January 14

December option B: The truth of society

Why is it we all treat others so harsh? Look at the past, how the treatment of African American was so unjust or the mistreatment of individuals such as Elie from the novel Night. If deep down everyone is truly kind and merciful how did such events occur? I write this persuasive piece to show the true heart of the world and how individuals only really care about themselves and have discontent towards certain individuals. Just take a look outside and you’ll still see the unfair treatment of certain religions,races, and cultures. I ask all these questions knowing there will never be a correct answer or that there will even be answered.

 

There is no individual one may put forth that will be willing to give up their own fortune for the sake of someone they do not even know. We can put a facade up showing a false image of ourselves but no matter how good our false identity is when put to the test no one will pass. I don’t say this with passion and joy of demining everyone but with sorrow for how weak man truly is. This can be proven with such a vast amount of examples, the first example that is most recent is the Uyghur Muslims in China who are being placed in internment camps. How is it possible in this day and age after watching the mass murder of millions of Jews and the regret and sorrow that comes with the Holocaust we still cant recognize the present day Holocaust? Why is it no one has taken action or done something, how is it world leaders watch this injustice continue with a blind eye. If we were really good people wouldn’t we have done something now other than just posting something on our Instagram and forget it. Mankind has evolved from the dawn of time from the en-slavery of non-whites to the multiple genocides. This can also be proven with the huge gap between the rich and poor, how is it with all the wealth billionaires and millionaires have we still end up with poor people can’t they just give some of their money for the poor. There’s one simple answer greed, everyone is full of greed and doesn’t really care about anyone but themselves.

Category: Aazab | 1 Comment on December option B: The truth of society
January 12

Persuasive 4 day week

Dear Prosper school board I write this letter to you on the proposal of a four day school week, my name is Alex Wells and I am in grade 12. I have taken in all the potential factor not only for students but for parents and teachers, looking at both the pros and cons. I respectfully ask that the board keep my letter in mind when making the decision and to also remember their own responsibilities.  

 

 At first a four day week may sound very appealing and most will quickly believe less school equals less work and more free time but we should take in all the factors at hand. No matter how many days of school there will be there still must be a certain amount of class time required, and in the case of the Prosper School Board there would be longer school days starting at 7:55 and ending at 4:04. Having longer school days will begin to change the quality of students’ lives, an example of this can be seen with our student athletes who are worried they will have to attend practice after school at 4:15 then return home to eat and do homework while still being expected to wake up at 6:00am the next day and rebegin the cycle. There’s still one thing missing in a students four day week that wasn’t even mentioned in the student athletes day, every student needs a mental break from all the stress that comes with school and must be allocated time to relax. This period of relaxation resets teenagers minds and helps them refocus again. The Academic Journal states two important points in their latest research on the effect of sleep patterns on student learning first stating that teenagers require sleep to grow and mature, also that cutting sleep by just one hour drops an individual’s alertness by one third. The effects of sleep loss do not become worth the amount of days off as students would waste their time off trying to catch up with their sleep on their days off.  

 

 The opinion of teachers should not be taken into account when making this decision as this loss of rest will not affect them. This is displayed by the amount of school staff who said yes to the idea of four day weeks as they would be given fridays off. Teachers do not wish to have friday off for the benefit of the students but for themselves, so they are able to do other activites such as party and spend time with their friends .the opinion of parents shouldn’t be used when deciding as some of them as seen on Fastpool.com comment by Kristina Oudet believe that school is almost a day care for their young adults where they don’t have to worry about them. Thus creating a bias opinion for parents to not intake the other factors at hand, such as their child’s education or the amount of rest they will have.

 

I personally find it very alarming when the idea of students sacrificing rest just to gain an extra day off becomes acceptable, all students require the correct amount of rest time. If we are unable to keep the students of Prosper in the best mental and physical condition we will begin to see success rates fall lower and lower academic achievements. With the way the school system works now students have enough time for everything including work.shown by Rosies work schedule she will have the same amount of work hours per week without facing the risk of lost sleep and a greater amount of stress. Students such as Rosie prove how efficient the five day week is and why it should be kept, why must something be changed if it works perfectly fine. 

 

With all the reasoning given I find it clear that the four day school week should never be implemented, the cons outweigh the pros as the students quality of life should come before the benefit of anyone else. The schedule implace right now vastly beats the new one with pros and helps students become more successful.

 

Sincerely, Alex wells

Category: Aazab | LEAVE A COMMENT
September 27

This I believe: The path created

“We determine our destiny by the actions we take today.” (Catherine Pulsifer)

I believe our future depends on us.

I believe that there’s always a reason something happens.

I believe that every choice made today will change the choices we are given tomorrow.

 Everyone is destined for greatness, but the choices we make affect how we reach them. When choosing today, we should take into account what might happen tomorrow. Destiny is what guides us to success, and without it we begin walking into the unknown every day. What occurs today has a hidden purpose, we should all accept the actions of today and move forward.

  Our destiny is similar to a fork in the road, the direction we pick is the one that leads us to our new destination. Displaying how the choices made today will put forth new opportunities. No matter what direction you pick success becomes imminent as you’re destined for greatness.The fork in the road represents the choices given to us and how we must choose which way we want to go while always keeping in mind the next day. Our destination is what we pursue our whole life chasing what we desire the most in life.

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As summer began, and my first year of FFCA grade nine ended, only one thing was left stressing me after my PAT’s – my report card, which was expected to arrive any day now. I was 100 percent sure my parents were going to be ashamed again after I was suspended the same year. The day finally came when I heard my parents called me as if today was my execution date.   As I began walking into the dining room, ideas ran through my head like NASCAR race “it wasn’t my fault – the teacher was bad”, “I’ll do better next year I promise”, “FFCA just hard – send me to public school”. I sat down across from parents, nothing they had a brown folder in front of them. After being yelled for what felt like hours my mother came and sat beside me and said, “I know your smart you’re just lazy you have to try now this is high school”. I came into grade 10 with a brand new mindset wanting to prove my father wrong, after the first semester I brought my report card home with my head held high. It felt different finally not being scared of my report card walking out the school with a smile on a face. By failing I was led to success. 

 

 

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Category: Aazab, Uncategorized | 2 Comments on This I believe: The path created
January 17

Free Choice Blog: Overcoming Yourself to Help Others

Angelina Jolie

“Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”

 

“There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free educated woman, and there is no more inspiring role model than a man who respects and cherishes women and champions their leadership.”Image result for angelina jolie

 

Angelina Jolie: a 41 year old activist, actor, film producer, actress, and humanitarian who has won many academy awards for her extraordinary work in developing countries and astonishing film work throughout her life.

I was intrigued by the fact of how Angelina was inspired to work in different third world countries and how this action impacted her whole life- adopting 6 children who were experiencing poverty in these countries. So while Angelina was filming in Cambodia- she was very inspired to help war ravages countries as she witnessed children go through difficult situations such as food shortages, no shelter, no education, no clean water. By these specific visions she continued her humanitarian work, become a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations, wrote a book on her experiences based off her travels to these third world countries to inspire others as well.

But through all of this, she had to overcome many hindrances in her life. She experienced drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, and fighting through the hereditary gene of breast cancer in her family.

Throughout this, I was so inspired by her optimism and her change in perspective throughout these experiences of hers- as she realized that there is more in this world than herself- there is people like her, woman, children, families who go through much worse than her, who have bigger problems than her. I guess you could it was a slap in a face for her. She took all her opinions and put them in =to perspective which fit the reality she was facing; taking initiative towards these countries and becoming part of the United Nations team knowing she will make a difference.

Category: Sapna, Sept 2017 | 3 Comments on Free Choice Blog: Overcoming Yourself to Help Others
December 19

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou – I Forgive You by Suhaani Jain

Still I Rise

by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

 

I Forgive You

by Suhaani Jain

Do you remember how I was hurt with your words?

Do you remember how it made me feel?

Do you remember how I told you to STOP?

Do you still hear my screams and shrieks at night?

Because I can still hear your words…

Echoing in my ears…

every day,

every minute,

every second…  

of my life.

 

Does it bother you I learned from my mistakes?

Does it bother you I finally accepted who I am?

Does it bother you I stopped seeking your approval?

Because I just don’t care anymore.

Does it bother you that I am not one of your puppets anymore?

Does it bother you I stopped letting you drag my soul down?

Does it bother you I stopped crying myself to sleep?

Because I now sleep in peace.

 

Does it bother you that I am more capable than ever?

Does it bother you that I stopped caring about and listening to your words?

Does it bother you that I am confident?

Does it bother you that I let go of things that weighed me down?

Because I did and I couldn’t be more happier.

 

Does it bother you that I MOVED ON?

Because I realized you

weren’t worth

My pain,

My tears,

And my life

has never been better.

 

 

Reason Why…

It’s like

Gripping

On to shards of glass,

Believing it would numb the pain.

But I realize it cuts deeper than the surface.

Ripping open the capillaries

With no hesitation,

Severing the nerves

Without a second thought.

By the time I realized

it did more harm than good,

It was too late.

The damage had been done.

The work of the monster/enemy

Is now

irreversible.

For the longest time, I thought this friendship was worth the pain and suffering. I gave it many chances, hoping each day, the next would be better, and hoping each day it would be worth my while. I stood by you when the whole world was against you. I supported you at your absolute worst. I was there when you needed a shoulder to cry on. I was there when your so called “friends” betrayed you. I always believed in you, and I went out of my way to protect you and stand up for you. I disregarded the hell you put me through because I saw that you needed a friend. I went against everyone who loved and cared for me. I went against those who wanted the best for me and those who told me to stay away from you, they said you would cause nothing me but pain and despair. That you would fill my life with nothing but darkness. I stood up against EVERYONE for you. I myself was broken, yet I pulled myself back up so I could be there for you. You used me, lied to me, took advantage of me and my friendship. Every single time, I gave you a chance, I wanted you to prove to me that I was right about you. I wanted you to prove to me that you weren’t what others were saying you are. Instead, all you ended up doing was proving them right, each and every single thing they said about you was true. You proved me wrong. You pushed me down repeatedly, but, then you picked me back up, only to push me back down again. You made me feel absolutely worthless. Even after all this when you were in my position, I took you under my cocoon and protected you. You repeatedly broke me and my trust. Yet, I forgive you, for the times you used me, for the times you made me live in self-loath, for all those times you disrespected me and this friendship. And I forgive you because I don’t want to remember you in anyway. I don’t want any part of you in my life. Moving forward I want to be able to remember those moments in my life that I cherish and am proud of and none of those moments involve you. None.

 

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 9

Tata <3

You mean the WORLD to me.

Like, rain makes rainbows

In the naked sky

Like, spring makes flowers  

Bloom in the sun

The same way

You made me feel alive

You are a cozy blanket for me in the winter

And a soft breeze of air in the summer

You are the love of my life, my hero, and my guardian angel

My strength and

My weakness

 

My life is dedicated to my best friend, my hero, the man I love most.  He means everything to me. The years where he could reach out and hold my hand have faded, and he only lives on in my memories, my words, my soul.

You know how someone will tell you that you don’t realize the value of things until they disappear? That what you take for granted in the morning is never seen of again by night?  I have never stopped and thought about what I have done to deserve his love,

and his unceasing support. He is someone I have looked up to and will continue looking up to for infinity and more, both figuratively and literally. He is my guardian angel.

I miss him. Maybe I miss him a little too much. I didn’t speak to him every day when he was alive, but I guess just knowing he was there was enough for me to go through my day with a smile on my face.


I miss him because of his smile. I miss the way I could talk to him about just the most random topics on this planet. I miss the fact that he was just there for me. I miss the little gestures he made whenever he wanted something. The way he turned his index finger when he wanted me to turn off the fan for him. The way he played air piano with one hand when he needed the remote. But what I really miss? Love.

He loved me more than a father, took care of me better than a mother, protected me better than a brother and stood by my better than a sister. He never let me feel like I was rejected and unworthy. He gave me a voice, a life and everything I am today or ever will be because of his love and affection. He wasn’t the most educated person in my life but he still taught me some of the life’s most valuable lessons. He taught me to love myself, he taught me to accept myself, he taught me the difference between right and wrong, and most of all he taught me to believe in myself.

He loved me more than I think I will ever love myself. He took me in when the entire world rejected me. It was the two of us against the world and yet I felt the most powerful with him.

I guess that’s the power of love.

 

He showered me with unconditional love. And now it’s something I feel incomplete without, yet I still feel his presence. I still feel him smiling at me from the stars above. I feel empty without him in my life; it was like darkness fell over my life within seconds, to the point where now I am blinded by the light. But I’m learning to live again, to live happily without him in my life and I know that he will always be there for me.


If there is one thing I’m proud of is being called his granddaughter.

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 9

Buried Life

Little by little as you left your buried life behind, the light began to turn
into darkness through the darkest times in life and there was a new life
which you slowly recognized as your own.
The buried life was lost but never forgotten.

Here l am again wondering why the buried life has yet passed by me.
The unspeakable desires froze and stayed in the buried life, leaving me
in a den of lions hoping that in the future l would be brave and not leave
the buried life.

How am l still in this life?
Why am l still wasting my time? When l miss the buried life.

The longing to be able to be successful passed by me, fast and furious.
The buried life was never introduced to the past me but hoped that l could
grab hold of it; maybe, just maybe, l could have had a wild and free life.
But the past is past, the present is present, all the possible life lost yet the future awaits.

My idea of buried life presumes that every human life is imbued with a true path, an authentic course, a call to adventure, and a genuine sense of vocation. Buried life inspires the desire to seek liberation from that which binds. When we are faced with a painful adventure in life we tend to get lost along the way and leave our buried life behind.

When l started writing my free choice, l became to think why l had a buried and how my buried life began. I finally realized that my buried life began a long time ago however l was never aware of it. I began thinking how, why, what and when. It began the day l felt like l needed to be strong for everyone around me who had the same grief. Grief after losing someone to suicide can feel like a roller-coaster, full of intense ups and downs and everything in between.

In 2013 , when my childhood best friend died, l was devastated. I did not know how l could deal with such a horrific event. The only way l knew how to deal with death was putting my own feelings aside for the sake of everyone around me. I felt like l was the one who had to be strong for everyone. In reality l knew that l was not as strong as everyone thought l was. I was only being strong because everyone was expecting me to break down. I didn’t want everyone to see me weak. The shock and grief that consumes you after you lose someone to suicide is overwhelming. It can feel like you have fallen into a deep hole and will never be able to get out. That’s how l felt.

I got lost along the way and l forgot who l was. I became this person who was broken inside but strong on the outside. I forgot my true self and l became someone who l was not. I became this person who hides her feeling inside. That was never part of the plan. The plan was for me to be strong for everyone and deal with own emotions later. However, l hid those feeling inside for so long that l forgot the real me. The real me was confident, happy, wild and free. Who was l now? Was it too let go back to the buried life? Slowly l have been recognizing my own life as the buried life l knew from before.

Category: Nicole, Sept 2017, Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
September 27

Assignment 1: Visual Reflection

Assignment 1: Visual Reflection

Creative: interior monologue

Exam: January 2015

This, so called town, is extremely small and is falling apart. I feel terrible that I have to be here, honesty I don’t know how much more I can take. It is so rough and to see these little kids running around without shoes on. But yet they still have the biggest smile on their face because this is the only life they know.

I have come overseas, leaving my family and friends, to help maintain this town. I miss them so much especially including my wife, Sauvneet along with my two kids; Abdule and Harsh. We live back in Canada and it has been 7 years there and we love it. Personally we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else; it is so welcoming.

Most of the kids tend to keep their distance from me because, as my job, I have to carry around a gun in case someone attacks. The third world countries have been getting worst in the sense that they aren’t free anymore, they can’t do what they want. It’s all a dictatorship, but I am just here to protect not to live. The conditions of this town are so poor; they play soccer without shoes but yet its so hot with nice palm trees. Such a warm climate but its a very polluted and low economy, i just feel so bad for them.

It is incredible how much hardships one town can truly go through. I’ve never lived in a town so small, so beat up and so weak. I can’t imagine what some of these kids are going through, I’m glad my kids are growing up in Canada where they are safe and secure from the world out there.

I’ve never been one to take life for granted but after being sent to this town of Sibernes, I realized how good my life actually is. I must be thankful because     Canada is so great, I don’t know where I would be without such a good country, it is honestly so safe.

All these kids, old and young, playing soccer without shoes because they can afford them and they don’t understand. Soccer is one of the only things keeping them going and is one of the few things they can do during their day. Time is running out for these kids and they don’t realize, next thing they know they will be working and having their own kids. It honestly is such a fast cycle and they are growing up in poverty.

I can’t do much else but do my job and protect them the best I can. If I could I would do so much more including; rebuild many buildings and structures, give some of these kids shoes, and maybe build them a soccer arena. This way they would truly realize how much a life can mean to them, understand the little things in life.

These poor kids! This is your life and you can’t do much about it, but neither can I…

Category: Chantelle | 2 Comments on Assignment 1: Visual Reflection
September 27

Dear Diary,

Visual Link.

Jan 2014 Visual Diagnostic (1)-p81j0l

Dear Diary,

Today was like any other day. I got back from school, finished my work, spent some quality time with my family, and took Marshall out for a walk, and, my god, did he enjoy that. By the time I reached home, my stomach started growling, I was famished, finished my dinner and then I went to my room upstairs. I could hear my mom yelling at my younger brother to just sit down in one place and finish his dinner. I understand that she must be tired of working, well, it is hard to get adjusted to a new environment. She started working again, just a couple of weeks ago. I bet she really misses her vacation now, considering how much she was complaining about how much she misses work. I finished all my school work. I lay on my bed, as I go through my Facebook feed I saw this absolutely heartbreaking story that moved me and changed my mindset about the world we live in. I wonder what has happened to the humanity in this world. I had no idea people could be so cruel.

This is not how I expected it to end. The world must be in a state of shock after hearing about this event in South Korea. We are all well aware about North Korea’s recent experiment with their missile “testing”, more like proposing World War III. For many, it may come across as a shock to hear a missile launching on South Korea this afternoon. I skipped the video because this dreadful picture caught my attention.

In this picture, there are two young boys who don’t look more than eight years old. They look terrified and confused about the current situation. It seems like one of them is running towards this man leaning towards the wall. It seems like the man is holding a gun, maybe for protection. There are no adults present, which indicates they have decease due to the missile launch. It could also mean that parents or guardians were not present during the time of the attack. Looking at the condition of this place it seems like the survivors have had nothing to drink or eat in days. They have been left to starve without any support or help from anyone. I have a five-year-old brother, and he starts crying if he wakes up in the morning and doesn’t find my mom beside him. I patiently let him know it’s okay, and that mom had just gone downstairs. And now these children in South Korea have no idea what is happening to their country and they don’t have anyone to give them the courage and tell them that it is going to be alright. I cannot even begin to imagine how they must be feeling not have any guidance or support from elders.

The surprising factor I read on the same page was that North Korea is claiming that they had nothing to do with the loss or suffering of South Korea and their citizens. They have also offered to help South Korea with anything they need at this devastating time. Now the real concern is who is responsible for the state South Korea is in right now. All my prayers are with the families and children who lost their loved ones.

Good night, Diary

 

Category: Sept 2017, Suhaani | 2 Comments on Dear Diary,
September 27

The Story of Cue-raw

                                                                                                      by: Nathan V

I stand here alone, guarding my post, looking around i see buildings obliterated by who knows what, to my right there is a old living complex, to my left, nothing but a mind field of dead soldiers. I, me, i was the only one left. Behind me there are a few children playing soccer, there was no soccer field, yet the children managed to play. They seemed to be unaware of the battle field that lay around them.

I watched them play there game for a bit they seemed quite into the game. In fact, the one child, the one with short brown hair had kicked the ball to the extent that his shoe flew off! It landed about five or so feet from me. I watched him intensely as he ran to go get his shoe and their ball. He was not concerned by my look as my eyes were concealed behind the sunglasses I had been wearing. I watched them for a while. They seemed to always be cheering and always happy. I thought to myself that they must not know what is about to happen, for some time I thought about telling them but decided against it.

Two hours went by, I waited and waited, the kids went on with their game while I stood alone at my post gripping my weapon for what was about to come. Suddenly, a rumble came from the streets ahead the children now seemed to notice what might come of their lives. They shot me a look of concern as I raised my gun, they quickly grabbed their ball and cowered in a near building behind me. I was scared to; I wanted to run; I wanted to live. I thought about what I would have to do as soon as I saw the men wearing the blue uniforms. Before I had time to finish my thought there they were rushing down the streets there must have been fifty men. It was like a wall of death wherever they walked, people died. I was ready and aiming, I only had a few more seconds to wait before they were in range. I was unnoticed and very scared. The men came closer and closer I then cocked my gun. Only having one clip I knew that with excellent accuracy I could only kill about thirty men, I then knew I was going to die.

I emptied my gun into the enemy lines killing thirty five men, I looked back and saw the children. They gave me a look of hope, a hope that they might all survive. I then cowered behind a concrete barricade I was very close to the children now. The one boy then spoke “are we going to see our family again,” this nearly brought me to tears. I told them, “I didn’t  know”. Saying such ended my hidden emotions as tears dripped down my face. Well, we embraced in a hug; I felt something in the boy’s pocket, I thought to myself, no, it can’t be. I then asked him what he had in his pocket. He said that he had found it and took it from his father as he pulled it out. It was a grenade! In all my luck how could it be! A grenade! He now stood a chance against the fifteen men I rushed the boys into a building and rushed them up a set of stairs the men now saw their location and chased after them in hot pursuit, the kids hide under a bed as instructed not knowing what was about to happen. I pulled the pin on the grenade without having time to wish the children goodbye. I jumped down the stairs into the group of blue uniformed soldiers, killing them all along with myself for the life of the children.

The children that I had not known. My  legacy lives on in the village of Cue-raw. The two children that I saved  now protect the village watching over the kids in the nearby soccer court, as life goes on.

Category: Nathan, Sept 2017 | 2 Comments on The Story of Cue-raw