Category: Elementary

Deciding on a career path isn’t the easiest thing in the world, especially when you feel pressure from your family or your peers. Sometimes, parents over-encourage their kids to tread on the same path that they did. Sometimes, peers try to influence others to make the same choice as they did.

Of course, navigating your career should be based on your own decisions, and it’s up to you to find something that aligns with your passion. However, though your passion is always a good place to start, you also have to consider where your personality will fit best. For example, if you consider yourself an introvert  with dominant characteristics such as quiet and reserved, creative, prefers minimal social interactions, independent, introspective, and enjoys working alone, then a job that’s ideal for introverts could be the answer for you. Let’s look at some of your options.

Home Health Aide

While in most cases, home health aides collaborate with nurses to maintain a record of the patient’s progress and alert the physician or nurse of any sudden changes in the patient’s health, generally, a home health aide works mostly independently, only interacting with the patient themselves. They take charge of basic care tasks, such as administering oral medicines as needed, changing bed linens, washing and doing the laundry, and cleaning and maintaining the home.

Home health aides also provide companionship to the geriatric population to help them in their emotional and mental well-being by entertaining them, conversing with them, and playing games with them if the patients are up to it, like puzzles or crosswords.

Veterinarian

Veterinarians work primarily with animals and only have minimal interaction with the pet owners. However, veterinarians also have to deal with animals in every shape and form, which means you have to prepare to deal with livestock animals like cows, goats, and pigs, as well as those from the reptilian species like snakes and lizards, and a whole slew of others.

The most common services performed by vets include check-ups, vaccinations, administering medicine, spaying and neutering, and other surgeries. For vets who work in private practice, they also communicate with owners on how to best provide care and the need for surgery or medication in some cases. Services like vaccinations, deworming, and parasite control are also performed as needed. Vets also make recommendations on how to best maintain pet health and wellness through proper nutrition and adequate exercise.

Multimedia Artist

A multimedia artist creates art, specifically graphics, animation, special effects, and other visual images meant for different forms of media, whether film, TV, print, or the web.

Multimedia artists can work for a wide variety of industries, including advertising agencies or TV or film production companies. They can work under the supervision of an art director and/or collaborate with other artists and animators. Most of the time, they work individually.

Landscape Designer

A landscape designer solely works with outdoor spaces, which are either residential, commercial, or government. They must know how to conceptualize an outdoor space aligned with an outdoor space’s brand and ensure the project is completed according to timelines, budget, city regulations, and environmental considerations (soil, irrigation, drainage, etc).

While they do have to constantly communicate with city planners, engineers, property owners, and government departments, most of the time, they work on their own.

Librarian 

This might be the most obvious answer since librarians have a work environment that literally has “Silence, please” signs posted at every corner and encourage a love of reading.

Librarians are primarily responsible for classifying any type of reading material and ensure their accessibility to visitors. It’s an asset to be knowledgeable in the traditional system of item organization using card catalogues, but most libraries now rely on computerized databases to keep an inventory of all reading materials, so it pays more to have skills in computer systems.

Librarians also have to maintain the orderliness and cleanliness of all materials in a library, so they have to be readily available to collect stray items and ensure these are placed back to where they belong to.

Sources

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Librarian/Salary

http://www.eco.ca/career-profiles/landscape-architect/

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Multi-Media_Artist_or_Animator/Salary

http://www.canadafaq.ca/how+to+become+a+veterinarian+in+canada/

https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Certified_Home_Health_Aide_(CHHA)/Hourly_Rate

https://mint.intuit.com/blog/early-career/best-jobs-for-introverts/

By Avreet Jagdev

If you’re looking for the perfect gift – whether it’s for a loved one or for yourself – a great option can be shopping at small businesses. It’s a great way to find a unique and special gift while also supporting local companies. Supporting these businesses is important because unlike major retailers, they are run by one or a handful of people who work very hard to get their products to customers like you. Opting to buy a gift from them means that you’re supporting their craft, and shopping more sustainably as well!

With that said, here’s some small businesses you can shop from the next time you need a gift for that special someone:

1. Hook, Line & Tinker

If you’re looking for a crafty present, check out the embroidery kits and other art supplies at Hook, Line & Tinker! All of their illustrations are originally designed, so if you need a unique gift for someone who loves crafting, look no further!

2. Lala Skin Essentials

Skincare is a timeless gift, and is especially valuable when it’s from a local business such as Lala Skin! Lala Skin provides vegan skincare free of cruelty or chemicals – all at an affordable rate. What more could you ask for?

3. Tea Drops

If you know someone who loves tea, then shop for them at Tea Drops! They are a woman-owned small business that sells high quality and environmentally friendly tea. You can shop by tea type, teatime, flavor, caffeine, benefit, and even mood!

4. Give and Grow

Give and Grow is a small women-led business that creates basketball planters. If you’re looking for a super unique gift for someone who loves plants, basketball, home decor, or all three, Give and Grow is the business to shop at!

5. Still Classics

Still Classics creates planners, notebooks, stationary, accessories and organizational products that help people take charge of their life. If you know someone whose days tend to be way too busy, getting them an organizational tool from Still Classics could be the game changer they need!

6. This is Alaya

If you’re hunting for high-quality yet affordable jewelry, head over to This is Alaya’s website! They sell all sorts of jewelry and hair clips, made for ‘everyday and everyone’.

7. LOHN

LOHN sells high-quality candles that are handmade by a small team in the Toronto area. Their candles are scented with natural ingredients, such as essential oils. Plus, they’re vegan and cruelty free!

8. One Strip Chai

Who doesn’t love a cozy cup of chai? One Strip Chai sells drinks inspired by South-Asian heritage, made of organic freshly-ground spices. They focus on ethical sourcing, and only use natural sweeteners such as honey and jaggery.

9. Anto Yukon

Anto Yukon sells ethical and sustainable soaps that are uniquely and artfully crafted. Each soap is hand wrapped, and made free of artificial fragrances or dyes.

10. Shayna Stevenson

If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind jewelry or homeware, shop from Shayna Stevenson’s small business! Her pieces are inspired by minimalism, and each is individually painted and glazed – meaning no two pieces are the same.

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,” is a famous quote by Albus Dumbledore, a well-loved character in the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. While the quote is from a work of fiction, it is definitely relatable during times when things aren’t going as smoothly as one expects. Collectively, it’s a quote that’s apt when describing our experiences at the height of the pandemic. While we all found ourselves with conflicted emotions during COVID, we also found solace in stories of random acts of kindness that gave us hope that we can look forward to brighter times ahead.

One story that particularly tugged at our heartstrings and inspired similar acts of kindness throughout Canada is the one involving 13-year-old Allison Young from Cupids, Newfoundland. During the peak of the pandemic, Allison was given a “good deed” assignment in school by one of her teachers, who probably meant something simple like baking cookies for a classmate’s upcoming birthday or walking the neighbour’s dog. The teacher certainly was not expecting a grand gesture, which was what Allison exactly did.

When the assignment was first brought up in class, Allison thought about the senior population in the long-term care home where her mother worked. Allison knew that the seniors were one of those hardest hit by the pandemic, and she wanted to brighten their day in a way she could: by writing to them, all 124 of them.

Allison’s act of kindness is definitely a tough act to follow, but not impossible. Of course, even little gestures of kindness can go a long way. Here’s how to ignite the kindness in you so you can pass it onto other people:

• Practice self-kindness.

As the cliché goes, if you want to see a change in the world, you should start with yourself. We may not realize it, but sometimes we are too hard on ourselves and prone to being overly critical of our own actions. While it’s good to be self-aware, particularly on those things you can do better, you don’t have to beat yourself up when you don’t realize your own expectations. Be kind to yourself, and keep in mind that you do your best even during the tough times.

• Work on your empathy.

These days when we life seems to get busier by the day with all the things we try to accomplish, it’s easy to get stressed out and put our needs first ahead of everyone else’s. However, everyone is likely going through things as well like yourself, so before you pass on judgment, put yourself in their shoes and be more empathetic and understanding.

• Help your community out.

Helping out your community is always a good place to start when you want to promote kindness. You can start small such as volunteering to pack at food bank centres or serving meals at a community meal program. Remember though that it should all be about helping those who are in need of help and making sure that job is done well.

• Be ready to listen.

How many times have you stopped to listen to a person who suddenly approaches you on the street? You’ve probably waved your hand to say “no” or walked away before the person can speak. It’s become far too common that we are so embroiled in our daily tasks that we tend to automatically ignore strangers who approach us before we give them a chance to tell us what they need. Next time someone comes to you, stop for a moment and take time to listen. Maybe all that person needs is someone to acknowledge their presence, and that alone already means the world to them.

Don’t underestimate the power of kindness, and even little acts such as providing a listening ear, can go a long way.

You’ve probably come across the inspirational quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world” in social media countless times. These famous words are widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi though it’s said that it’s actually not. However, no matter who said it, the message is clear: you have the power to change the world, and it’s always best to start with yourself.

The message is aligned with the benefits of volunteering. If you believe strongly in a cause, you can’t sit idly by and watch others promote that cause. What you can do is join organizations or groups of like-minded individuals and make an effort to bring awareness to the cause.

December 5 is International Volunteer Day. The United Nations Volunteers founded International Volunteer Day in 1985 to celebrate the instruments for social change around the globe.

The first occurrence of volunteering dates back to medieval Europe, where religion and care for the sick went hand-in-hand. During this period, especially in England, plague was prevalent, and hundreds of hospitals run by churches received an influx of patients. Organized volunteering as we know it today began to take off in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with groups like Red Cross, Lions Club, Rotary Club, and the Y.M.C.A. leading the way. They started collecting donations, mobilizing volunteers, and doing charity work and community service.

Today, volunteering is more important than ever. If you’re thinking of giving back to the community, read below for the benefits you can expect to reap.

Volunteering is a learning opportunity.

When you give back, you become more receptive to the world around you and what’s happening. Therefore, you become more open to things that are new to you or that you’re not wholly familiar with. And even if you volunteer for an organization dedicated to a mission that’s close to your heart, you still get to learn from the team leaders or your fellow volunteers.

Volunteering gives you purpose.

Working to receive a pay cheque every two weeks to get you the basic needs is OK. However, more often than not, it’s not fulfilling. When you do volunteer work like helping out in a community kitchen to feed the needy, you feel you’re helping out individuals directly and you’re doing something more meaningful than crunching numbers or meeting deadlines.

Volunteering makes good use of free time.

Binging on your fave TV shows on one weekend is a great activity to give yourself a break after working hard for a week. However, if this is something you find yourself doing every weekend, you might as well plant yourself on your couch. It’s OK to embrace a form of entertainment, but if you find yourself not doing anything else, it’s great to give volunteering a chance where your free time will definitely be well-spent.

Volunteering gives you an opportunity to socialize.

Even when you work full-time or are self-employed, there’s not a lot of opportunity to socialize because most everyone seems to be pre-occupied with getting their tasks done. With volunteering, you get to work outside of your normal work hours and though you still have tasks to do, you have more flexibility to chat with fellow volunteer. What’s even better is that you know they already believe in the same causes as you do and it’s easier to share volunteer experiences.

Volunteering gives your resume that much-needed extra.

Impressive education and extensive work experience are definitely qualities that get you attention from hiring managers. However, in some cases or depending on the industry that you are targeting to get into, these are not enough to separate you from the rest, since most would probably have the same degree from a prestigious university or the same stint at a world-class company. In this regard, volunteer experience can truly set you apart from the rest.

 

Sources 

https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/benefits-of-volunteering

https://nationaltoday.com/international-volunteer-day/

https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=327

By Rabia Khan

Dogs are innocent creatures that make any dull day bright. The high risk of rabies has cautioned the Canadian government. They are taking into account the health and well-being of all humans and animals involved. The recent ban on street dogs from over 100 countries is to reduce the risk of rabies getting into Canada after two dogs from Iran were found to be infected. Some veterinary organizations welcome the ban and say that it is better to be safe than sorry. The Canadian Veterinarian Medical Association also supports the ban. Support is based on the threat to human life and also to the lives of pets if all these devastating canine rabies was allowed to spread. It is regulated to protect all concerned.

Health is the primary concern. Even if a dog has to be adopted there needs to be information about its health. There are a lot of animal rescue organizations that have pets that match your needs. They have unique breeds or sizes or types of animals that may appeal to you. Canada has a lot of unwanted pets needing homes or shelters. Saving a dog may be like saving a life if you have the resources at your behest. Remember that they also need a proper health check by a certified vet.

The requirement for dogs coming into Canada for adoption is that they are vaccinated against rabies. So a rabies vaccination is a must.

Below is further information about pet adoption and bringing dogs into Canada:

When a dog enters Canadian territory, it undergoes an inspection. It costs $40 for the first pet entering Canada and an additional $7.00 for each additional pet. A plane ticket is also mandatory when a dog is flying which costs anywhere from $100 to $200 each way. One passenger per dog is permitted. Once a ticket has been purchased, the dog can be put in a carrier and placed under the seat in front of the owner.

Canada requires that you microchip your pet with a fifteen-digit ISO 11784-compliant pet microchip and register your contact information in case of an emergency or if you lose your pet.

Dogs that come from another country to be transferred to another person for sale or adoption, as well as show, exhibition, or research, will be classified as commercial.

For all dogs entering Canada, proof of age, health certificate, ownership, and also rabies vaccination certificate is mandatory. Not all pet owners seem to have this information about their dogs.

Assistance dogs that act as a guide or any other service are not subject to any restrictions, but only if the dog is accompanied by its owner.

By Rabia Khan

2022 was a hard-hitting year not just for me but all of us who survived the pandemic. Nevertheless, it has been a good year. There is so much to be thankful for despite all that has been going on worldwide, for instance, the war in Ukraine. A lot of things went down. Politically the world is still not a better place to be, but hope rises eternally in a despondent heart.

I can only be grateful to have a roof over my head, a warm bed and hot meals, clean drinking water, and a good bath whenever I feel like it. I still see people wearing masks but I can’t be bothered. There are times when I have become so comfortable with this new normal.

I still think people have not come to terms with what affected them over the past two years. They are still struggling and stumbling along the way. I guess that is the power of the human spirit. Obstacles do not have to hinder us.

People want to try harder and make it work. That’s the change I have seen in people over the past year. Personal growth is something that happens when you partake of other people’s anguish. It’s your experience as well and helps you put life in perspective.

But sadly, homelessness has increased. I see it everywhere, in big cities, and it’s a crying shame. It cannot be helped because sometimes I think people in these dire situations do not want to help themselves. Maybe along the way their willpower has taken a hit.

What I see and feel is a part of me. It affects me as a person and as a human being it tears me apart. I am minuscule in this sea of humanity and all I can ever do is look after myself. Keeping a smile and a little wisdom, and not acting impulsively, has taken me a long way from being this indecisive person to a person that feels no more scared of life and where it’s taking her.

Do the best you can under all circumstances irrespective of how uncomfortable you are. When I lay my head down to sleep I want to sleep peacefully with a good conscience. I wish the same for all people. The ways I have grown over the past two years has been immensely beneficial and rewarding. I think it pays to be patient. I hope that people all over the globe begin to think in this positive way. It may not get you exactly what you want, but it may alleviate your hurt and disappointment.

By Avreet Jagdev

Have you ever been unsatisfied about something in your community? Perhaps you have an issue with the city’s potholes, or the public transit system. Maybe you disagree with a municipal policy — or you have a problem with a larger issue that provincial or federal governments are in charge of, such as healthcare or the military.

Perhaps you are really passionate about a specific issue, one that you want to see more awareness and action around. Luckily, you have the option of lobbying politicians. Lobbying means to try to influence government decisions. It can be done by a group of people, an organization, or even just an individual.

Here are some ways that you can lobby politicians to make a difference:

1. Write an email

In our digital age, communication has become quite easy! All it takes is a quick Google search to find your local MP (Federal Member of of Parliament) or MPP’s (Members of Provincial Parliament) email address. It is your elected representative’s job to represent their constituents, so if there’s something you care about, make sure you reach out and let them know!

2. Create a petition

There really is strength in numbers. This is especially true when you’re looking to create a change about something that really matters. If there’s an issue in your community that you want concrete action around, gathering signatures is a great way to show politicians just how many people care about the issue.

3. Request a meeting

It’s possible to schedule a call or a meeting with your local representative by reaching out to their office and asking to set up a time to speak with them. This is an especially good choice for issues that are less “black and white” and might require a lot of discussion.

4. Volunteer for organizations that are working on the issue you’re passionate about

If you really care about an issue, chances are, tons of other people do too. It’s a good idea to do some research and identify organizations who are fighting for the same issue you are. Chances are, they’re working on lobbying of their own! See how you can get involved and volunteer with them to strengthen their fight.

5. Try a phone zap

This is a specific method that involves pressuring politicians to take action. Similar to a petition, it involves a lot of people who are passionate about the same issue. Instead of collecting signatures, people make a large number of calls all at once, spreading awareness of the issue and demanding change.

6. Stay politically involved

At the very core of lobbying is staying politically involved. This means keeping up with what is going on in the government, exercising your right to vote, joining a riding association, becoming a member of a political party, and attending town halls or other events.

It’s important to remember that we live under a democracy, so we have the power to make the change that we want to see in our communities.

By Rabia Khan

It’s healthy to eat home-cooked food rather than binge on junk food. Initially, it may seem a painstaking task to try your hands at cooking but once you are used to stepping up to the food scene, it becomes effortless to cook if you know exactly what you have to do in the kitchen. So here are some YouTube channels that may hopefully help you navigate around your pots and pans.

Here’s to healthy living!

1. Binging with Babish

Be it linguine, spaghetti, or vermicelli, Binging with Babish gives you ideas about cooking your meat, pasta, or bread – and a twist to your Italian food can make any day brighter, right? It’s totally worth making bread out of dough balls. Besides, it’s fun labour!

2. How To Cake It

If you’re a baking pro and want to up your skills by impressing friends or family with delectable, cute little things, How To Cake It helps you play around with funnel cakes and other baked items. It’s all about chocolate and vanilla magic, and you must give it a try!

3. You Suck At Cooking

You Suck At Cooking is a YouTube channel that makes cooking lasagna totally easy and uncomplicated. It’s a fantastic treat to your pasta menu and enlightens you about kinds of pasta that you’ve never heard of before. This is a must-try if your palate loves these recipes – a feast for the taste buds, I bet.

4. Food Wishes

We all have times when we’re struggling to grab a bite in the kitchen and trying hard to cook tasty food but fail. Food Wishes perfect your culinary senses to form a delicious platter in a convenient and detailed way that makes it all the more fun and satisfying.

5. Pro Home Cooks

Pro Home Cooks is all about easy-to-cook recipes that make you wonder why you were scared about cooking in the first place, because these Greenfield brothers help you thrive in the kitchen. Josh may have left the channel, but Mike continues to make videos for it.

6. Serious Eats

Serious Eats helps make complicated dishes look like child’s play. It’s all about wholesome ingredients and healthy choices. Take a bite into greens and feel a part of the sustainable movement – it’s time for an environmental revolution!

7. Almazankitchen

If you like building a home amidst nature, Almazankitchen will surely break all boundaries for forestry buddies. Imagine cooking near a flowing river and birds tweeting. Soulful ASMR sounds are enough to get your taste buds tingling. From simple and delicious chicken roasting recipes to spaghetti on a wood fire, get your cooking hats on!

8. Gordon Ramsay

Learn from the king himself! Not many are aware that cooking titan Gordon Ramsay has a YouTube channel to teach audiences culinary skills, and it’s completely worth giving a shot. You might be wondering if Ramsay would be playing with fire and throwing food in anger in his videos, but trust me, that’s not the case. Just like a typical YouTuber, he displays his hits of home cooking!