enough motivation to begin. Oftentimes, this is the hardest part—but the more times you exercise, the easier it will be to work up that motivation.

    Chemical changes

    Neurotransmitters, endorphins and cannabinoids are all feel-good brain chemicals that exercise helps to release. These reduce immune system chemicals that make depression worse. Furthermore, increasing your body temperature through exercise will have calming effects on you. Expect less thoughts racing through your head at any given moment.

    Distraction

    Exercise blocks the cycle of negative thoughts and takes you away from your worries. Maybe the distraction is that you are struggling physically or are focusing on the activity itself—either way, this is a focus on something other than stress or sadness, and that is a win. You can see exercise as medicine rather than a chore.

    Gain confidence

    Achieving goals that you have made for yourself and overcoming challenges builds up a sense of self-worth. Oftentimes depression and anxiety are derived from insecurity and self-hatred. Pushing yourself to meet your goals will prove something to the person who matters most…YOU. Also, being in shape can make you feel better about your appearance. While appearance should not be the focus when seeking to overcome depression and anxiety, it can be a side effect of the physical activity.

    Social Interaction

    If you find that a lot of your depression comes from being solitary, join a group exercise program. Being in a social setting can also calm anxiety if it is linked with a goal. Here is a tip: begin your venture into exercise as a means to cope with problems in a healthy way on your own. When you have done it for a few weeks and have experienced its distractive qualities, introduce yourself to a social setting. You may find that your anxiety has begun to deplete, even if only a little.

    Have a plan

    Deciding to exercise is one thing, but those who struggle with depression and anxiety require a plan—a personal expectation—to help the motivation process. Find out what normally stops you from exercising and find an alternative. Speaking to a mental health provider about developing a plan may give you some solid ideas, as they will be able to give some insightful pointers. Also, be prepared for setbacks and DO NOT punish yourself. Understand that setbacks happen because you are imperfect, and there is always the next try.

    Improved sleep

    Physical activity provides you with energy later on, but also wears you out. When you do not exercise, there is a lot of unused energy and that can cause restlessness that leads to depression and anxiety. Using up that energy will clear your mind and relax your body, leading to restful and deep sleeps. Sleep is desperately important to strong mental health.

  • Make Lunch Great Again

    Make Lunch Great Again

    The multitude of quick meal fixes loaded with fat and sugar, coupled with increasingly erratic and hectic schedules that make time-saving measures all the more appealing, has harmed our health in ways we may not always realize. Yet we are far from the point of no return; taking some time to realize the unhealthy habits we have entrenched ourselves in, and making small but crucial steps in the other direction, can make a world of difference.

    Lunch is the meal most likely to fall astray from healthy habits, as it falls between your many classes, schoolwork, and social dramas. But by devoting more of your free time in the evenings and mornings to your lunch, you can have a healthy and enjoyable meal to re-energize you for the afternoon. Making lunch fun starts not with your food but what you put the food in. By investing in a quality lunchbox, insulated containers, a thermos, and ice packs, you are allowing for much greater variety in the types of foods you can pack and take with you. Otherwise, you will be stuck with very limited options. Bringing the same foods with you to school every day will quickly grow dull.

    Take full advantage of your freezer. Go nuts with those Saturday morning pancakes and prepare more than the family can handle, then store the leftovers for the weeks ahead. This way, you can utilize your free time on weekends to put together fun and healthy recipes that can then be enjoyed in the middle of a busy week.

    Insulated containers and a thermos can transform your lunches to feel more like fresh meals. A thermos allows a meal to retain its heat for several hours, long enough to still be deliciously warm when you are sitting in the cafeteria. The few extra minutes spent heating up soup in the morning will provide an energy boost later in the day, as you can fill said soup with a tasty variety of healthy ingredients, and warm liquids aid in digestion.

    Improving the aesthetics of your meal can make it more fun and encourage healthier eating habits. Take out a quirkily shaped ice pop mould from the freezer and fill it with whatever smoothie combination piques your interest that day. Make sure to throw in a couple of ice packs to guarantee the smoothie will be waiting for you come lunchtime. Use cookie cutters to cut your sandwiches into the shapes of your favourite characters or interests. This may sound silly, but it can be great conversation fodder with others sitting around you and it encourages you to spend more time thinking about what you are eating and how to prepare it.

    There are many ways to make lunch both fun and healthy. What is most important is to devote more time and attention to what you are putting into your body. The improvements to your physical and mental well-being are more than worth a few extra minutes.

    Source

    Leake, Lisa. 100 Days of Real Food: How to Pack a Healthy School Lunch. www.takepart.com/photos/100-days-real-food-packing-lunch-for-kids/give-your-kids-healthy-school-lunch

  • Tips to Hike Up Your Math and Science Grades

    Tips to Hike Up Your Math and Science Grades

    Everybody has their weaknesses, and for a lot of people, those weaknesses often lie in science and math. Personally, I was OK in science but math was my weakness. It’s virtually universal – there seems to be a lot of people who have difficulties with math and science. But don’t worry about asking for help; it’s worth it. As with any other subject, there’s always someone who needs that extra assistance. It’s never just you.

    Here are some things you can do to help yourself:

    1. Identify your weakness – In structured subjects like math and science, you can do better in one than another, such as biology versus chemistry, and statistics versus algebra. Look at your results and skills as objectively as you can.  It’s hard to be tough on yourself sometimes, but you have to do it to identify a problem.
    2. Search for local help – The reason why I say this is that there are several sources available to you within your own area. There are always willing classmates to help you out, some organizations or tutors offering sessions for a small fee ( or no fee). In addition, there are sometimes answer keys available in your own textbook, allowing for a bit of trial and error in regards to finding the correct answer. (Although this is never 100% accurate, as I remember, some answer keys were actually wrong to the dismay of my math teacher). Your teachers may also be able to point you to some helpful tutoring information.
    3. Optional: Professional help – there are newly-qualified teachers working with students one-on-one in their respective fields. This is often more costly than local help, but can be worth the extra cost if you’re looking for assistance to earn a better grade.
    4. Go to the internet – With the massive amount of knowledge available on the World Wide Web, there are a number of different ways available to help you learn math and science. Many sites also provide video tutorials. Find the area you’re having trouble with, and search for the best material available – this will require some trial and error, but can be very helpful for those who want visual and auditory aids.
    5. Consult your local bookstore – There are resources and study information for math and science. This will set you back a dollar or two, which is why I recommend that you go in person to find out if a particular book would be useful, and contributes to your knowledge of the current subject you’re learning from your teacher.

    Remember: These are only guidelines and recommendations for how to get additional help, but the real help comes from within yourself and your determination to do better; otherwise that grade will stay the same or may slip even further. Putting in the effort to do well will pay off both in better grades and in understanding that everybody learns differently.

  • Expressing Your Ideas Effectively

    Expressing Your Ideas Effectively

    We’ve all been there. Our teacher gives us a group project that will be 30 percent of our final grade for that subject. Members for each group were chosen randomly, and you find yourself in a group whom you are not very familiar with. When your group starts to discuss ideas and brainstorm, you share your idea, which you think is a great one. Then, it seems like no one understands what you were trying to say at all- how does that happen?

    Then another member shares their idea–which is the same one you had–but that person expressed it way better and was clearly understood by the group. All the group members give the person kudos, but you are frustrated- you had the idea first!

    It is good to realize that most of the time; it is not enough to have a great idea. You must be able to express that idea well enough so others can see the value of it. If you feel you need improvement on expressing yourself, here are some pointers to keep in mind:

    Write them down.

    In this day and age, we think that writing ideas on a notebook is so passé. However, when you write things down, it actually helps you form the words more clearly compared to when you are simply reciting it in your head. When you see the very words on paper, you will realize if you have missed something or if it’s ready for sharing or submission.

    Do a role play.

    It might seem odd, but if you wish to share an idea with a group, and you feel intimidated, role playing might be a good alternative. Pull out a member of the group and ask them to probe you to get the idea out of you. You can do this role play as if no one is around. You will be surprised how well you can actually say what’s on your mind.

    Play a guessing game.

    We all know how fun guessing games can be. So if you are struggling a bit on how to make your idea known to the group, a good way is to play a guessing game through Pictionary or charades. Once you break the ice with the game, you feel more relaxed and you will able to speak about what is on your mind more clearly.

    Expressing one’s self is critical in academic settings. Once you learn how to express yourself well, you will be able to study better and work better in groups.

    Sources:

    http://www.victoriagigante.com/7-ways-to-express-yourself-through-a-daily-practice/

    http://want2discover.com/cant-express-18-best-creative-ways-express-feelings/

    http://www.newconversations.net/communication-skills-workbook/expressing-yourself-more-clearly-and-completely/

    http://tinybuddha.com/blog/3-tips-get-out-of-head-start-expressing-yourself/

  • 5 Steps to Awaken Your Critical Thinking

    5 Steps to Awaken Your Critical Thinking

    What is “Critical thinking”?

    Critical thinkers know how to read between the lines and not just see things as they are or superficially. In your studies of any subject, for instance, critical thinking skills will help you take on a more analytical approach so you can better explain a particular topic or situation. You should use your critical thinking skills for everyday life situations, as well. Eventually, you will be able to propose an excellent argument on any topic. When you get to college and university and you need to defend your argument in a paper, critical thinking is essential.

    If you feel that you don’t quite have the skills to deem yourself as a critical thinker, don’t fret. Here are some steps to awaken your critical thinking:

    Know the facts.

    You would not have a strong stance on a particular topic if you do not have the right information. For instance, what if you were asked to debate on the topic of “money can buy people happiness”? Sure, we all have our opinions on this topic, but mostly it is from an emotional standpoint. As such, if you want to create a strong argument on that debate, you will have to get research, science and statistics together, first ( if even applicable). Research as much as you can and get to know the background of that idea.

    Choose your sources carefully.

    Sometimes, when we are gathering facts, we tend to collect them easily, not entirely judging where they are from. An essential part to being a critical thinker is to judge the sources of the facts that you are collecting as well. You can research scientific papers on the internet, as well as videos by certified researchers; where is all the information coming from and are they trusted sources?

    Analyze the facts.

    There are times when you might have the facts on hand and they are from good sources. However, does this mean that you are good to go? You don’t stop here. To be a critical thinker, you must also carefully analyze each fact and be on the lookout for any differences or gaps.

    Compare the facts.

    You know the adage “there are two sides to every story,” of course! Well, that is also something that you can apply to your argument. For one thing, you need to look at a subject from all angles.

    Reflect.

    Evaluate the conclusions you have formed and ensure you can strongly stand on them. At this stage, you should be able to state your point of view with confidence and conviction.

    For more understanding of critical thinking, check out this helpful animated video from study.com: http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-critical-thinking-definition-skills-meaning.html

    You are all set to be a critical thinker once you have mastered these steps. Good luck!

    Sources:

    http://lifehacker.com/how-to-train-your-mind-to-think-critically-and-form-you-1516998286

    https://www.oxford-royale.co.uk/articles/studying-fun.html

    http://www.skillsyouneed.com/learn/critical-reading.html#ixzz45ZAzuWQp

    https://ctl.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/sites/default/files/CriticalThinking.pdf

    http://www.ed.ac.uk/institute-academic-development/postgraduate/taught/learning-resources/critical

    http://www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-skills/media/academicskillsadvice/documents/academicskillsresources/criticalthinking/Teach-Yourself-10-Takeaway-Tips-Critical-Analysis.pdf

  • Public Safety: Tips on How to Protect Yourself

    Public Safety: Tips on How to Protect Yourself

    When you’re walking home alone at night, it’s easy to feel scared or threatened.  A lot of young women are often catcalled or approached in broad daylight, let alone when it’s in the evening. When people stare or approach you or even harass you, it can get pretty terrifying.

    When it comes to being safe in public, there are a few tricks you can try to guard yourself. There are some wonderful apps out there for you to download onto your device. This link from PC World http://www.pcworld.com/article/2057930/5-personal-safety-apps-that-watch-your-back.html will give you a guide to five apps that offer safety for you. The main attraction to these apps is that your contacts know when you are in trouble.

    Another thing you can do to keep yourself safe is take a class in self defense. Now, when I was first approached to take a class on self defense, I’ll admit that I declined. I didn’t really think that I needed it or that it would be as beneficial as people made it sound. I didn’t think that I was strong enough to fend someone off or to hold my own. But, one thing to understand upon entering these classes is that there are a lot of people who share the same feelings and you’re all in this together. The instructors are aware of these feelings and they take the time to teach you properly. They care about your safety, which means that you don’t really get lost in the back of class if you don’t know what you’re doing. They do take the time to help you, which is essential.

    Womenonguard.com is a great website that offers personal defense weapons for safety as well. Men and women have a wide selection of items that they can purchase. Items such as lipstick pepper spray, personal alarms, and mace are available for purchase. Home protection items such as window alarms and nanny cams are available as well. The site also includes videos on their website catering to self defense and how to safely and properly use these items.

    When it comes to protecting yourself, you can never be too careful. Classes and apps will allow for you to be safer than before and give you piece of mind that someone is watching out for you.