Category: Campus Life

Crime stories are popular on television and in movies and books. Many people enjoy seeing how the detective puts the clues together to discover the truth and to bring the case to a close. Working as a detective or criminal investigator in real life is not as simple as that, but it can be a satisfying career.

Becoming a detective or criminal investigator often starts with being a member of a police department. A good way to begin is to train at a police academy and then join the police force as a constable. Canada has eight schools where people can get this training, including the Canadian Police College in Ottawa and the Saskatchewan Police College in Regina. If you choose to go into the national police force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, you can train at the academy in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Once you finish your training, you should plan to spend two or three years as a constable, working with everyday police tasks such as writing out traffic tickets and helping people who have been robbed or have been in accidents. Then you can let your supervisors know that you want to become a detective and start working in that division as an assistant. You will likely work closely with a detective constable or sergeant as you learn the work.

Knowledge is an important part of being a detective or criminal investigator, and many people in this field begin by getting a bachelor’s degree. Some police forces require only a high school diploma for this job, but others require college or university degrees. In high school, English courses will help you learn to write well, and courses in statistics or mathematics can also be helpful. In university, criminology or criminal justice are the most common subjects that people choose, but specialties like political science or sociology are also possible.

Many universities in Canada offer degrees in fields related to this work. For example, Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, offers a degree in forensic science. The University of Lethbridge in Alberta and the University of Guelph in Ontario have degrees in criminal justice, and Western University in London, Ontario has studies in criminology. Almost any university offers other degrees that would be helpful in this field.

The work of a detective or criminal investigator is a mixture of very detailed physical work, conversations, and analysis. Often, detective or criminal investigators collect evidence and interview witnesses. Later, they write reports, prepare search or arrest warrants, and arrest suspects. Working regular hours is often possible at this stage, but people in this field often have to respond to calls whenever they come, even in the middle of the night.

The job of detective or criminal investigator might seem exciting on television, but parts of the job might be very different from what people imagine. Writing reports can be mentally tiring and somewhat dull, and some crime scenes could be difficult for people to handle, especially at first. Still, the job is a very important one for solving crime and keeping people safe. Why not consider it as an option?

Career Trend. “How to Become a Detective in Canada.” https://careertrend.com/how-4854838-become-detective-canada.htm.

Payscale Canada. “Detectives and Criminal Investigators.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Detective_or_Criminal_Investigator/Salary.

Province of Nova Scotia. “Training Programs for Public Policing in Canada.” https://novascotia.ca/just/Policing_Services/training.asp.

Roufa, Timothy. “Being a Detective or Criminal Investigator.” The Balance Careers. https://www.thebalancecareers.com/detective-and-criminal-investigator-job-information-974467.

Study Portals. “Bachelors Degrees in Criminology.” https://www.bachelorsportal.com/study-options/269353236/criminology-canada.html

By Helena Wright

Deciding what to do once you’re done high-school can be very stressful. Most of the adults and educators around you are most-likely pressuring you to make a decision on what you want to do, where you want to go, and who you want to be. The problem with this, is that you might not know. If this is the case, then don’t worry! You’re not alone. Most of your peers may be going to post-secondary immediately after high-school, but understand that though this may be everybody else’s chosen path – it might not be yours. Everybody is different, and everybody has different passions, when choosing what is best for you don’t look at others but introspectively at yourself. I have outlined some of the possibilities that include post secondary, and other options. It is important to understand that you aren’t shutting your door to opportunities by choosing not to go to post-secondary:

University- University is good if you want to go into academia, and if you like things such as liberal arts, business or sciences. Universities have a broad range of programs, that might include more than one field of interest and even ‘undeclared’ entry if you are unsure and want to take a few selective courses to learn more about what is offered. There is much more to explore and learn in fields that were never taught in high-school and there might be things you didn’t even know existed that might interest you. It is not uncommon to go into university and switch into another field that interests you more over time.

College- College takes a more hands-on approach to learning, and many programs are not as long as an undergraduate degree. Similar to university, colleges offer programs in fields that you might not know about and it is not uncommon to switch fields once having tried others that you have never been exposed to beforehand. Some colleges even do joint programs with universities, so you can get the best of both worlds!

Victory Lap- A victory lap is when a student that is in their last year of high-school chooses to do another semester or another year in high-school. This might be because they want to bring their average up, they want to explore other courses offered that they have not tried before, or they may just not feel ready to leave. Some people choose to stay at their high-school while others go to schools that can offer new or alternative courses.

Gap Year(s)- A gap year is when you don’t go to school immediately but you spend a year doing other meaningful experiences that might help you decide what you would like to do. Some choose to apply to university in their last year of high-school and then differ their application by a year. A gap year is good for those who want to travel or who want to save some money before going into post-secondary. A gap year is a good time to focus on passions and self development, as time away from school can help you cultivate who you are and where you want to go. Some companies offer work or volunteer experience in other parts of the world – which allows you to travel and gain valuable experience at the same time.

Employment- Some choose to go straight into employment from high-school. Some are able to specialize their skills and talents into a job that does not require college or university, allowing them to get straight to developing their career.

Which ever path you choose, it is okay to be unsure. Some decidedly do not want to waste money going to college or university for something they are not confident that they will like, and choose to gain work experience before deciding. Even going to school and being unsure about your program, and choosing to take courses in different fields can help you decide what is best for you. The option of doing a victory lap is often stigmatized, but students that choose to do a victory lap do their last year of high-school with more precision and dedication, better grades and self development. All options are completely valid and feasible, don’t feel pressured by the actions of your peers and those around you to do something you are not comfortable doing.

Your teenage years are not always your best ones. Depression is a mental illness that negatively affects how a person thinks, it creates problems in one’s mind that they may not want to have or did not intend to have. It’s a disease of the mind, most times it isn’t very noticeable but sometimes it’s very apparent that someone is depressed. The leading cause of depression is anxiety. Anxiety can be described as overwhelming fear, it’s normal to feel anxious every now and then but when anxiety gets out of control it can lead to depression. A great deal of teens get anxiety over their grades, finishing an assignment, social media and fitting in. Hundreds of teenagers worldwide suffer from depression, and oftentimes, nobody even knows they have depression. Most of the time teens do not even show any signs of depression, but that’s the problem; you never really know what’s going on in someone else’s head.

I am just your average grade ten student; however, I have felt heavily depressed before and deal with anxiety on a day to day basis. Depression is not a walk in the park nor is it a phase that teens go through. It’s a mental illness that should be treated as seriously as any other type of mental or physical illness. Often, when teens feel depressed some of their problems are just dismissed as being dramatic, childish, or simply hormonal. Being a teenager isn’t easy at all to say the least. We are consistently hit with homework, the stress of assignments, getting into universities or colleges and, passing all our classes. What is worse is that teachers, parents and adults in general don’t always understand or empathize with this the way that we wished they did. Here are some tips on how you could deal with depression, or help someone around you with depression:

There are different degrees of depression: Not all people need medication for their depression, sometimes all they need is some love and support, not all people with depression look depressed. Different people also show different signs of depression, some people may be extremely irritable and angry, others may have evidently low self-esteem and seem very unmotivated, in students this can show in incomplete homework and assignments and not paying attention or sleeping in class.

Signs of depression: Depression isn’t obvious most of the time, it can show in the little things like a messy room or knotted hair. Signs also include prolonged sadness, low self-esteem, a lot of anger and negative emotions, restlessness, insomnia, giving away any possessions that they hold dear to them, making death seem like a positive thing, and talking and writing about dying. Watch out for those “jokes” that people may make about committing suicide or dying. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please go and see a doctor and get assessed to see if you have depression so that you may get treatment.

Talk to someone: If you think that you may be showing signs of depression, I would highly recommend talking to an adult that you trust, whether it be your favourite teacher, a school counsellor or your parents. Make sure it is somebody who you think can help you. I would mostly recommend an adult because sometimes it’s not good to confide in another person your age, since you don’t know what their problems may be. Reaching out and seeking help is always the best solution. Getting help is very, very important, for when depression gets out of hand it can be fatal. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15-24 in the U.S.

Helping a friend with depression: You may have a friend who is dealing with depression who, unfortunately, may not have a trusted adult in their lives to talk to, so they confide in you. One thing you must do is make sure that your mental health is 100% before you are able to help someone else with their problems. It’s a massive responsibility to help someone sort out their problems and lives, but it would also be good to talk to an adult if you think that your friend may be getting progressively worse. Always offer your support to a friend with depression, let them know that you care for them, however, do not feel the need to take responsibility of how your friend may be feeling, or for any of their actions. That can end up being harmful for both and you and your friend.

Consider everyone’s feelings: Remember, just because someone is sad or having an off day, doesn’t mean that they are depressed. However, it’s always good to check in on your peers and see how they are doing since everyone is fighting their own battles:  some are simply bigger than others.

In the end, the only person who can fight off your depression is you with the help of others, but only if you seek it out.

Sources:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/parents-guide-to-teen-depression.htm/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20350985

https://www.verywellhealth.com/top-causes-of-death-for-ages-15-24-2223960

The Importance of Your 40 Community Service Hours

In order to graduate high school, you need a specific amount of earned credits and a completion of 40 community service hours.  Without either of these requirements, one may find it very hard to convince any teacher or principle to allow you to graduate with the rest of your classmates.

The first thing that may come  to mind when the words “community service” are uttered include cleaning up litter from parks. Although these two tasks are good ways to complete your 40 hours, it doesn’t always have to be so plain and boring.

Explore Your Interests

You do not need to complete your 40 community service hours within the same place with the same people. It also does not have to be completed within a strict short amount of time. You can make a schedule as to when and where you are available. .

Completing your 40 hours seems like a lot to do, but it is not. Don’t over think! The best reason behind all this extra work is to find out who you are as a person and expand your mind to what the world has to offer. This task is made for students to explore their interests, along with helping others, or a specific cause that means something to you. For example, you can receive your first ten hours by volunteering at an elementary school, another ten at your own school, another ten by offering to wash a family member’s car a few times and the final ten by babysitting. Not necessarily in that order, but the idea is to get into the habit of doing a variety of things. Keep in mind, the more things you do to complete your 40 hours, the more different experiences you have for your job resumés.

Think About Your Future

How you choose to complete the 40 community service hours is solely up to you as an individual. It is always good to do something not only you find amusing, but something that will benefit you in your future.

To get a specific career, you need specific skills. For example, if you are applying to work at a restaurant one day, the first thing you need is to fill out a resumé. In order to do that, you need some experience with a variety of things such as collaboration. Volunteering at a restaurant first is a good way to get your hours and it gives you work experience. Another good way to show good collaboration skills on your resumé is by stating that you have volunteered at a school, a library or a camp to show that you are good with other people in terms of assistance and patience.

Do What You Love

Personally, I love working with children. Every week I visit my elementary school to help the primary teachers mark spelling tests, clean classrooms and teachi the kids simple math, reading and arts and crafts. Doing these  things does  not make me worry about how many hours I have left or how much longer I have to spend with the children. Since it is something I love to do, the number of hours I spend doing it is the last thing on my mind while the kids are my first priority.

If you do something you love whether it be working with children, filing papers in an office, or taking dogs out for a walk,  it can distract you from the reason why you are doing it in the first place. Instead, it allows you to focus on the task at hand.

Making a Difference

Volunteering can allow you to have new perspectives on people and things that go on around the world. If you are passionate about preventing poverty or trying to find a cure for cancer, then volunteering at a hospital or the Stop Poverty Foundation is a good place to start. This way it shows that you want to do more and help more while in the process of gaining 40 hours which is great.

Sources:

Sarikas, Christine. “SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips.” How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips, blog.prepscholar.com/the-best-places-to-do-community-service

Stop Poverty Foundation. “Welcome to Stop Poverty Foundation, 501 (C) (3) Non-Profit Organization.” Stop Poverty Foundation, stoppovertyfoundation.org/

Silence is definitely golden when it comes to social situations, especially when you don’t know exactly what is going on. There are many different reasons why this awkward situation may come up, such as gossiping about other friends or co-workers, but it all comes back to one key word: miscommunication.

Essentially, miscommunication is the bane of social situations. This can happen in many ways.  I’ll give an example to help demonstrate why silence can be golden: gossip and a lack of knowledge.

High school life is an excellent example of gossip. You can very easily hear two, three, sixteen different versions of the same event, all told by different people. This happens in real-life police investigations as well, as you have to figure out who is telling the truth and who is not. For example, a classmate of yours has been bullied for months now. Now, rumours are flying over the details of the bullying, why the bully did it, and what the bully is going to get (suspension, expulsion, etc.) Now, this is a completely fake scenario I am talking about, but cases like these exist. If I was a neutral person, with no emotions attached to these people, I would keep silent.

Here’s why: I don’t want to add to the gossip mill over what actually happened so the people can keep investigating over what happened and what didn’t happen. For example, what if the bullying didn’t last as long as the gossip said it did? What if the bullying was not as “tame” as the gossip said, but much worse? What if the person who was hurt was actually the bully, and turning the tables to the people investigating the incident? (There are several mystery books that take this on as a theme: playing ‘victim’.)  That doesn’t happen all the time.

This is why silence is golden: further gossip creates more miscommunication, hurting the people involved even more. Especially if the person who was hurt gets hurt more because there’s this fog of rumours that make other outsiders doubt the truth. And this doesn’t help anyone involved.

Another type is not bully-related. Instead, it’s a social situation and you’re at a complete loss to what your friends are discussing. This is where the silence-is-golden rule comes into play. You would like to be involved; I understand that, but what if you are talking about something else and not what they are talking about? What if you accidentally insult someone? What if your political views don’t match up with the group? There are many different questions to ask here, so silence can be golden until you know for sure: it’s safe to talk without causing an incident, someone gives you an opening to ask questions, or you finally understand what people are talking about. For me, personally, I like to wait for an opening to ask a broad question that helps get me a brief summary of the topic, so if I don’t understand what they are talking about, I can look it up at another time.

These two examples are ideas I had for how to demonstrate the silence-is-golden rule. Another minor example would be if you talk a lot and how to allow people to bring up their ideas, which is always welcome for group projects. By listening to the social situations, you can help those who are involved avoid miscommunication and to help to get their point across as honestly and clearly as possible.

When it comes to setting goals for an educational institution, very few people know that it’s an education administrator who is the master planner behind the measures and efforts to ensure the school reaches the targets it has set for itself. While not as in direct interaction with the students on a daily basis–unlike teachers–education administrators are equally important in paving the path for the students’ academic future.

If this career is something that rouses your interest, continue reading below as we delve deeper into this profession that’s extremely important in building a well-integrated and efficient community.

Education Administrator – What You Need to Know

Education administrators are more commonly known as the school’s principal and vice principal for public schools or head master or head mistresses for private schools. They work onsite in the school, typically working long hours than normal during the entire term. However, like with teachers, they do get much-needed respite from work during school breaks, including the summer break.

Education administrators’ main tasks is to oversee the teaching staff and ensure they hand over their lesson plans and syllabi for the academic year, which they would have to approve. It’s the education administrator who is responsible for administering a student code of conduct, often working with with students and parents directly to address disciplinary violations or other issues. Education administrators are also accountable for the safety and security of the student body not just within the campus grounds, but also during school-sponsored events and field trips.

Apart from ensuring the school is in line with academic objectives, education administrators are also in charge of keeping to district enrollment standards and ensuring that operational expenses are in line with annual budgets. At times, they are also required to contribute to the hiring process should additional staff be required and make hiring recommendations. Should the school find itself short-staffed, education administrators must see to it that a handful of supply teachers is in place. Additional tasks also include providing mentorship to teachers, as well as teachers.

Salary

According to PayScale.com, education administrators can earn a salary within the range of $36,065 – $105,684 a year with potential for bonus.

Skills

Since an education administrator is essentially the manager of the school, they should possess excellent management and leadership abilities. As they interact with students, teachers, parents, and school staff and collaborate with them to achieve common objectives, an education administrator will require impeccable communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well in a team and the skill to motivate others and build learning communities. Education administrators must be able to lead, support, and motivate teachers and other staff and faculty members and build solid relationships with students, parents, and fellow educators.

Challenges are also common in educational institutions and therefore education administrators must also be a strategic problem-solver and systems thinker to resolve complex problems and handle stress effectively.

A master’s degree in education administration or education leadership is often mandatory for anyone aspiring to be an education administrator so they can acquire the knowledge of best practices in instructional strategies, assessment and evaluation and the enhancement of student achievement in the school they will be assigned to. It’s also necessary for education administrators to have proper licensing for the area in which they work. At times, however, each educational institution has specific requirements as determined upon consultations with the school division or employment authority.

Pros and Cons

Working as an education administrator can be taxing as he or she bears the burden of leading the school and achieve the goals in line with the educational institution’s mission and vision. A lot of patience and diplomacy is also required to be able to resolve issues with students facing disciplinary actions and handle complaints from parents regarding any decision that affects the students. At times, problems can stem for the sudden change of tasks on a daily basis. According to a CBC article, some principals and vice principals in Ontario are so swamped with work that they also have to deal not just with the academic curriculum but also property maintenance and such.

However, the profession is rewarding as education administrators play an integral role in a student’s success as a valuable community member in the future. To have an opportunity to make a positive difference in an individual’s life is something that not everyone has, and this is certainly something education administrators don’t take for granted.

SOURCES:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-principals-overloaded-with-administration-have-less-time-for-education-report-1.4848681

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Education_Administrator%2c_Elementary_and_Secondary_School/Salary

https://www.academicinvest.com/business-careers/business-administration-careers/how-to-become-a-school-administrator

https://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/best-jobs/2016-top-8-education-jobs/

The world of work is changing. Modern technology has allowed for far greater accessibility and the ability to work remotely. Our rapidly changing civilization also has less job security; the days of employees remaining at the same company for years are rapidly fading away. Despite the negatives, this is an opportunity to explore different jobs in a way that allows greater opportunities and flexibility compared to previous generations.

During the last 40 years in Canada, the population of workers with more than one job has doubled. This number is only expected to increase. This non-traditional way of working is a scary unknown, with weird hours, vast uncertainty, and fluctuating income. Conversely, this is a great opportunity to customize your work hours to suit your schedule and needs. If you have trouble getting up in the morning, find work that starts later in the day. If you live with depression or anxiety, find the number of shifts and times of day that allow you to work without being overwhelmed.

The gig economy is a great way to experience a variety of jobs. It has never been easier to juggle multiple titles. This is especially useful for discovering what kind of career path you want to pursue full-time. You can experiment with any job that looks intriguing on a part-time basis. There is less pressure to keep that job when you know that you have one or two others that you could supplement with more hours. This is also a great way to find jobs that match your physical or emotional needs. Multiple gigs allow you to discover the accessibility options that enable you to complete different tasks, as well as the environments and roles that best suit who you are.

It is important to go about doing this properly. Many people with a variety of jobs often feel stretched thin, stressed out, and uncertain about their goals. Ideally, you want to have a longer-term goal in mind while pursuing multiple positions – whether it is a specific career, or working towards a work-life balance and environment that suits who you are as a person and your accessibility needs. Make sure your different jobs complement each other. They should not conflict in scheduling, and each one should offer you something different to form a cohesive whole. One high-paying gig might have flexible hours and help pay off debt, while another allows you to have a unique work experience, and yet another connects you with the right people for your long-term goals.

Outside of work, make sure to maintain a healthy life balance. Take advantage of your unconventional work hours to make plans during the daytime and pursue other interests and hobbies. Make sure to be saving money into a Tax-Free Savings Account or Registered Retirement Savings Plan, and to deduct expenses for income made from freelancing when it comes time for taxes. Organize your time with a digital calendar with different colours for work, social plans, and time for yourself.

It is important to remember that a healthy life balance means not being consumed by work. The nature of work is destined to continue evolving. As machines take away more and more jobs, there is a greater likelihood that future generations will have more leisure time and the freedom to pursue their passions and interests. Take advantage of the present nature of work to explore your interests, needs, and what you want out of life. It is an exciting and terrifying adventure, and a unique journey for every one of us.

Sources:

Augustine, Avery. “How to Balance Multiple Jobs (Without Losing Your Mind).” The Muse. https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-balance-multiple-jobs-without-losing-your-mind

Dolan, Ed. “More People Working Multiple Jobs – A Good Sign or a Bad One?”

Medium. https://medium.com/@dolanecon/more-people-working-multiple-jobs-a-good-sign-or-a-bad-one-d73494003a65

Leong, Melissa. “Rise of the moonlighters: Why more Canadians are taking on side jobs and how to make it work for you.” Financial Post. https://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/young-money/rise-of-the-moonlighters-why-more-canadians-are-taking-on-side-jobs-and-how-to-make-it-work-for-you

Farming is a very important job, whether people grow food or other crops for clothing or other products. Growing a few tomato or raspberry plants can be hard, but keeping thousands of plants alive and healthy is even more difficult. That’s where post-secondary agricultural sciences teachers can help.

Growing crops is complicated. Farmers need to know what will grow in their fields and what they need to do to keep the plants healthy. For example, the Prairie Provinces like Manitoba and Alberta have good soil for growing wheat or corn, but the weather is too cold for other crops. British Columbia and Ontario, in contrast, have the right weather and soil for growing peaches, cherries, and other fruit. Even then, farmers might need to add fertilizer or to irrigate the soil so that the plants will grow properly.

Agricultural sciences teachers can help to make the job easier. People who want to become farmers or to work in other positions related to agriculture often study at universities or colleges to get a good basis for the work. They might study food sciences, animal systems, or other topics related to what they expect to find on the farms. Agricultural sciences teachers can help with advanced knowledge of areas like biology or animal care.

People in this type of work need to know as much as possible about various crops, animals, and other topics. They spend a lot of time working with students inside or outside the classroom or marking assignments and tests, but they might also spend time in the fields, checking for insects or taking soil samples.

Graphic designers and other people with special skills can find work in agricultural sciences, and teachers should also know at least something about what this involves. The field of agricultural sciences is very diverse, and teachers can come from many different backgrounds. For teaching in a university, usually at least a Master’s or PhD. degree is necessary, although some people might be able to teach a few courses without those qualifications.

Besides teaching, people in this job need to keep their knowledge current and to publish their own research. They attend conferences, compile bibliographies of resources on various subjects, and give presentations on their work. They help students with their studies and might also do some administrative work at the college or university where they teach. Sometimes, they might go out to help farmers directly, but usually the job involves sitting at a desk or working in a laboratory for much of the day. The job is not physically stressful, but it can be mentally and emotionally tiring.

Salaries for agricultural sciences teachers can vary from one part of the country to another, but usually they start at about $31,000 and can rise to $106,000. Job prospects are normally better in cities than elsewhere, but colleges in small towns are also possible sources of work. If you decide to become a post-secondary agricultural sciences teacher, you can probably count on having a stable job and a good future.

Bibliography:

Agriculture Classroom Canada. “About Us.” https://aitc-canada.ca/en-ca/who-we-are/about-us.

My Plan. “Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Post Secondary.” https://www.myplan.com/careers/agricultural-sciences-teachers-postsecondary/summary-25-1041.00.html.

Payscale Canada. “Average Agriculture Specialist Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Agriculture_Specialist/Salary.

University of Manitoba. “Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.” http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/about/index.html.