By: Sophie Chen Sophie Chen had always believed that code was the closest thing to magic in the modern world. Lines of logic, woven together, could create entire realities. But nothing she had encountered in her years as a programmer prepared her for what she found in the dusty archives of her university’s research library.   It started with a curiosity—an old notebook wedged between outdated textbooks on statistical theory. The cover bore the initials “E.H.”...

By: Renne Zhao For this month’s topic of “Transitions,” I decided to focus my article on the transition from fleeting youth to (what seems like) perpetual maturity and adulthood.   I find myself grasping onto my own youth and childhood more than ever before as I enter my senior year—a year of many lasts: my last day of school, my last opening ceremony, and my last year with classmates who have become family to me. These...

By: Jisara As a senior high school student aiming to pursue engineering at a top Canadian university, I have pushed myself to take challenging courses to become a strong candidate. However, as I have looked around my classroom, I have found that I am surrounded by individuals who have not only won several national-level competitions but also achieved near-perfect grades. Nowadays, an A may not be enough to guarantee admission into dream schools; applicants are...

Homelessness in Vancouver is a huge issue that has yet been solved. Ever since 2024, over 2000 people have been recognized as homeless. Homelessness was not an issue for Vancouver until the 1980s. Prior to 1980, the increase in property value due to an economic shift affected many citizens negatively. The decline of industries also increased the unemployment among the working class. After the 1980s, homelessness has been more visible in Vancouver than ever since....

There is, in one word, a kind of magical with snow days. The world seemed to slow with an overpowering hush of the colour white—a kind of serenity from life moving too fast. Snow days for many people are reminiscent of childhood—unplanned freedom and playful activities in the snow, complemented by the warmth of hot cocoa shared with loved ones. It’s a brief reprieve to innocent times and simple joys—an interruption of routine that draws...

-by Isita Ghanta “Chinese people are all moving here. We need to stop letting every helpless tramp in.” The woman whispered to her husband, glaring at Sakura. Sakura Yamamoto wanted to close her laptop and use it to bang the woman’s head but instead quickly vacated her seat in the café and walked home. She lived in a hostel that held parachute students like herself, students who were sent to live abroad in high school...

The moon, hanging low and full tonight, casted a silver glow that brushed softly against the hills of Suzhou, where my hometown resided. That night was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the town came to life under the dark blanket. My eyes glisten as they drift across the alluring vermilion lanterns, contrasted against the pitch-black sky. My feet involuntarily follow my nose’s guide, each stride closing the distance between me and the heart of the night....

Appa stopped talking to me years ago. But when he did, it was always the same, quiet accusations. “You killed her.” And the saddest part? He wasn’t wrong. I was the reason Mama was dead. But I was only seven then, so forgive me for hoping my grown father might offer a little grace. Mama loved Diwali. I never understood the fuss, but back when we lived in our little house in Kerala, she lived...

In today’s fast-paced world, teens are increasingly immersing themselves in technology, social media and extracurricular activities. As a result, time spent between teens and their families decreases. This shift raises an important question: what are the consequences of disconnection between teens and their families?  Research shows that the time teenagers spend with their family has decreased significantly over the past few decades. Teens are engaging in less and less meaningful conversations with their parents as...

Though it was past midnight, the day was prolonged with fireworks and city lights. Parols, little lanterns shaped like stars, adorned the shoddy wiring that kept the commune of San Miguel alive. It was Christmas, and in the Catholic-dominant Philippines, millions flocked to the cathedrals, an onerous gift from Magellan. Come next morning, there would be a mass at every church in the country, though Vincent had no intention of going. In fact, he was...