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Category: Featured Articles

  • How to Prepare for a Job Interview

    How to Prepare for a Job Interview

    By Olivia Condlln-Wilby

    Job interviews are stressful. Whether you’re preparing for your first one ever, or you have a hundred of them under your belt, it’s normal to be at least a little bit nervous every time. Maybe you’re worried that you won’t have enough to talk about or that your mind will go blank in the moment. Perhaps you have a tendency to ramble and get off topic, and you’re worried you won’t actually express what you need to say in the interview. Whatever your concern, a little preparation can go a long way to helping you feel confident and ready to shine when your interview date finally comes. Spend some time following these steps, and you’ll find interviews to be much less stressful, especially as you do more and more of them.

    1. Do your research.

    Before your interview, take some time to research the organization and the position you’re interested in. Most companies have a website or social media that you can scan for information about the organization’s mission, goals, activities, history, and services or products. It’s common for an interviewer to ask something like, “What do you know about our organization?” Be prepared to answer this question with a few key points from your research. To a hiring manager, this preparation shows commitment, enthusiasm, organization, and professionalism.

    It’s also a good idea to re-read the job listing before your interview. What skills and competencies are required for the role? Which of your past experiences are most relevant? You can start to anticipate some of the questions they may ask based on the content of the job listing. For example, if the listing mentions that they want someone who’s “a strong communicator,” you can bet that they will ask you to discuss your interpersonal and communication skills, as well as your experiences working with others.

    1. Make notes.

    Think about your most relevant skills and experiences and start to write down some of the examples you plan to discuss in your interview. Everyone takes notes differently, but a tried-and-true method for job interviews is the STARR method. For each skill or experience you wish to highlight, you can use this approach to structure your answer:

    Situation: Describe the general context for your answer. For example: “I was volunteering at my local library, reading stories to children.”

    Task: Identify the specific task that you had to complete. For example: “I had to keep a group of young children focused and engaged for 45 minutes, without losing control of the audience.”

    Action: Explain the actions you took to complete the task. For example: “I encouraged audience participation by letting children pick the books and take turns reading so that they would stay focused and engaged during story time.”

    Result: Describe the positive outcome(s) of your actions. For example: “The children remained happy and engaged throughout the story, and many of them returned the following week because they had such a good time.”

    Relevance: Make a connection to the job you’re currently interested in. For example: “This experience demonstrates my ability to work with children and keep them on topic for extended periods of time. As a camp counsellor, I would use these skills to maintain control of my group of campers and ensure that each day runs smoothly and enjoyably.”

    You may not use the STARR method for every single answer during the interview, but writing out a few examples beforehand can help you reflect on your qualifications and figure out how to describe them to the interviewer in the best possible way.

    1. Prepare your questions.

    Every interviewer is trying to assess whether you’d be a good fit for the role, but the interview is also a chance for you to find out more about the organization and whether you’d truly be happy working there. At the end of an interview, you will likely be asked something like, “Do you have any questions for me?” This is a perfect opportunity for you to gain some clarity about the job, the work culture, and the people you’d be working with if you’re successful in getting hired. Some sample questions you may want to ask include:

    • How would you describe the work culture at [Insert Organization]?
    • What is your favourite thing about working there? What is your least favourite?
    • What would a typical day in this role look like for me?
    1. Avoid common pitfalls.

    There are some major “don’ts” when it comes to preparing for job interviews, and it’s important to avoid making these common mistakes.

    • Do not walk into an interview without any background knowledge about the organization. It definitely won’t make a good impression on the interviewer if you end up having to admit that you don’t know anything about the company you’re trying to work for.
    • Do not try to “wing it,” especially if it’s your first time. Even if you feel confident beforehand, you may find yourself getting nervous and flustered during the interview, especially if you haven’t done many of them before (or at all). Prepare, prepare, prepare!
    • Do not ask superficial or “Google-able” questions. Not only does this waste an opportunity to find out more valuable insights, but it also reflects poorly on you if you ask a question that could have easily been answered by skimming the company website.

    By following these simple guidelines, you can prepare properly for every job interview that comes your way and avoid the missteps most people make during the interview process.

  • Interview Prep 101: Do’s and Don’ts

    Interview Prep 101: Do’s and Don’ts

    Applying for a job is the first step in starting an amazing career. Step 2 is to nail your interview. Sometimes, interviews can be a place of stress and the unknown of what they may ask can intensify the worry. The best way to cope with this stress is by learning what they may ask or discuss during an interview. In this article, I will run through some of the do’s and don’ts of being interviewed.

    Do:

    • Before coming to your interview, do some research about the company you might work with. What may some of your responsibilities be? What is their dress code?
    • Dress the part! After your research, show up to your interview dressed in their dress code. There’s a saying of “dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” So if you’re applying for an office position, wear business-casual clothing. If you’re applying to be a server, all black or neutrals could be a good option.
    • Prepare! There are some questions asked in almost every interview that you can prepare for. Plan some points for the following questions: Why do you want to work here? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? If you prepare, it will ease your stress.
    • Bring a hard copy of your resume. It is always good to bring in a second copy of your resume to ensure they have it on file and can look over it with you. Bringing in a hard copy will also help you seem prepared.
    • Be aware of your body language. Sitting upright with squared shoulders will project a feeling of confidence. Keep your arms uncrossed to appear open, and nod your head to show you are listening intently.
    • Listen! Pay attention to what the interviewer is asking you.
    • Ask questions. If you are confused about something, or just want further clarification, do not be afraid to ask questions! Asking questions will show that you are taking a sincere interest in the position and company.
    • Conduct yourself with respect. Showing respect for the surrounding people can make or break an interview. Be kind to the person who greets you, your interviewer, and whomever else you might meet along the way.

    Don’t:

    • Go in unprepared. Trying to “wing it” may seem like a good idea, but it works against you to be unprepared. You may appear irresponsible to the employer.
    • Dress down. Most people make a judgement based on your appearance. So if you show up to an office interview in sweatpants, the interviewer may make the assumption you are lazy or unprofessional.
    • Slouch, cross your arms, or scowl. Body language shows your authentic emotions. So slouching might make you come across as bored. Scowling will show that you are uninterested and maybe frustrated.
    • Be distracted. If you don’t pay attention in your interview, you might miss important information or an important question.
    • Lying during an interview also works against you. On your resume you provided references, so your interviewer can easily make a phone call and discover the truth behind why your last job ended.
    • Conduct yourself with disrespect. Being rude to the person offering you a job is a great way to be unemployed. Especially if you’re applying for a position where you’ll work with the public. This may make the employer think you cannot interact with customers in a friendly way.

    Hopefully, this list of do’s and don’ts helps you feel more prepared for your upcoming interview!

    Take a deep breath and go in with your head held high. Good luck, you’ve got this!

     

    Sources

    20 Crucial Job Interviews Do’s and Don’ts. LiveCareer. (2023) https://careersidekick.com/job-interview-dos-donts/

  • Exploring Non-Degree Education Options in Canada

    Exploring Non-Degree Education Options in Canada

    By Olivia-Condlln Wilby

    Although many students choose to pursue a degree after high school, there are lots of options for learning at the postsecondary level – including courses, certificates, and diplomas, as well as the trades. Just like a degree program, these alternative pathways allow students to explore areas of interest and receive credentials that boost their employability. However, these programs are usually shorter, and they tend to have a more practical (rather than academic) focus. They are best suited for students who want to explore a particular topic or gain a specific set of skills without committing to an entire degree program. In fact, even for those who have already earned a degree, these non-degree options can serve to build additional skills and technical knowledge for the workforce.

    Auditing Courses

    One way to pursue non-degree education is to audit courses at a college or university. To audit a course means to attend and participate in it as if you are enrolled, without actually receiving any credit for completing the course. You will likely have access to course materials and assignments, but you may not be required to submit any of the coursework (although, these requirements and expectations vary from course to course). At the end of the semester, you will have gained new knowledge and skills related to the course topic, but you won’t see it show up on a final transcript, and it won’t count towards the completion of a degree.

    Microcredentials

    Microcredentials are typically short, skills-based programs that aim to prepare students to enter a specific career or industry. For example, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) offers microcredential programs in areas like “Full-Stack Web Development” and “Technical Communication” for students and professionals seeking to build specific competencies in information technology. At the University of Toronto, students can take courses in accounting, business, engineering, finance, leadership, and a variety of other subjects. These are standalone courses that do not lead to a degree or diploma, but nevertheless help students develop new skills and boost their resumes.

    Practical Benefits

    Non-degree coursework allows students to explore a subject without risking any damage to their academic standing or GPA. Many microcredential programs are pass-fail, meaning that students don’t need to stress about a ton of evaluations or letter grades. By the same token, students can audit courses without receiving a grade (or even having to complete any assignments, in some cases). Maybe you’re interested in a topic, like Biochemistry or Economics, but don’t feel confident enough to add the course to your degree. Consider auditing the course or registering for a microcredential in that subject area, instead.

    Non-degree coursework can also help students make more informed decisions about their degrees. You can explore different majors, minors, and specializations without penalty, and make connections with professors and classmates outside of your academic faculty. Maybe you’ll realize that there’s another major you find more interesting, or a minor that you want to add to your degree. Non-degree options like course audits and microcredentials allow you to experiment with different fields of study without making any significant changes to your degree trajectory.

    Non-degree coursework can also help you decide whether a degree program is right for you in the first place. So many students rush into a university or college program because they feel like pursuing a degree is their only option, or because all their friends are going, or because they’re worried about getting a job without a degree. But for some people, a degree just isn’t the right choice. Research indicates that roughly 23 per cent of college students drop out after the first year, along with 15 per cent of university students in Canada. Among those who drop out of school, roughly 77 per cent do so towards the end of their second year of study – after already spending time, money, and energy working towards a degree. If you’re not sure whether college or university is right for you, it’s a good idea to audit a few courses at the post-secondary level before you make any big personal or financial commitments. And if you decide that a degree isn’t right for you, a microcredential could be a better fit.

    Pursuing Non-Degree Education

    Every institution is different in terms of the requirements for entering non-degree coursework programs. Whether you’re currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution or you’re just starting to consider your options, take some time to explore the non-degree coursework available to you and whether any of the choices pique your interest. A few institutions that offer non-degree coursework are as follows:

    This is not an exhaustive list. If non-degree coursework is something that interests you, feel free to do a little research into the colleges and universities near you. You might be surprised at how many non-degree options are available to you.

  • Creating a Canadian Resume: Tips and Tricks for Professional Success

    Creating a Canadian Resume: Tips and Tricks for Professional Success

    By Olivia Condlln-Wilby

    In Canada, your resume is an essential part of the job search process. It is your primary method of advertising your skills, experiences, and achievements to potential employers, and hiring managers will use it to assess whether you’re qualified for the role and a good fit for the company. Knowing how to create an effective resume is a skill that will support your success in any future profession – plus, it will make the entire job search process much easier and less stressful. As you prepare to embark on your next job application, feel free to use this article as a resource for writing, updating, and proofreading your resume.

    Resume Appearance

    Your resume should be clear, concise, and easy to read. Employers may be reviewing hundreds of resumes from candidates just like you, and they will likely spend a total of 30 seconds skimming the content before deciding whether to invite you for an interview. As such, it’s important to make yourself stand out and get your key points across quickly. Some quick tips for success are as follows:

    • Begin with a header. At the top of your resume, create a header with your name, contact information, and perhaps a link to your LinkedIn page, if you have one.
    • Be consistent. Use a consistent font, style, and text size throughout your resume.
    • Use space effectively. You don’t want your resume to be cluttered and hard to read. Try to avoid using unnecessary graphics, borders, and other embellishments; focus on the essential content rather than a fancy design.

    Resume Content & Structure

    Canadian employers typically expect resumes to have a certain structure, and while you may be tempted to deviate from the norm, it can actually hurt your chances of getting hired if you think too far outside of the box. A Canadian resume should be 1 or 2 pages, maximum, and submitting a 3-4 page resume may result in a hiring manager deciding not to bother reading it.

    Within those 1-2 pages, a Canadian resume should have the following sections:

    • Professional Summary (or Objective): In this section, you can introduce yourself and highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. If you had just a few sentences to explain why you deserve this job, what would you say?

    Example: “Hard-working student with strong multitasking skills and previous experience in a fast-paced retail environment, seeking an opportunity to apply my excellent interpersonal skills to a customer service position.”

    • Skills & Competencies: These are a few bullet points outlining your most relevant skills. Review the job listing and pay attention to the specific criteria they’ve outlined for their ideal candidate. How have you demonstrated those skills?

    Example: “Strong communication skills demonstrated by over a year of experience in customer service.”

    • Relevant Experience: Identify your most relevant experiences and create 3-5 bullet points to describe each one. These could be work, volunteer, or extra-curricular activities that show how you’re qualified for the job you’re interested in. Use action words to describe your experiences and emphasize your specific achievements.

    Example: “Collaborated with a team of volunteers to deliver hot meals to the elderly, resulting in a high satisfaction rate among consumers and an efficient delivery schedule.”

    • Education: In this section, you can list your educational history, including the name of the schools you’ve previously attended, as well as the dates you were enrolled there.

    Example: “Northern Secondary School, September 2021 – Present.”

    In your resume, you may also choose to include a section focusing on scholarships, awards, projects, or other achievements that do not fall under the categories listed above. A section like this is completely optional, and you should only include it if the items you want to list are specifically related to the job you’re applying for.

    Moving Forward with Job Applications

    If you follow the resume structure and general guidelines outlined above, you can feel confident that your resume will be in line with Canadian standards and have a good chance of impressing employers as they review all the applications that come in for each job. Remember to be clear, concise, and organized, and don’t be shy about highlighting your skills and achievements.

  • Textbooks Are Pricey, But It’s Possible to Save On Costs

    Textbooks Are Pricey, But It’s Possible to Save On Costs

    Textbooks for college and university courses are necessary – unfortunately, they are often also very expensive.

    If you prefer to buy new and can afford to do so, feel free!  But if, like most students, you’re looking to save on textbook costs to maximize your budget, there are plenty of ways to find textbooks for a lower price – and in some cases, for free.  It can take a bit more effort than simply walking into your campus bookstore, but the savings will be worth it.

    Used Textbooks

    Buying your textbooks used is the most obvious cost-saver, since used books will often be priced significantly lower than brand new.  Used book stores located near your campus are likely to have previously owned textbooks that other students have sold, though whether you find what you need or someone else beats you to it can be a challenge.  Most campus book stores will also have a section for used copies of required texts, though again these will disappear quickly.

    Shopping around online will also yield plenty of used textbooks.  Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Amazon, and eBay all regularly have textbooks available used or otherwise discounted.  Often there are also local campus or student groups who organize online communities to connect students looking to buy, sell, share, or trade their old texts.  You can also arrange with friends to either buy their used textbooks when taking the same courses, or arrange to share in the initial purchase cost and then share the book between two or three people.

    Old Editions

    Buying older editions of a textbook is another great way to save on costs. Often a previous version will be almost identical to the current version, and will be more affordable or more likely to be available used.  How useful this tactic is will depend on the course and topic, however.  For example, different editions of novels for a literature course are likely to contain the same text, while a science or engineering textbook can become outdated between one version to the next.

    If you’re not sure whether an older edition will suffice, speak with your professor – they will be able to tell you how much of a difference there is between editions. If the material is almost all the same, it can still be worthwhile to buy the cheaper old edition and find any necessary newer material from another source such as from another student or friend who does have the new edition, or a copy at the library.

    Campus and Public Libraries

    Campus libraries and public libraries will often have copies of a necessary textbook, or (especially in the case of novels) will have multiple equivalent versions available.  For instance, aside from page numbers being different, one copy of Frankenstein will be the same as the next.  Often libraries will have both physical editions and digital ebooks to borrow, to suit whichever method you prefer.  And, of course, borrowing from the library is free!

    eBooks and Open-Source Textbooks

    Physical textbooks aren’t the only option anymore, thanks to the proliferation of digital media, ebooks, and mobile devices.  Digital versions of a textbook can be significantly less expensive than physical print versions, with the added benefit of not taking up space on your shelves.  Many publishers also offer digital versions of their textbooks, which can be purchased for ereaders such as Kindle or Kobo, as well as for using on a regular tablet or laptop.

    In some cases, open-source textbooks and other free digital books are a viable option.  Especially when it comes to older novels and texts, these are often out of copyright or otherwise available in the public domain, and therefore easy to find for free online at sites such as Project Gutenberg, Open Library, Google Books, Google Scholar, and many popular ebook services.

    Price Shop Online and In Stores

    Shopping around before you buy is good advice for any purchase, and can lead to some significant savings when it comes to textbooks.  Don’t just buy the first copy you come across – take the time to shop around online and in your local new and used book stores, and compare prices and editions.  This way you’ll be able to find the best value for your money, whether that ends up being a physical used copy, a digital ebook, or a new physical book.

    Rent Your Textbooks

    Another cost saving option is to rent necessary textbooks through your campus bookstore or another textbook rental service.  This enables you to use the newest version of a textbook, without paying full price.  The caveat here is that there are likely to be time limits on how long your rental period lasts, so make sure that what you’re renting will be yours for the amount of time you need it.  If you’ll end up renewing the rental one or more times, calculate the costs and make sure it’s still cheaper than buying the book outright.

    Sell Your Old Textbooks

    If you know for sure you won’t need a textbook after a class is done, sell it forward to a book store or another student to recoup some of your costs and help offset your next semester’s book-buying.  While this may not net you a huge amount of money—especially if you bought your books used in the first place—every little bit helps out the next semester’s budget.

    Grants and Scholarships

    Lastly, there are plenty of grants and scholarships available that will offset some or all of the costs of your textbooks for a course, a semester, or even the whole year.  Inquire with your school, as well as scholarship sites online, to see what’s available and what you’re eligible for.

     

    Sources

    https://www.universitymagazine.ca/how-to-save-money-on-textbooks/

    https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/student-life/how-to-save-money-on-textbooks/

    https://www.savethestudent.org/shopping/how-to-save-money-on-student-text-books.html

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertfarrington/2021/07/21/how-to-save-big-on-college-textbooks-this-year/?sh=5805ed75982e

  • Why Recess is Crucial for Child Development

    Why Recess is Crucial for Child Development

    Recess is a routine outdoor time for elementary school students. This is a time of the day for students to be physically active outside, and take part in various forms of play. As an ECE student, I am constantly told just how important recess is for children. Recess allows children to exercise, form friendships, explore their imagination, and improve on specific skills.

    First, outdoor recess brings children closer to nature. Spending time in grass, near trees or bushes, and other natural materials has a great impact on children. This time outside gives them fresh air and sunlight. All these things boost children’s mood and cognition, and it is essential for them to be outdoors often. In fact, “children’s diminishing time outdoors in unstructured play experiences correlates with increased incidents of stress, anxiety, and depression.” (Child Development, pg 496) So the more time children get to spend outdoors, the less likely they are to have increased amounts of stress and anxiety. Outdoor time boosts their mood for the rest of the day. Children being close to nature affects their understanding of emotions as well. Children who spend more time in nature were found to be more empathetic towards other people, and develop empathy sooner than children who were not outdoors often.

    Second, recess builds upon a child’s physical development and their physical literacy. Recess offers plenty of space for children to engage in rigorous physical activity, which they do not get to experience while in class. Children have specific movements and physical developmental goals, and these can only be reached by spending time outside and taking part in physical activity. The specific movements children must learn are: running, jumping, throwing, catching, balancing and kicking. These skills can only be learned in gym class, or during recess when in a school setting. Physical benefits of recess include: maintaining a healthy weight, encouraging muscle growth, developing strong bones, and improving a child’s sleeping and eating habits. Physical literacy is a lifelong skill that children develop in situations like recess. Physical literacy is the understanding, motivation and confidence to take part in physical activity and exercise, as part of their lifestyle. “Physical activity enables children and adults to release tension, have fun, learn social skills, and build-self esteem as they develop skills.” (Healthy Foundations, pg 333) Physical activity benefits all other areas of a child’s development.

    Recess is crucial for other developmental areas as well. It affects a child’s cognitive, social and emotional development. Regarding a child’s emotional development, recess offers a break from daily stressors. This time allows children to reduce any anxiety or depression and improves upon their ability to manage stress. Recess is an excellent time for children to develop their social skills. It provides an unstructured, child-led environment for them to connect with their peers. Children can use this time to develop strong friendships and work on their problem-solving skills. The benefits of recess trickle into a child’s cognitive development as well. After recess children have an increase in their concentration, memory, alertness, creativity and motivation to learn.

    The benefits of recess are endless! Children are improving on their social, physical, cognitive, and emotional development through the bit of recess they receive. This time allows children to develop and become well-functioning adults, and prevent future issues. In fact, children should receive more recess time. Being away from the classroom will benefit their grades, friendships, and physical health.

     

     

    References

    Pimento, B. Kernested, D. Healthy Foundations in Early Childcare Settings. 6th edition. (2019) Nelson.

    Santrock. Deater-Deckard. Lansford. Piercy. Rosati. Child Development. 2nd edition. (2022) McGraw Hill.

  • Friendships in Adulthood: Keeping the Balance

    Friendships in Adulthood: Keeping the Balance

    As young children, making friends is as easy as breathing. But coming into adulthood, we can’t just sit down beside another adult and play with blocks. Finding friendships and maintaining them can be difficult as adults. We have to find common interests, balance friendship and work life, and still have time for ourselves. Although it seems difficult, friendship is crucial to a healthy life. Friendships offer a sense of community, belonging and support. When we have good friends, we feel better both physically, and mentally. When discussing friendships and how to make and maintain them, there are a few things to note.

    1. Friendships take effort

    Like most of everything else in life, we must put in effort to see positive results. Friendships are no different! When we meet people who we want to become friends with, it is important to put in consistent effort to show you’d like a platonic relationship with them. With new friends, this effort may look like making conversation, sharing details about yourself, and finding common interests. As the friendship progresses, you can put effort into spending time together face-to-face. This means scheduling lunch, going for a walk or meeting up somewhere for coffee. Face-to-face time is crucial for maintaining a friendship. This is how we connect best as people. We must make time for our friendships. If we are always prioritizing other things over our friends, that friendship is likely to fizzle out.

    1. Put yourself out there

    Friendships are hard to find if you’re only at home or work. Part of the process is getting into public places to meet new people. You could go to the park, library, cafe, or gym. At first you may not have much luck, but after visiting multiple times you may see friendly faces. Developing a new routine and going out makes it easier to work up to talking to new people. Also, you could join a club or group that meets frequently. These meetings will encourage you to go out, and will be centered on a topic that already interests you. It will also provide a conversation topic that you know the other person will be interested in.

    1. Become friends with yourself

    As important as friendship is, we have to find a balance between prioritizing others and prioritizing ourselves. No friendship is ever worth sacrificing your values, beliefs, or sense of self. Friendships can be tricky to navigate, but you can find some clarity when you look inwards and put effort into becoming friends with yourself. You should discover what is important to you in friendships, and what kind of friend you might need. Understanding yourself will help you understand others.

    On top of these things, it is important to give yourself grace. Making friends as an adult can be extremely difficult, especially after the pandemic. This difficulty only increases if you are introverted or have a hectic schedule. However, it is absolutely worth the effort to make new friends, and keep up with the old ones. Put in the effort, put yourself out there, and become friends with yourself to ensure you make beautiful friendships from now on.

     

    References

    Pearson, C. How to Make Friends as an Adult. (2022) New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/well/live/how-to-make-friends-adult.html
    Lee, J.W. 5 Easy Tips for Making Friends as an Adult. (2023) NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1176641928/how-to-make-friends-anywhere-you-move
    Walsh Miller, C. How to Make Friends as an Adult- and keep them. (2023) https://www.rd.com/article/how-to-make-friends-adult/

  • A Letter To My Elementary-Aged Self

    A Letter To My Elementary-Aged Self

    Dear Tiffany,

    Right now, you’re having a lot of fun. While doing your best with academics and extracurricular activities, you also have a great group of friends who you see at school five days a week. Life is fine. Nonetheless, being you from the future and knowing what I know now, I’d like to provide some advice that I think would be useful:

    First of all, enjoy spending time with friends as much as possible. As you’ve learned, friendships don’t always last so appreciate all the good moments you get to experience with them.

    You are a very quiet, introverted girl who lacks confidence, and having these traits can make it difficult to put yourself out there. As a result, many opportunities have been missed. Not raising your hand in class when you know the answers to some questions remains an example. Also, you usually don’t speak up about things, even when you think you should. This especially refers to bullying.

    Where bullies are concerned, I want to emphasize that you don’t want to look back and wonder: “What if?” What if I had said something? What if I had spoken up? Would things have turned out differently? When you think any situation is wrong or unfair, please tell someone. At times, people might not believe you or attempt to dismiss what you have to say, but don’t give up so easily. Even if nothing comes of your efforts in the end, at least you tried.

    In order to improve this, the initial step is to work on actually feeling as though you deserve to voice your opinions and stand up for yourself. We both know you’re a tolerant person. Whether it’s continuing with certain extracurriculars you find tiresome or facing scary conflicts, you’ve developed a resilience to deal with challenging situations.

    You should be proud of being resilient but try determining the difference between situations where tolerating is justified and what simply isn’t acceptable. You can also think of this ability to distinguish between the two as setting an example for other people. What would you want them to do if they were in your shoes? Asking yourself questions like this sometimes is key as you tackle difficulties both in and outside school walls. Care as much about your feelings/well-being as much as you do others.

    To end this letter on a pleasant note and give you a glimpse into what’s in store: An amazing teacher you’ll have (and never forget) will inspire you to look at similar issues as well as many other areas of life from a refreshing perspective.

    Though you’ll definitely continue to encounter challenges while you’re a student (and afterwards), there’s also plenty of things you can look forward to. Trust me when I say that your days of textbooks and backpacks will pass by really quickly. With these notes in mind, take more chances as you go through this process. Try being more confident because you have more to offer than you realize.

    Sincerely,

    Future Tiffany

  • Transphobia in Canada: A look into the issue, and what must be done.

    Transphobia in Canada: A look into the issue, and what must be done.

    By Avreet Jagdev

    Transphobia is a term that refers to discrimination against transgender and gender-queer people. At the core, it is rooted in a rejection of transgender identity, and refusing to acknowledge or understand that being transgender, non-binary, or gender-queer is valid and real.

    Transphobia can manifest in many forms: from verbal and physical harassment and abuse, to the removal of trans rights, to the systematic exclusion of trans people. In Canada, members of the trans community say that they are seeing and experiencing signs of rising transphobia across the country.

    In the past, Canada has taken action towards protecting trans rights. Notably, the passing of Bill C-16 in 2017 amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to include gender identity and expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination. Despite this act, transphobia continues to exist in Canada today. One example is the rise in opinion articles, published by news organizations including the Toronto Star and CBC, which have pushed transphobic ideas and opinions.

    It is very harmful to members of the trans community when anti-trans ideology is publicly shared online, especially when it is done from widely known and credible sources such as CBC and Toronto Star. The problem doesn’t end here, however. Even notable author J.K Rowling was criticized for transphobia, for her stance against inclusive terms such as “people who menstruate”. She believes terms such as these take away from the women’s rights movement. However, these terms are essential to the inclusion of transgender, non-binary, and gender queer people in the fight against period stigma.

    Outside of transphobia in the news and from public figures, anti-trans discrimination impacts transgender people in their personal lives, such as at work or school. This is often done through misgendering, which trans people can often experience from their peers, co-workers, or managers. Misgendering is when people refer to a transgender, nonbinary, or gender queer person using terms or pronouns related to how they identified before transitioning. This can be intentional or unintentional, but is harmful because it invalidates trans identity. This has negative consequences for the overall mental health of the misgendered person, by making them feel invalid, not understood, and stigmatized.

    Rising levels of transphobia are evident in many other Canadian news headlines. In July, a family-friendly drag show in Victoria was canceled after the cafe it was planned to be hosted at received violent and threatening calls, with one caller even threatening to “shoot up the place”. Drag story-time events in public libraries have also received criticism rooted in homophobia and transphobia. Meanwhile, Pride flags in various locations in Ontario and British Columbia have been ripped down, and a seventeen year old in Mississauga was arrested for threatening to conduct a mass shooting at Pride celebration.

    Evidently, transphobia is rampant in Canada, despite trans identities being legally protected by Bill C-16. It is important to take action against all forms of discrimination when we see it, including anti-trans and LGBTQ discrimination. You can help lessen the harmful impact of anti-trans discrimination by being a good ally to the transgender and queer people in your community, and by unconditionally respecting and celebrating their identities.

  • Strategies for Coping with Social Anxiety When You Find It Overwhelming: What You Can Do Before You Even Go Outside

    Strategies for Coping with Social Anxiety When You Find It Overwhelming: What You Can Do Before You Even Go Outside

    Having social anxiety can be difficult. Within the past three years in particular, discussions about it have increased because COVID-19 has resulted in people staying at home much more than before and being around others again is causing discomfort for many. Some may even feel overwhelmed by this anxiety at times as well as are unsure how to effectively handle it.

    If you’ve been experiencing social anxiety that’s overwhelming, here are strategies for coping and suggestions for what you can do before even going outside.

    Strategies for Coping with Overwhelming Social Anxiety

    Prepare for Your In-Person Interactions

    A main aspect of social anxiety is worrying about how your interactions will go with others. Therefore, a good way to take some pressure off of yourself in this respect includes preparing for these interactions. To provide an example, if you’re running errands that must be done in-person such as going to a bank and seeing a teller or financial advisor, plan what you’ll say. You could even carefully word your requests prior to saying them. The same goes for responses to questions you anticipate will be asked of you. This preparation might put you more at ease and even increase your confidence when speaking with others.

    Engage With Breathing Exercises

    Research breathing exercises that address social anxiety. These types of exercises won’t take up too much of your time and can easily be done just before you open the door to go outside. There’s a good chance that you’ll find some online that can help calm you down.

    Remind Yourself That Others Are Usually Not Critical of How You Act

    Often times, you are much more worried and critical of how you act than others. It’s understandable if you anticipate making a mistake or believe you’ll be awkward during your exchange with someone but try not to solely focus on this as it won’t help. Taking the example above that involves going to a bank, the teller or financial advisor probably won’t remember these details about your interaction by the end of the day as they see so many different people on a regular basis. Though challenging, remind yourself that completing the errand is what’s important and to not dwell on what you believe the other person thinks of you as there’s no need for it.

    Try Seeing a Mental Health Professional

    If you have social anxiety that’s significantly affecting various areas of your life, try seeing a mental health professional. They’ll help tackle these anxious feelings you’ve been experiencing by providing useful approaches. Also, many related services are available remotely as well as in-person. A directly related goal could even be starting off your appointments through video calls, then working towards feeling comfortable enough to leave home and see the professional in person.

    Experiencing social anxiety is particularly difficult, especially when living in a world where strong interpersonal skills are often expected of us. However, given the unique circumstances with COVID-19, society has lately been more empathetic toward those who have this anxiety. Therefore, it’s crucial to figure out how to address it, but also not be too tough on yourself in the process. If you’re prepared to try your absolute best while considering the advice above, you have the tools for successfully coping with social anxiety.