Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
What's Up, Vancouver? (May 2014)
Looking for fun things to do this month? Listed below are some fun happenings in Vancouver this May! Click the links to know more about the event:
The Edge Academy Auditions (Theatre Acting Auditions)
May 1, 2014 to June 1, 2014
International Summer Night Market
May 9, 2014 to September 14, 2014
Richmond Night Market
May 16, 2014 to October 13, 2014
GO Fest (Whistler's Great Outdoor Festival)
May 16-19, 2014
Victoria Day at Burnaby Museum
May 19, 2014
Backstreet Boys: In a World Like This Tour
May 20, 2014
Productivityist Mastermind Workshop
May 22, 2014
North Vancouver Night Market
May 23, 2014 to September 2, 2014
Vancouver Comic Arts Festival
May 24-25, 2014
Youth Nerd Poetry Slam (Featuring Duncan Shields)
May 26, 2014
City of Bhangra Festival
May 29, 2014 to June 7, 2014
What's Up, Vancouver? (March 2014)
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| Roundhouse Community Centre |
Looking for fun things to do this month? Listed below are some of the biggest happenings in Vancouver this March! Click the links to know more about the event:
Baker's Market
March 2 and 9, 2014
Gateway Theatre Presents Drear and Izzy
March 5-15, 2014
Workout to Conquer Cancer
March 8, 2014
Vancouver's Celebration of International Women's Day at the Roundhouse Community Centre
March 8, 2014
Good Day Sunshine: An Afternoon of Groovy Folk, Pop, and Intercultural Music
March 9, 2014
Think Global, Link Local (Networking Breakfast)
March 14, 2014
LEAP (Learning Early About Playwriting) 2014 Festival
March 15-23, 2014
TED2014 Vancouver
March 17-21, 2014
The Art Of Marketing Vancouver
March 19, 2014
Youth Poetry Slam Finals featuring Britta B
March 21, 2014
Shane Koyczan at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
March 26, 2014
Next Generation Digital Storytelling Conference
March 27, 2014
The Friends of Chamber Music: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
March 25, 2014
China Talk and Dim Sum with John Atkin
March 30, 2014
New Beginnings, New Challenges, New Life
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| Tim Shields |
Another
year has gone by and each New Year means a new start, a new resolution and
maybe a change in our goals. We often make new resolutions and set new goals such as improving
our attitude to be more sociable, or focusing on and excelling in our studies, or
even just learning something new, something that we have never tried. Moreover, some of you who are reading this might be looking forward to start a new life in another country. And that is
what I am writing about, my new life in Canada.
I
moved to Canada during the summer in 2013. I’m from Sabah, Malaysia and yes,
there are not much people from Sabah in Canada. I’m half Chinese and half Sabah
native, which is quite unique. Anyways, when I moved here I didn’t want to go
outside because it was too cold and I was not used to the weather. I started
out quite rough because I knew no one here, and I couldn’t speak my own
language except for my own family. I had zero knowledge about Canada, all I
knew is they loved maple syrup.
Just kidding!
I spent two
months locked up in my room most of the time and admittedly, there times when I cried because I missed my friends back in Sabah. It was quite challenging to accept the
fact that I'm so far from home.
Despite
all those barriers, I managed to overcome them in no time. My dad and I went to
Vancouver School Board to arrange my school documents. At the Vancouver School
Board, we found out about this event called Newcomer Orientation Week which was
held in August. The event was for students and teens who were new to Canada. There were activities, workshops, and helpful guides for them to have an awesome kick start in
Canada.
To be honest, I
was reluctant at first and I didn’t want to go because I was so shy. But I
forced myself to go and guess what? It was the best decision I’ve made because
it opened my eyes to so many new things. I learned that the government trains students to do volunteer work and helps them grow in terms of socializing with
crowds and boosting their confidence. Even though these students come from
different backgrounds or even different schools, they were still able to
communicate and work together well. It was a huge turning point for me and my
way of thinking. They taught me that we all face difficult challenges but with
perseverance, we could get through it easily, and that there will always be someone
to help you, only if you ask for it.
When
I started school, I felt the same type of homesickness that I did during my
first week of stay here in Canada. I’m currently in grade 11, studying at a
secondary school in East Vancouver. I started in September of 2013 and was
absolutely dumbfounded by the size of the school when I first saw it. To me, it
was huge because my former school in my motherland was small. I looked like a
lost child when I was roaming around the halls, looking for my class. I even
went in the wrong class for 2 weeks! I was very quiet and shy in the beginning.
Thankfully, I managed to make a friend! It took quite a while for me to adjust
in a new environment. I started socializing with more students when I was in
P.E class actually. Students were very friendly to me; they just come up to you
and sparked up a conversation, which was a surprise. And I learned from them, I
started to talk more and more in class and gradually became confident bit by
bit. If you are new student and are struggling to make friends, you have to be
patient and not give up easily. It is hard, but with patience and kindness, you’ll
find the right friends at the right time.
I guess I wrote this because I would like to encourage you to be courageous. Don’t doubt
yourself. Just go for it. Keep yourself busy with volunteer
works, sports, and roaming around Vancouver to appreciate its beauty. Discover new things by joining clubs in school such as
tech club, choir, dance team or even a leadership club. It is all worth it and
plus, it’s free! And if possible, get a summer job because you will gain
experience and learn new things besides earning money. Try to socialize more
too! And you must, MUST, try ice-skating. Even though I fell so many times when I tried it, I still had real fun. You should visit the PNE too and try the ‘Hellavator’. That is all from me
and I hope to write for you again next time!
- Sharon
- Sharon
Bubbly
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| Nick Kocharhook |
What
is it you do
that
makes me
float
fly
and
flutter?
Do
you know how it feels
to
be on the receiving end
of
your smiles and speech?
Do
you know that you shine
brighter
than the sun?
To
know that you feel the same as I do
is a
threefold utopian dream.
Maybe
this is just a dream
And
maybe I don’t want to wake up.
Right
now,
I am
happy. Right now,
All
is good.
Never
do I want this to change.
- A love poem by Jose
- A love poem by Jose
What's Up, Vancouver? (February 2014)
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| Robson Square Ice Skating Rink courtesy of Jason Pier |
Robson Square Public Skating
November 15, 2013 to February 28, 2014
Hot Chocolate Festival
January 18 to February 14, 2014
CBC Toque Sessions - Free Concerts in Vancouver
Thursdays and Fridays from January 23 to February 28, 2014
February 8, 2014
24 Hours of Winter at Grouse Mountain
February 8-9, 2014
BC Family Day at the Vancouver Art Gallery
February 10, 2014
After Hours at Vancouver Aquarium
February 12, 2014
YOUnique Free Youth Conference
February 15, 2014
Youth 4 Action Leadership Clinic: "Beyond the Bin - Strategies, Actions and Inspiration for Zero Waste Schools"
February 15, 2014
2014 Metro Vancouver Sustainability Youth Summit
February 19, 2014
Disclaimer: The events page is for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, we are not affiliated with the hosts and organizers of the events listed on this page.
2014 Projects and Goals
Since we are only 19 days into the year, there is still time for you and me to set some year-round goals and try out some year-round projects! If you are looking for some fun year-round challenges to do this 2014, I have listed some of my favourite ones below. This is a customized list intended to assist new immigrant youths in their adjustment to their new environment here in Canada.
1) Reading Goal: 24 Books In A Year
Books are excellent friends. They're those people at the party who are as weird (and cool) as you. Reading 24 books in one year may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually not. That requires you to read only two books per month! My advice? Choose books that you know you'll love! Visit Goodreads to see what other people think of books that you want to read. By doing this challenge, you will not only undergo an enjoyable experience of life lessons and roller-coaster emotions; you will also greatly improve your English skills! If you do not know where to start, check out this list to help you choose what you want to read first.
2) 52 Week Money Challenge
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to save money, then try this! Each week, you have to save an amount of money that is equal to the number of that week. For example, during the first week, you save $1; in the second week, you save $2; for the third week, you save $3, and so on. If you do this until the last week of the year, you will save almost $1400! However, do this only if you can actually afford to save money. Do not starve yourself just to accomplish this task. I suggest doing this challenge if you spend a lot on the things that you don't need.
3) Photo Challenge: Photo-A-Day
Take one photo every day until the end of the year. I'm sure you have a device that can take pictures (it can be your handycam, polaroid, tablet, or even just your cellphone), so why not try to document your life this year by taking at least one photo every day? You can even upload your photos to Instagram or whatever social media platform you'd like!
4) Movie Challenge: One Movie A Week
For me, this is not really a challenge; it is a hobby! But if you're a new immigrant and want to improve your English, watching at least one English movie each week will definitely help you develop your English skills. Watching movies can make your English listening skill stronger. It can also help you pick up some English phrases/expressions that are commonly used by English speakers every day. Pro-tip: Try to find a movie that shows subtitles. You will enjoy the movie more this way, trust me.
5) Goal: Get involved!
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| Source |
When I moved to Canada, I initially did not know anyone aside from my close family members and relatives. First week of school was hard because I hardly had any friends. Fortunately, I joined clubs which allowed me to meet lots of friends and meet people who share the same interest as me! So this year, I am challenging you to:
- Join at least one club at school
- Join at least another one outside of school
- Volunteer!
6) Challenge: Keep a blog or a journal in English
Writing your feelings down will not only help you relive your favourite moments, it will also stimulate your creativity and memory. Also, if you do it in English, you will learn to improve your grammar, widen your vocabulary, and discover your own writing style.
There you have it! We still have 345 days before 2014 ends; you still have 346 days to try and accomplish these goals before the year ends. You do not have to do all of it. Do what you think will benefit you the most!
Hope 2014 treats you well!
Sean
A Teenager Finally Finds His Voice
As youth, it is important to let the world hear our voice. Oftentimes, however, finding our voice is not that easy. Many factors may hinder us from speaking out. In the case of Musharaf "Mushy" Asghar, his impairment prevented him from speaking out. His impairment not only made the process of speaking out difficult for him, but it also gave bullies a chance to tease him. In this video, we learn how important it is to recognize that everybody experiences different types of difficulty, and that bullying will not make anyone's difficulty easier. Thankfully, Mushy's teachers never stopped supporting and encouraging him. Watch him bring his classmates to tears as he find his voice:
Because of his strong will, determination, and the support of his teachers, Mushy was able to overcome his impairment, and his classmates were able to hear him speak out for the first time. This video reminds all of us, youth immigrants, that even though there may be factors (such as language issues and/or an environment that's entirely different from our country of origin) that make it difficult for us to speak out, it is never impossible to find our voice.
- Sean
