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Far Wrong

By: Miguel Padilla “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Though Martin Luther King Jr’s words can travel far through time, they often crash at people’s ears. January 20th—a day to celebrate King’s triumph for civil rights, coincided with a triumph for the far right. They celebrated with Nazi salutes. Those who didn’t tried to justify the ones who did. While January 20th was meant to celebrate triumph over racial adversity, programs meant to combat the lingering effects of that very adversity were abolished. But don’t feel disheartened. King was right. Why should we desire a world where we sit in silence when adversity comes? The words of our enemies should empower us to question, debate, and advocate—not drown our voice. The far right is far wrong. It is far too wrong to crush programs meant to help citizens climb the social ladder. It is far too wrong to pull out of agreements to protect the Earth to turn billions of dollars into hundreds of billions. It is far too wrong to reverse medical benefits. But it is far too wrong to do nothing. It is far too wrong to not publicly question authority. It is far too wrong to recognize the problem and keep it in your head. Don’t think. Act. Thoughts and prayers mean nothing if they’ve been thought and prayed for thousands of years without change. History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes—so we break the evil poet’s flow. Life will get better, but only if we allow it.

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Lingering Scents

By: Lynette Yang “Baobei, I’m heading out now,” Jade’s mother called out from the entrance to the small apartment, the keys jingling in her hand as she pulled on her reflective teal work vest, the back emblazoned with the company’s logo. “Warm up the leftovers from last night—that should be enough for our dinner.” Upon hearing her mother’s voice, Jade placed down her yellow PaperMate pencil, and her projectile motion homework was put on hold while she went to bid her mother farewell for the day. “You’re working on a holiday again?” she asked as she exited her room. “When are you coming back?”  “I’ll be home at around seven-thirty. Don’t wait for me during dinner, okay?”  Jade nodded before hugging her mother tightly, the older woman smelling faintly of East Asian takeout, rain, and gasoline fumes, all of which Jade no longer enjoyed. She knew her mother never used to smell like this before coming to Canada; however, they had no choice but to adapt and improvise with their circumstances.  “Stay safe, A-Ma,” said Jade when they pulled apart from their embrace. “Don’t stay out for too long in the rain or you’ll catch a cold.” “It didn’t seem so long ago when I used to be telling you that.” Jade’s mother smiled ruefully, her hand gently cupping Jade’s cheek. “You were so tiny and accident-prone, I didn’t know if you would be catching diseases one day or lice the next.” “That must be an exaggeration, A-Ma,” Jade teased. “I don’t remember catching many maladies as a child.”  “Perhaps I’ve forgotten. Look at your mother now, chubby and graying.” Jade’s mother sighed, taking a brief pause to look at herself. “It won’t be long before I forget everything, even you.” “That’s not happening anytime soon,” Jade reassured after a brief shock at her mother’s words. “Even if you do forget me, I’ll make sure to keep coming back to remind you that I’m your daughter. I’ll remind you of everything we’ve gone through–the good and the bad.” “That’s my daughter.” Jade’s mother pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, her eyes observing her daughter’s features and mannerisms. “Your Baba would be so proud of you, our little treasure.” A sudden rush of emotions came to the surface, hot tears pricking Jade’s eyes as she thought of her late father, who was typically a topic of avoidance.  “I miss him. I miss it when he used to make jokes during dinner or family gatherings.” Jade sniffled, rubbing her eyes dry with her gray sweatshirt, the fabric dampened and darkened with short dark lines from the tears. “The dinner table used to be lively when he was around.” Jade’s mother nodded knowingly, her heart sharing the same ache as her daughter’s. “You know, your Lao-Ye used to disapprove of your Baba. He always said that your father never made enough money and worried that I would be living in poor conditions if I married him.” “No way,” Jade murmured in disbelief, her voice slightly congested from crying. “Lao-Ye always liked Baba; he laughed the loudest at Baba’s jokes.”  “That’s where your father’s weapon was: his interpersonal skills. He practically charmed your grandfather to the point I began to wonder if he was wooing your grandfather or me.”  Jade chuckled, the mood lightening thanks to her mother’s playful remark. “I could see Lao-Ye twirling his beard for Baba,” she joked, which earned a bark of laughter from her mother. A comfortable silence filled the room as the mother-daughter duo stood in front of each other, their sorrows and joys exposed in a rare occurrence for conversation. “Well, I’d best be off now,” Jade’s mother announced, letting out a deep breath before returning to her original activities. “Goodbye, Baobei.” “Bye, A-Ma. Don’t drive too fast on the roads.” The shuffling of worn runners moving from wood floor to carpet and an audible click of the front door lock. Jade was now home alone, her mother off to deliver takeout to strangers during the cold, dreary holiday where people either stayed at home or drove when they went out—all to bring home a little more cash. Jade knew it never used to be that way. Striding back into her room, she picked up her journal from her bookshelf, the book’s pages beginning to yellow from age. It was a gift from her grandparents, a way for her to express her emotions after her father’s passing during her elementary years. Since then, numerous pages have been filled with anecdotes or mournful passages about major events which happened in her life or before it. Jade wafted the scent of the paper to her nose, the smell of her old home faint but present even after ten years.  She reread old entries about her father’s vehicle accident and the silence during dinner; her mother immigrating to Canada while she remained with her grandparents; her first days in Canada, the dreadful weather, and the never-ending teasing she endured from her peers; the realization that her mother was now a takeout delivery driver, not a doctor; the heartache she felt as her mother cried behind closed doors for being unable to better provide for them, and her decision to become a doctor to bring life to her mother’s dreams. Finally, a fresh page. Jade picked up her pencil from her desk and began to scribble down the emotions felt and stories told from a few minutes earlier, the smell of pencil lead filling the air. “I promise you, A-Ma,” Jade whispered to herself, her hand beginning to cramp from the speed at which she wrote, “If you forget, I’ll remind you over and over again until you remember. Your story—our story—will not be forgotten.”

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The Good Man

By: Yegor Kulichenko As Jonas left his apartment, he pushed his earbuds into his ears, and walked down the stairs before bumping into his elderly neighbor. He paused, watching the frail woman struggle to pull her grocery bags up the flight of steps. “Do you need any help with that, Ms. Morgan?” asked Jonas as he took out his earbuds. The old woman looked up at him. “Why, that’d be great, dear! Thank you.” Jonas picked up the bags and slowly helped her make her way up to her unit, dropping the bags off in her kitchen. “Thank you so much for the help, young man. Would you like to stay for lunch?” she asked warmly. Jonas shook his head. “I’m sorry Ms. Morgan, but I have to catch the bus or else I’ll be late for work.” Ms. Morgan thanked him once again as Jonas dashed off, barely making it to the bus.  After paying his fare, he made his way to a seat, putting his earbuds back into his ears. Jonas rubbed his eyes; just a few more minutes and he’ll be late for work. When the bus briefly halted, he noticed a man with a child, struggling to find a seat. The man furrowed his brows, trying to make sure the youngling didn’t run off and cause chaos on the packed vehicle. Noticing his trouble, Jonas stood up, waving the man over and sacrificed his seat. The man sat down, grateful for Jonas’s kind act. Jonas brushed it off as if it were nothing and made his way to the front of the bus, getting off at his stop just in time to make it to work.  “You’re late!” yelled out his boss as Jonas entered the cafe.  Jonas turned to face the man, shooting a grin at him. “Thanks for waiting for me, boss!” He said, pointing finger guns as he walked towards the piano. “How about I buy you lunch? My treat!” Jonas asked as he started to set up his music. When he was done, Jonas looked at him for a moment, his smile as wide as always. “You know you can’t keep bribing me to keep you in here, Jonas,” said his boss, already knowing what Jonas was going to do. Jonas reached into his wallet and handed him a folded up $10 bill. “I’m not bribing you. It’s just the least I can do.” Jonas answered brightly and began playing his music, letting the tunes fill the cafe as the customers looked over with faces of interest and contentment. “Y’know, you really live up to your last name Goodman,” his boss said before he went away for some food. Hours later, the cafe slowly began to close and Jonas packed up his music, picked up his dinner from the cafe, and made his way outside. With the streetlamps guiding his path, Jonas walked along the seawall. He enjoyed admiring the view of the night sky after a long day of playing music. As he walked, he suddenly heard a voice from behind. “Spare some change, kid? I ain’t got no food.” Jonas looked over to see a homeless man on a bench. He paused for a moment before walking over and handed him his dinner. “Have this, sir. I wasn’t gonna eat it anyway.” The homeless man smiled and took the bag from Jonas. “God bless you, son.” Jonas smiled back and continued on his journey. As he walked, thoughts of his good deeds spiraled in his head. Not only was he satisfied with the man he had become, but he was also proud to call himself a good Samaritan.

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A Guide to Understanding Different Disabilities 

By: Jisara W Did you know that nearly 1 in 4 people globally have a close friend or family member living with a disability? While some are visible conditions like limb loss and others are invisible like autism, it is undeniable that disabilities have touched countless lives in profound ways. Despite this, misconceptions and lack of awareness often create barriers for inclusion. Therefore, this article aims to explore some of the most common disabilities people encounter to foster awareness and promote a more inclusive and supporting community.  Sensory Disabilities Sensory disabilities affect one or more of the body’s senses: vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell. The severity of these disabilities ranges from partial loss to complete impairment. Approximately 253 million people are affected by some form of blindness and visual impairment, representing 3.2% of the world’s population while 466 million people have a disabling deafness and hearing loss, representing 6% of the world’s population. While the percentage is relatively low, 466 million people is the population of the United States, Canada, and Mexico combined. Sensory disabilities often go unnoticed by those who are unaffected, but for individuals living with these conditions, the challenges are deeply felt in daily life especially when navigating through unfamiliar environments as they cannot rely on their senses like many of us do.  Cognitive Disabilities Cognitive disabilities often arise from genetic mutations or brain injuries. For example, conditions like Down syndrome are caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. In most cases, any chromosomal abnormalities would cause one to lose their lives but due to some unknown reasons, those with an extra copy of chromosome 21 will manage to survive. Brain injuries are rare, but totally possible when accidents happen. Usually, those who had severed their brain are unable to live the life they previously had as those damages are often irreversible.  Physical Disabilities War, natural disasters, and accidents are significant causes of physical disabilities. Physical disabilities affect a person’s ability to move, coordinate actions, or perform physical tasks. These disabilities can range from partial mobility impairments to complete loss of function in one or more limbs. Today, 75 million people require a wheelchair daily, while countless others rely on assistive devices like crutches, prosthetics, or braces. In the end, disabilities, whether visible or invisible, impact millions of lives, yet their stories often go unheard. By educating ourselves and fostering empathy, we can break down the barriers of misunderstanding and create a world where everyone feels valued, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.

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International Women’s Day – Women in STEM

By: Daniel Che Each year, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder for all people to acknowledge and celebrate the achievement of female scientists across the globe and highlight the work still needed to achieve gender equality. In the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (or the so-called STEM area), women have made extraordinary contributions despite historically having faced systemic barriers such as sexism and racism.The journey of women in STEM has been marked by persistence against all odds. Figures such as Katherine Johnson, a mathematician from NASA who calculated trajectories for the Apollo mission, and Marie Curie, the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry, have all been keystone figures in history. These people not only advanced in their fields of studies, but also inspired generations of women to pursue careers in science and technology. Today, women like Jennifer Doudna, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize for CRISPR gene-editing technology, and Katie Bouman, who helped develop the algorithm to capture the first image of a black hole, continue to redefine the limits and possibilities in STEM.  Despite their success, gender disparity remains a prominent issue in the field of STEM. According to recent studies, women account for less than 30% of the global STEM workforce. This lack of representation spreads to women of colour and those from underrepresented communities. These barriers are often compounded and are blocades for women going into STEM. However, efforts are being made to lessen this misconception. Communities such as the UN Women’s HeForShe campaign and Girls Who Code are addressing these gaps by advocating for inclusive policies, providing scholarships, and creating opportunities for young women to explore in the STEM fields.As modern women’s contributions to STEM increase everyday, they are shaping the future in profound ways. For instance, Dr. Tu Youyou, a Chinese scientist discovered artemisinin, a treatment for malaria, has saved millions of lives worldwide. Dr. Gitanjali Rao, a teenage scientist who developed a device to detect lead in drinking water showcased the next generation’s potential in advancement. More of these people are to come, and women make up a lot of them. Encouraging more women to enter STEM begins with education. Programs such as WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) and STEMinist are inspiring young girls by providing them with resources to conduct their own research and provide hands-on learning opportunities. Schools and universities such as Harvard and Princeton have also fostered environments where young girls feel welcomed and supported when in need.Having knowledge of their stories inspire us and many more to keep building a world where every girl knows that she belongs in STEM. After all, the greatest breakthroughs happen when everyone has a seat at the table. 

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Eastward Sun

By: Jasper Jose As a sliver of the sun broke through the horizon, Maria Marcelo Ejercito Cruz hopped off the ferry, the salt of the sea stinging the scent of the air. She had no idea what the future would hold, only that her parents had finally gotten a job here in Montreal and that she was to rendezvous with them at a café whose name she had forgotten. She had flown in later so that she could say goodbye to more of her friends, but now that was proving to be a mistake. It was winter, and the crisp, harsh cold wove through the curls of her dark hair, a chilling reminder that she was no longer in Tondo. The land stretched far and flat, distant hills on the crest of her viewpoint were dotted with the rooftops of foreign architecture. The words of the people around her never stuck, and the typically talkative nature was replaced with a strange silence. Their language was odd to her. The nasal sounds of their n’s and m’s tore at her ears, and her tongue had no place for the rolls of their r’s. This new world had no rhythm that she could listen to and understand. Still, there was a kindliness to them that seemed to permeate with all people. What was mutual amongst them was not words or experiences, but the simplest of human emotions. She heard laughter as she walked through Place Jacques-Cartier, and the icy wind seemed to whisper to her. The towering old stones and the European-styled buildings were different from the corrugated iron she knew in Manila. There was an awe, an aged essence, unburdened by the influence of a dominant culture, and it flourished in a brilliance that ran through her veins. She was still lost, though.          In the square, there was music playing, and she was drawn to it, a brief distraction from her circumstances. Her ill-chosen slippers slapped against the steps, and surrounded by dead arbres, she looked around with a worried expression, trying to remember the name of the café she had forgotten. “Ett-Voo Purdue?” A Quebecois woman asked. Maria had no idea what she had actually said, but those were the noises she heard. As strange as it was, at that moment, the name had come back to her. “J-Jardin Nelson…?” Maria asked. The Quebecois raised an eyebrow and then pointed to the bougie building right behind her, where her parents were gesturing her over. “Oy, Salamat!” she thanked, as she parted from the Quebecois waving. Neither had spoken a word of either’s language, and yet one’s day was made better and the other’s was saved.

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A March Towards Zero Discrimination 

By: Joy Fan Early Civil Rights Movements (19th Century) In the 19th century, signs of nondiscrimination movements started to emerge, marking an important transformation in the society towards a more inclusive and equal society. A major event that happened included the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act passed by the British Parliament, which ended slavery in most of the British colonies and set a precedent for the abolitionist movement globally. Following, in 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention, sited in New York, was the first woman’s rights convention. It called for sexual equality in society at large and resulted in 15 resolutions, including women’s rights to vote, helping to ignite women’s suffrage movements in the US and later around the world. Similarly, in 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to grant women the right to vote, marking a key victory in global women’s rights.  Mid-20th Century: Global Human Rights Movements (1940s-1960s) Adopted by the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 provided a global framework for human rights, enshrining the rights and freedoms of all human beings, entitling all to dignity and equal rights, regardless of race, gender, or nationality. In 1955, the Bandung Conference (Indonesia) was established, the first large-scale meeting for newly independent Asian and African nations. It advocated for solidarity against colonialism, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, promoting self-determination and equality for all nations. In 1960, there was the African Independence Movements. With more than 30 African countries gaining independence in the 1960s, many took strong stances against racial discrimination and colonial legacies, notably with figures like Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba. Late 20th Century: Expansion of Anti-Discrimination Laws (1970s-1990s) The 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was another important historical mark of anti-discrimination progress. Adopted by the UN General Assembly, this treaty provides the basis for realizing equality between women and men through ensuring women’s equal access to, and equal opportunities in, political and public life, promoting gender equality in all spheres of life. It included the right to vote and to stand for election – as well as education, health and employment. Notably, it is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women. In 1990, the International Day Against Homophobia was Initiated to raise awareness about discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, and it became a global movement for inclusion and acceptance, especially in countries with strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws. It is set on May 17th, this date was chosen to honor the World Health Organization’s landmark decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. At last, in 1994, South Africa’s end of apartheid marked a monumental moment in the global fight against racial discrimination, with the establishment of a new, inclusive constitution that outlawed racial discrimination in all forms. 21st Century: Global Focus on Inclusion and Equity (2000s-Present) In the modern world, there has been more focus on non-discrimination rights than ever. In 2008, the UNAIDS Zero Discrimination Campaign, aimed at fighting discrimination related to HIV/AIDS status, addressed discrimination targeted on sexual orientation, gender identity, and health. Similarly, in 2011, the UN established the Human Rights Council and passed its first LGBTQ+ Rights Resolution, officially condemning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, marking a significant step in recognizing LGBTQ+ rights as human rights. Finally and most recently, the Global Black Lives Matter Protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in the U.S. in 2020, protests against racial injustice spread globally, from the UK to Brazil to South Africa, highlighting systemic racism and calling for social reform worldwide.

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The Clockmaker’s Touch

By: Dharaneeswar The old cuckoo clock had been sitting on the workbench for years, gathering dust in the corner of Maya’s family shop. Its face was cracked and the cuckoo mechanism jammed, while the intricate carvings on its wooden surface were dulled by time. Maya’s father had always promised to fix it, but he never got around to it. “That one’s a lost cause,” he would say, shaking his head. But she had always been fascinated by it. It had a charm—worn, imperfect, but full of potential. That afternoon, with the shop closed and the faint scent of sawdust in the air, Maya decided it was time. She grabbed a toolbox, rolled up her sleeves, and carefully lifted the clock onto the center table. The first challenge was getting inside. The back panel was warped and stuck, refusing to budge no matter how much she pried at it. Getting inside was harder than she’d expected. “Come on,” she muttered, grabbing a flathead screwdriver. She wedged it into the seam, and when it finally gave way, she was greeted by a tangled mess of gears, springs, and cobwebs. Maya had spent countless hours in the shop watching her father work, but facing the tangled mechanisms on her own was intimidating. The gears were rusted, and their teeth worn smooth. She carefully removed each piece, wiped them clean and replaced what couldn’t be saved. The tiny cuckoo bird was stuck inside its perch, its paint chipped and slowly peeling. Maya used the tip of her screwdriver to gently nudge it free, smiling as it sprang forward. “Hello there,” she said softly, holding the bird in her palm. Time slipped away as she worked. The sun dipped lower in the sky, and the quiet tick of other clocks in the shop became her only companion. She didn’t notice the ache in her shoulders or the smear of grease on her cheek. Finally, after hours of tinkering, she tightened the last screw and set the clock upright. She wound the key, holding her breath as she listened. Tick. Tick. Tick. A slow grin spread across her face as the cuckoo bird popped out, chirping its cheerful song. The shop door creaked open just as the clock chimed its first hour. Maya’s father stepped inside. “You fixed it?” he asked, walking over to inspect her work. Maya nodded, brushing her hands on her jeans. “Told you it wasn’t a lost cause.” “You’ve got a knack for this, you know—better than me, maybe,” Her father chuckled, “Well, what’s next on your list of impossible projects?” Maya looked around the shop, her eyes landing on an old, battered pocket watch buried under a pile of tools. She grinned. “Let’s see how far this knack of mine goes.”

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Navroz

By: Khaliya Rajan March 21st, the new year begins. Flowers bloom — they shine bright, Birds sing — they are joyful, Bees buzz — they are busy. We join together to pray,  eat, celebrate, and dance. Navroz Mubarak May your year be filled with love, joy, good health, and prosperity. Shukar for the  past years — giving us faith and keeping  us safe. As the new year begins, we gather, we celebrate, we help one another. Music floats through the room lifting spirits, prompting smiles, bringing joy. The smell of biryani wafts towards the crowd. Hungry people hurry forward dodging small children sprinting quickly towards the food.

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