Speaking Out

As a young person pursuing a future in journalism, there are a number of qualities I must possess. Characteristics such as curiosity, dedication, intelligence, passion, patience and humility can take one a long way in this field. In today’s money-centred world of corruption and hidden agendas, it can be difficult to find a suitable role model on such a complicated career path.

{mosimage}REYKJAVIK, Iceland - Among the two per cent of Catholics in Iceland, many of whom are new immigrants from Poland and the Philippines, are young people making a difference.   

I  have been in a long-distance relationship for a few years. When we first started dating I was overwhelmed with joy. I felt the typical butterfly sensation people get when they first fall in love, sort of like the exhilaration of flipping upside down on a roller coaster ride.

I used to spend my time glaring at people who talked on their cell phones while I tried to sleep on the commuter train I ride to work five days a week. I would cringe when I heard someone popping their bubble gum or chewing it with an open mouth. I have to admit that sometimes I still do.

Every few years I get the opportunity to visit my grandparents’ cabin in the small town of Hope, B.C. Just a few hours from Vancouver, the cabin itself may not seem like much to the average citizen, but to my relatives and myself it is a reflection of hard work, perseverance, fond memories and family.

I just finished reading Jodi Picoult’s The Pact and felt that it really hit home hard. Although it’s fiction, it dealt with real issues teenagers face every day.

I just finished reading Jodi Picoult’s The Pact and felt that it really hit home hard. Although it’s fiction, it dealt with real issues teenagers face every day.

OMG. This tiny, seemingly harmless acronym is just one variation of a phrase that has invaded our everyday lives, from conversation to television scripting to instant messaging.

As I was sitting in on a group discussion, the topic of same-sex relationships arose. The majority of people in the discussion were Catholic and all had pretty strong opinions on the subject. This is to be expected, though what is not to be expected was some of the rude and hurtful comments I heard in that conversation. The fact that someone I know is gay was sitting right beside me made the whole experience that much worse.

When I was three years old, I was unable to organize my thoughts and speak either French or English. My dad spoke to my brother and me only in French. My mom spoke to us in English.