Six years ago, I found myself heartbroken on Valentine's Day. As I met up with my friend, crying, at our local Starbucks, I cursed all the hearts and pink decorations around me. "How about you try to think of it…
Learning Through Mentorship
Working with children and with younger students has been a constant passion for me since I started babysitting in grade eight. Whenever I've had a stressful day, hanging out with kids always takes me out of my head, makes me…
What do I do with my life?
The closer I've gotten to graduation, the less certain I've been of what I wanted to do with my life. However, I've also begun to make peace with that uncertainty. On January 1 this year, I decided to no longer apply…
Asking for help
When I attended don training a couple years back, we were told a fact that I could not forget: the reason most students wait so long to seek mental health support is because they don't believe they're stressed enough to…
Space to Write
When I tell people that I'm a writer, a surprising reaction that I often get is "I used to write too, but I never have the time anymore," or "I write too, but I'm too scared to show anyone my work."…
Google Calendar is My Life
Looking back on my (almost!) four years of university, I think I'm most proud of how much my time management skills have improved since high school. Part of it has been out of necessity -- I've taken on far more…
My Favourite Holiday Activities
December can be a very stressful month, and like most students at this moment, I am still in the midst of finals. However, classes have finished at last, and I take comfort in knowing the term's end is in sight. Each paper…
On Staying in Touch
University can get stressful at times, and it can be difficult to stay in touch with friends, particularly with those who don't live in the city. But few things bring me more joy in life than hanging out and catching up with…
Getting Crafty for Self-Care
As a kid, I always loved arts and crafts: origami, painting rocks, making fake flowers from tissue paper. Once, for Christmas, I gave my parents two full boxes of homemade cards, because I couldn't settle on making just one card.…
“Choice is Yours”
I first walked into Toronto's Planned Parenthood (PPT) when I was seventeen. I knew absolutely nothing about the services, the cost, or the procedures offered. Unsatisfied with my family doctor, I had simply looked up the address online, dragged a…