As a student teacher, I was excited to save the world. I couldn’t wait to shape my students into kind and compassionate people with a great capacity for critical thinking. However, once I entered the classroom, I realized that it can become overwhelming at times. Here are some tips and tricks to help you future students with your practicum this year.

Dear concerned,

It’s perfectly natural to feel a little uneasy or even jealous about your boyfriend having many female friends because it means you really care about this person. Plus, if he’s as great as you say he is, of course you’ll want him all to yourself. That being said, if you truly believe your boyfriend is being dishonest (based on indicators beyond your suspicion alone), have an open conversation with your partner.

I still remember that anxious feeling I had in my stomach on my first day at Glendon — the same feeling I would happen to have when I started campaigning for the York Federation of Students elections. My name is Dasha Androusenkov, and last February I ran for the position of Glendon director of the YFS, a position that I am so grateful to fill now in my fourth year. However, It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t scared or intimidated throughout the campaigning process. After all, this is the inside scoop.

Pedestrian and cyclist deaths are becoming almost a daily occurrence on the news — so much so that they no longer come as a shock. While cities like Amsterdam and Paris seem to be becoming more and more pedestrian-friendly, Toronto is lagging behind. Since its implementation in June 2016, it seems John Tory’s Vision Zero plan has zero vision.

There’s a certain pride in seeing your city in film or on television. Whether you catch a glimpse of a streetcar or recognize a neighbourhood staple, there’s a universal sense of excitement that lies there. So much is filmed in Toronto under the guise of New York or Chicago; it’s refreshing to see a show not only filmed, but set in our city. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, I attended an educational meeting run by Climate Justice Toronto. This is a youth-led, grassroots organization that pushes for an intersectional view of climate justice. It recognizes that mainstream environmental movements have not been inclusive enough for far too long — a grave mistake since climate change doesn’t discriminate.

The Global Climate Strike took place during the 2019 Global Week for Future (September 20–27) and it is estimated to have been the largest climate-motivated mobilisation in world history. Thousands of protests took place over the course of the week across the world, and 350.org has estimated over 7.6 million people in 185 countries raised their voices and spoke out for our suffering planet.

The thousands of protests were inspired by young climate activist Greta Thunberg. Thunberg pioneered and popularised the Fridays for Future school strike for the climate in August 2018 in Sweden, which was followed by similar school strikes in countries across the world every week for the remainder of the school year. Thunberg has since delivered multiple speeches, including to world leaders at the recent U.N. Climate Action Summit, and at George Washington University, where she declared that “activism works” and concluded with: “see you on the streets.” Thunberg and other youths’ work in these strikes is what has given rise and inspiration to the Global Climate Strike protests the world recently experienced. They have also inspired thousands of scientists, politicians, and other public professionals to pledge their support and say: “students have led, and we must follow.” However, Thunberg isn’t the only young person contributing to the collective voice speaking out for the climate. Isra Hirsi, a 16-year-old Black Muslim youth, co-founded the U.S. Youth Climate Strike and emphasizes the importance of intersectionality in the fight against climate change. Autumn Peltier, an Anishinaabe-kwe and member of the Wikwemikong First Nation, lives on Canada’s own Manitoulin Island and is an internationally-recognized advocate for clean water. These young women are some of the countless youth inspiring action on a global level.

But what are these speeches, strikes and protests doing to actually fight climate change? The most significant thing the climate movement has done thus far is raise awareness and inspire people across the world to take action and mobilize. More than ever before, people are involved in the movement for climate justice and politicians and companies are being held accountable for actions that have negatively and significantly impacted the environment. Politicians are listening and acting. Here in Canada, Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party, and Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party all marched in protests during the Global Climate Strike. Furthermore, during the Global Week for Future, Trudeau declared that if re-elected, the federal Liberal government would plant 2 billion trees in 10 years with revenue from the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante declared she would reduce carbon emissions in Montreal by 55 percent by 2030 and have Montreal become carbon neutral by 2050. 

Of course, there is no guarantee that world leaders will keep the promises they made in the heat of the Global Climate Strike. It is up to us, the world’s citizens, to keep the pressure on and make sure that governments and corporations continue to be held accountable and hear our voices. There are many ways to do so, including signing petitions, staying educated and updated on the actions of our government, and joining or starting local climate activism groups. For more information on how to stay involved, visit globalclimatestrike.net. As a global community, we must convince our world leaders to put a full stop to the unsustainable practices that have made climate change our present reality, and our future demise.

Canada is less than a month away from its next federal election, which will be taking place on Oct. 21, 2019. What are you doing to get informed and be prepared to hit the polls? Voting in the western world is the true embodiment of our democratic political system. Various minority groups and women fought hard for the right to vote for decades so voting could ensure quintessential representation. Exercising your right to vote ensures the integrity of our democracy, validates our predecessors’ fights for our rights, and puts a government which proportionally represents the population and diversity of our country in power. These are a few of the manifold reasons why it’s important to cast your vote — but how should one go about doing it?

Veganism is a lifestyle defined by abstinence from consuming, and supporting the manufacturing of, animal products and by-products. There are a variety of reasons, based on personal morals and ethics, why an individual may decide to adopt a vegan lifestyle, but the three of the most common reasons include: to combat climate change, to benefit their health, and/or to stand against modern industrial animal agriculture.

Last weekend, I was crossing the U.S.-Canadian border, the connecting cities being Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. I have a Nexus card, which means I get to fast-track the entire line and get through the border in five minutes maximum. Normally, the border security asks a simple question like, “where you heading?” To which I respond, “Detroit, to visit my boyfriend,” and they let me pass right through without blinking an eye. This past weekend was different though. It seemed as though this particular border security officer was either bored that day, or simply needed to kill time. So, he asked, “Where you heading?”

Glendon Performing Arts (GPA) is a brand-new club on campus that combines drama, dance, and singing. Whether you are a seasoned performer, or someone interested in trying it out for the first time, the club will provide a fun environment to develop in any and all areas!

When I first started at Glendon, I was scared and nervous. I was leaving behind the 4 years of friendships and comfort I had worked so hard to make. Now, I was forced to make new friends and find new comforts — a feat that terrified me. As someone who is incredibly shy, I decided to join a club where I could meet people with similar interests as me.

En tant qu’étudiants, c’est important de prendre soin de nous-mêmes. Pourtant, c’est facile de négliger notre santé et notre bien-être lorsqu’on essaie d’équilibrer notre vie scolaire et sociale. Je suis dans ma troisième année ici à Glendon et il y a eu des périodes où le stress des cours m'accablait. Voici quelques conseils que j’utilise pour améliorer mon mode de vie comme étudiant à l’université.

When I cook, the key things I think about are convenience and speed. A few years ago, I found a recipe on Pinterest for taco soup and I instantly fell in love. Over the years, I have made my own tweaks and improvements in order to perfect my very own version of taco soup.

During the summer I worked at a summer camp and while I was prepared to administer day to day tasks and take kids from point A to point B, I was not prepared for them to speak their minds whenever they pleased even if that meant pointing out my biggest insecurities.

“Why do you have so many pimples?” one kid asked me while looking directly at my face.

Je monte dans l’autobus, tapant ma main au détecteur. Mon regard croise celui d’une des caméras omniprésentes. « Qu’est-ce que vous faites là? » Une voix familière surgit de la masse de visages flous et quasi identiques qui tangue au rythme des accélérations et décélérations du véhicule. Une musique cinglante conçue pour décourager les conversations pollue l’air.

Be brave little sunflower.

Today is your day,

The light it shines brightly,

And the ocean waves without fear.

Humps undulate like the Udi Hills

And ring out the blazing sun

Hooves dug into shifting sand,

The camels lead me to the water’s edge