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Wolves women’s basketball team defeats St. Lawrence in home game

The Wolves continued their streak with their fourth win of the season

Kimberly Tremblay

Photos: Kimberly Tremblay

November 12, 2024
Revised: November 12, 2024 9:33am

Photo: Kimberly Tremblay

Mallory Katz (left) with teammate Piper Hatherall (right) during the game. The Wolves women's basketball team played against the St. Lawrence Surge on Nov. 8 at the Jack Doyle Athletics & Recreation Centre, located at Algonquin College's Ottawa campus.

The Wolves women’s basketball team won 94-35 against the St. Lawrence Surge on Nov. 8 at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

This is the fourth win for the Wolves, who remain undefeated this season.

The Wolves’ strong defence was no match for St. Lawrence as they dominated the first quarter of the game.

Wolves forward Mallory Katz scored the first two points of the game. Piper Hatherall, who is also a forward, scored the final point of the first quarter with only 14 seconds remaining.

The Wolves led 20-4 in the first quarter.

Wolves coach Jaime McLean was proud of his team’s great defence.

“The first quarter is all about setting the tone defensively, setting a standard and us playing to that standard,” said McLean after the first quarter.

Coach Jaime McLean talks strategy with the Wolves women's basketball team before the final quarter of the game. The Wolves played against the St. Lawrence Surge on Nov. 8 at the Jack Doyle Athletics & Recreation Centre, located at Algonquin College's Ottawa campus. Photo credit: Kimberly Tremblay

St. Lawrence made a strong effort to catch up during the second quarter, but the Wolves maintained their lead.

The second quarter ended with the Wolves ahead 42-23.

Fans of both teams cheered and stomped their feet, showing their school spirit during the game.

James Turner, a fan of the St. Lawrence Surge, was concerned the team would walk away with another loss.

“The girls have been falling behind,” said Turner during the third quarter. “They haven’t won a single game this season and this is their first game away from home.”

St. Lawrence continued to fall behind in the third quarter while the Wolves scored another 30 points.

McLean believes his team’s excellent defence is why they are doing well this season.

“Our third quarter defence has been excellent. We’re going to be aggressive defensively. It’s going to be really hard to score against us,” said McLean. “We don’t play down to our competition. We want to focus so when we play good teams, we’re ready for them.”

Wolves guard Dasia McDonald agreed.

“Talking about defence is our biggest thing. We want to bring intensity on that because our defence is our main source of winning our games,” said McDonald during the third quarter.

Wolves guard Dasia McDonald (right) works her way around St. Lawrence forward Laura Mallen (left). The game took place on Nov. 8 at the Jack Doyle Athletics & Recreation Centre, located at Algonquin College's Ottawa campus. Photo credit: Kimberly Tremblay

The Wolves were ahead 72-25 in the third quarter.

In the final quarter, Wolves forward Libby Hirst scored two points in the final 30 seconds of the game.

Wolves fans cheered at the final buzzer as the home team easily contained the Surge.

McDonald was excited about the team’s win. She said McLean’s advice before the game helped the team chemistry on the court.

“We’re a close group of girls so he tells us to play like it. He encouraged us to be there for each other,” said McDonald after the game.

“Seeing our teammates contribute in different ways is something he likes to see. It shows in the game that we care more about our teammates’ successes over our own.”

Although the Wolves have won all their games this season, McDonald said the Wolves are preparing to play against more challenging teams.

“We still have a lot to work on,” said McDonald. “Our toughest competition will be most likely in the west, so we have to prepare ourselves for those games.”

The Wolves will be travelling to Oshawa this week to play against the Durham Lords on Nov. 15.

Sports & Recreation

Kimberly Tremblay

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Algonquin College finalizing future vision for the campus

Algonquin College’s Master Campus Development Plan calls for new buildings, more green space and easier access via an upgraded LRT station

Sophie Daly

Photos: Sophie Daly

November 12, 2024
Revised: November 12, 2024 9:09am

Photo: Sophie Daly

Partners with MCDP discussing plans with staff on Nov. 4 in Nawapon at C-building.

College staff overseeing the 10-year Master Campus Development Plan held one of their final consultation sessions on Nov. 4 in Nawapon at C-building.

The meeting was to get final thoughts on the future of the Algonquin College Woodroffe campus before presenting a final proposal to the board of directors.

Staff went through current contraction plans for the college, focusing on increasing building demolition, creating a greener walkable campus and introducing the LRT station.

They laid out the big moves they were proposing to combat the campus’ challenges, including renewing and building the entry from Navaho Drive, creating a more welcoming and livable campus, enhancing edges, entries and connections with the community, establishing a diverse green space and safely facilitating travel modes on campus.

Representatives from Urban Strategies, an urban planning department company hired as a consultant on the plan, went through their sections.

Tim Smith, principal of Urban Strategies, and Eric Turcotte, a partner of Urban Strategies, spoke about the demolition aspect of the plan. Photos were shown with certain buildings in red, yellow and green. Red buildings are where short- or medium-term development would occur.

“We will demolish buildings with a significant need for maintenance since in the long term, they will cost less to demolish and rebuild them than continuing to invest money into them,” said Turcotte.

Considering the age of the campus, trying to maintain certain buildings would not help keep the campus fresh.

“Part of the solution to this is not constantly reinvesting in these buildings but actually to begin demolishing buildings and building new ones,” said Smith.

Many buildings eyed for demolition are smaller or less used. On the other hand, structures like B-building are large and too expensive to demolish.

Their plan highlights demolishing older buildings first, such as F, H and A buildings, to create new multipurpose buildings with the lower level being academic space and the upper level being residential areas.

The plan envisions creating more green space on campus and social areas outside for students to use, as well as enhancing the campus edges with the community to help create a welcoming and livable environment.

Koala Attry, a baking and pastry art management student, is interested in the idea of creating more recreational spaces

“I came from India and used to play a lot of cricket. It would be nice to have an area or grounds where people could play cricket. I find there are green areas but no recreation areas,” said Attry, who attended the consultation.

Other parts of the plan aim to increase the ability for people to travel to and from campus. With the LRT station being added and with Baseline Station turning into Algonquin Station, the team is aiming for more people to take advantage of public transportation.

Concerns about people driving and parking on campus were brought up.

Jeff Agate, associate director of Students Support Services, asked the team if the size of the parking lot would be affected by construction since the plan is pushing for more green space and transit use.

“When we are looking at development, we are looking at a lower level or underground parking in order to facilitate building growth,” said Ryan Southwood, executive director of Facilities Management.

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Sophie Daly

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Postcards for Veterans brings joy to students and soldiers

The event had a goal of producing 160 postcards for veterans living at Perley Health

Mackenzie Cardinal

Photos: Mackenzie Cardinal

November 11, 2024
Revised: November 11, 2024 10:24am

Photo: Mackenzie Cardinal

Jenny Rizk, the event coordinator, reads each heartfelt message.

For baking and pastry alumna Sabrina Boucher, Remembrance Day is special for her and her family.

“I think it’s important to remember the sacrifices of people who’ve died. I have a family member who’s in the army, so I understand how dangerous the line of work can be,” said Boucher. “If that person died, I would be devastated, so I’m more emotionally attached to this day.”

Many students feel the same way as Boucher. That’s why, for people who want to honour Canada’s soldiers and veterans, the Postcards for Veterans event was the best way to show their respect.

Postcards for Veterans happened in E-building on Nov. 5. It allowed students to write to veterans in long-term care facilities.

Jenny Rizk explaining the event to a student. Photo credit: Mackenzie Cardinal

Event coordinator Jenny Rizk, who works in student support services at the college’s Volunteer Centre, talked about the event’s important purpose.

“We’re writing postcards with messages of thank you to our veterans. It gives our youth a way to thank the people who have served,” she said.

One hundred and sixty postcards written was their goal, and postcards would be mailed to veterans living in Perley Health, a long-term care facility in Ottawa.

However, soldiers still serving won’t be forgotten. Soldiers attending the Remembrance Day ceremony on campus will receive postcards.

Postcards were written with anonymity in mind. Rizk had everyone sign with “from Algonquin College” or “from Algonquin College students.” There was a paper on each table, showing various messages students could write on the postcards.

Some of the students who showed up were there for their community service hours or for their program requirement.

For Sharlene Jaromay, her reason was much more personal.

“Their dedication to our country is something that I appreciate, and I wanted to thank them for their efforts,” said Jaromay, a business management and entrepreneurship student.

One of the postcards was written to Chief Joseph Dreaver of the Mistawasis First Nation, who served during the First and Second World Wars. According to the Government of Canada, it is estimated that over 4,000 Indigenous Canadians served in the First World War.

At the end of the event, the goal of 160 postcards was achieved, and students left happily knowing they added a little joy to veterans’ lives.

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Mackenzie Cardinal

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Opinion: Why we shouldn’t care about cringe culture

Guess what? Everyone is cringey

Siobhan Rollo

Photos:

November 11, 2024
Revised: November 11, 2024 10:20am

Cringe culture is a relatively new thing to members of “Gen Z.” We’ve all seen them suggested to us on social media: cringe compilations, try not to cringe challenges, entire meme pages dedicated to those they deem “cringey”. The word eventually makes you, well, cringe. However, I need to ask, why does all of this matter anyway?

Cringe culture is a way of reintroducing shame-guilt-fear culture. Shame-guilt-fear culture is a sociopolitical term which describes the idea of excluding people because you feel that they do shameful things, they do things that they should feel guilty about or they do something that makes others fear them.

While it has its place, shame-guilt–fear culture eventually became a way of vetting out “undesirable” people in the 19th century. It would be an easy way to whistleblow people of colour, queer individuals, neurodivergent people, immigrants, the list goes on.

With the sudden fear of cringe culture further developing, it just creates more outsiders. Do you dare to like a cartoon made for children? That’s cringe! Do you dress differently than our social norm? That’s cringe! It’s another way to ostracize people.

Cringe culture is also an excuse to cyber bully people at large. If you post something that someone deems “cringe,” it puts you at risk of being plastered in a cringe compilation. You become a jester because of your passion. The worst part is that the concept of “cringe” is subjective, as most terms are.

So you — yes, you who dared to post a TikTok about something you are passionate about — can be selected at random by someone who doesn’t enjoy your passion. Just like that, you’re made into a public spectacle. The comments aren’t any better. They take the opportunity of screen anonymity to tear people apart. The more vulnerable a person seems, the better.

I’ll tell you something, a secret some of you may not know. All of us are cringey. If you dare to be an individual, you’re subject to being labelled cringey. There’s always something you do that’s cringey. For some, it’s their interest in anime. For others, it’s the way they get excited to ride a rollercoaster. Everyone is cringey.

The Disney movie Turning Red is a good example of how cringe culture is received by the general public. When the movie came out, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the way the characters acted. Mei, our main character, is your average preteen girl. She likes boy bands. She likes to make silly videos with her friends. She tries her best in school. She’s got weird crushes on grody teenage boys. But this was enough for audiences to get upset. Her crushes are cringe. The way she dances on tape is cringe. The way they talk about her going through puberty is cringe. The way she likes to sing boyband songs with her friends is cringe. That’s right, not even fictional characters are immune to the label of being cringe.

If there was one thing I’d ask you to take away from this, is that cringe culture doesn’t matter. It’s always existed, but we’ve always survived it. I promise you that being cringe isn’t the end of the world. Let yourself be passionate and vulnerable. Disregard those who hate you for it. Because for every bully that calls you cringey, there are lots of people who are cringey just like you. Doing “cringey” things doesn’t make you cringey. It just makes you an individual.

Opinions

Siobhan Rollo

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Teamwork triumphs: Wolves dominate La Cité Coyotes in long-awaited victory

A newfound unity gives the men's volleyball Wolves a fresh start, bringing renewed hope and momentum to their season

Caroline Kirkey

Photos: Caroline Kirkey

November 11, 2024
Revised: November 11, 2024 10:14am

Photo: Caroline Kirkey

The Wolves team celebrates a massive win after a five game losing streak.

The Wolves men’s volleyball team delivered an impressive performance against the La Cité Coyotes on Nov. 6, securing a dominant 3-0 win at the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.

This victory was especially significant for the Wolves, who were struggling with a five-game losing streak.

For the team, this win was not just about the points on the board, but a crucial moment of bonding. With several new players, the team has faced challenges in coming together, but they are beginning to find their rhythm.

“This win is huge for us,” said Ryan Lincoln, who plays outside positions for the Wolves. “We’ve got a lot of new players this year, and it’s been a process getting everyone on the same page—sorting out everyone’s individual quirks and making them align.”

Wolves head coach Jelle Kooijman, who has the challenge of training a young team, agreed.

“This is a really young team, lots of new players, lots of new tournaments, and many players in new positions they weren’t in last year,” he said.

Ahead of the game against La Cité, Kooijman reflected on the team’s recent losses.

“Last week, we had two tough losses in five sets. We made some errors, but we’ve been working on how to eliminate those mistakes in our meetings on Tuesdays,” said Kooijman. “We’ve talked about how these errors are costing us when we look at our stats.”

One challenge this season is service errors. The Wolves have committed 127 total in six games, ranking them second overall for making those errors, according to the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association.

Image shows graph of all service errors made each game by the wolves men volleyball team. — Photo credit: Caroline Kirkey

For their overall game play, they have made 35 service aces in six games, ranking seventh in the in the OCAA.

Mahmoud Abdelaziz, an outside hitter for the Wolves, kept himself calm and collected before the game against La Cité, understanding the pressure the team was under.

“I like to stay as relaxed as possible ’cause I feel the nerves before any game. So, personally me, I like to try and stay as relaxed and calm as possible, nothing too stimulating before the game,” said Abdelaziz.

Player Mahmoud Abdelaziz is reaching for the volleyball to score a point for his team. — Mahmoud Abdelaziz going in for the kill against the La Cite team. Photo credit: Caroline Kirkey

After the game, he said he focused on his serving, trying not to make any service errors. Abdelaziz was proud of how much his serves have improved.

“I’ve been having some serving struggles throughout the beginning of the season, but it’s nice to see it slowly starting to come together,” said Abdelaziz.

As the Wolves continue to find their footing this season, Kooijman remains optimistic about their growth and the collective effort behind their victories.

“When people come to games, they see the familiar names, but what’s not always visible is the work everyone puts in — from the starting players to those on the bench, and our staff,” he said. “This win is a result of that collective effort.”

With the team’s momentum building and a new sense of unity, the Wolves hope to carry the positive energy into their upcoming matches.

Sports & Recreation

Caroline Kirkey

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Algonquin Wolves are national college men’s soccer silver medallists

In rematch of the provincial championship, the Humber Hawks triumphed again

James Gray

Photos: Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

November 11, 2024
Revised: November 11, 2024 10:02am

Photo: Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

Two Humber players embrace after their victory. Algonquin's Gershom Dupuy stands on the right.

It was a bitter scene in Fredericton, N.B. as the Algonquin Wolves lost in the gold medal game of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association men’s soccer championships.

And it was against a familiar foe: the Humber Hawks, the team which beat Algonquin in the Ontario league final.

Algonquin's goalkeeper Olivier Langlois prepares to return an intercepted shot. Centre-back Kerim Tosun is behind him, while Humber forward Jacob Ball is on the left. — Algonquin goalkeeper Olivier Langlois prepares to return an intercepted shot. Centre-back Kerim Tosun is behind him, while Humber forward Jacob Ball is on the left. Photo credit: Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

After losing that game, the Wolves came in as a wildcard team for the national championship. They proved their skill by carving through the Quebec champions Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers (2-0) on Nov. 6, and the B.C. champions Langara Falcons (2-1) on Nov. 7.

The final game was on a cold, cloudy Nov. 9 day. Humber started off strong by scoring in the first half thanks to midfielder Franz Mella. They kept up the pressure and barely let the Wolves see their goalposts.

In the second half, the Wolves pushed to get down the pitch, but ultimately both teams made few shots and had no successes. In a grit-filled match, players were often knocked to the ground, and near the end there were almost more free kicks than normal kicks.

The match ended 1-0 for the Hawks, crowning them national college champions, and Algonquin as the silver medallists.

Gershom Dupuy about to strike a header. Photo credit: Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association

The silver is Algonquin’s first national men’s soccer trophy since 2015, when they won bronze. The last silver was in 2008, and the last gold was in 2006.

After the match, there seemed to be a dispute with unidentified players shoving and yelling at each other. The box score lists Humber’s Tomas Joseph and Jason Alvarado, and Algonquin’s Oscar Forward and Olivier Langlois, as being sent off “after game” for “violent conduct.” However, the matter was quickly broken up by other players, and the teams touched hands in respect.

Wolves players and staff could not be reached for comment by deadline.

The tournament was hosted at Fredericton’s Grant Harvey Turf Field with the help of St. Thomas University.

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James Gray

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College still looking for solution to internet outages

Internet interruptions have been happening since Oct. 17 resulting in students and staff finding alternative ways to get their work done

Stephanie Taylor

Photos: Stephanie Taylor

November 10, 2024
Revised: November 10, 2024 5:10pm

Photo: Stephanie Taylor

Algonquin College's Woodroffe campus has been experiencing internet outages since Oct. 17.

Lara Mills, program coordinator and professor for the public relations program, was teaching the second of three back-to-back classes on Oct. 30 when all of a sudden the internet went out.

“I was about to have the students do an in-class exercise, which involved reading an article I had posted for them on Brightspace, having a discussion about it and then writing something related to it,” said Mills. “Since they couldn’t access the article, I dispensed with the exercise and let them go early.”

Since Oct. 17, the internet at Algonquin College’s Woodroffe campus has been going out repeatedly. Information Technology Services (ITS) has been investigating the cause of the outages, but has been unsuccessful at finding the solution.

“ITS has been working diligently with our service provider to identify and address the root cause of the outage,” said ITS in an email to students and staff on Nov. 1. “We have validated that the incident is not being caused by hardware failure or obsolete software.”

The internet outages have been causing disruptions to students’ learning. Some classes, such as Mills’ public relations classes, have had to pivot mid-class when the internet disappears. Mills said the internet was still out by the time her third class of the day on Oct. 30.

“For the next section I taught of the same class, I was still able to do my lecture and screen the videos I’d planned as I was presenting from the hardwired desktop computer,” said Mills. “When it came time to do the exercise, one of the students suggested bringing the article up on the big screen from the desktop computer so they could read it there. It worked OK and we were able to proceed with the exercise.”

Students are finding it difficult to complete work on campus due to the internet outages, especially those with online classes.

“My online classes get weird,” said Beckie Leach, a Level 2 baking and pastry arts management student.

When Leach remembers to work on their online class, “the Wi-Fi isn’t working,” they said.

Leach lives on campus in R-building, meaning they can never escape the internet outages.

In a poll conducted on the Algonquin Times Instagram account, 25 survey respondents answered how the internet outages were disrupting their classes and how their ability to complete assignments had been affected. The survey found that 56 per cent of respondents believe the internet outages to be very disruptive for completing assignments. Fifty-two per cent of respondents found the internet outages to be mildly disruptive to their classes.

Mills said she has heard of incidents where students were unable to complete their midterms due to the internet going out.

“One of my students was telling me that the week before break, one of his project groups was just about to do a scheduled midterm presentation to a class client (over Zoom) when the internet died,” said Mills.

Despite the unreliable internet, Mills and her students remain positive.

“Having the internet go down so often over the past few weeks has certainly made for an unpredictable teaching experience. One of my students in the second Wi-Fi-free class put a positive spin on the situation, though,” said Mills. “Once they finished the exercise, she commented that it was good that the internet was down, because ‘we had to use our brains.’”

ITS was running tests and hoped to know more about what was causing the internet outages by Nov. 8.

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Stephanie Taylor

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Group for local and international students seeks to bridge cultural gaps

“Understanding different backgrounds and perspectives is vital in today’s globalized world," says the club's founder. "We can learn so much from each other”

Agrani Tiwari

Photos: Agrani Tiwari

November 8, 2024
Revised: November 8, 2024 1:48pm

Photo: Agrani Tiwari

Jing An-Chen, a level-3 interactive media design student, leads the Youth Connection Dialogue in Ottawa. "I want to create a space where we can share skills, experiences and support each other’s growth," he says.

Jing An-Chen, a level-3 interactive media design student, founded Youth Connection Dialogue this past August to bridge gaps between local and international students.

Through monthly events, his hope is to foster cultural exchanges, career discussions and stronger community ties.

Through the group, students engage in meaningful conversations, networking and sharing ideas, rather than simply receiving information. Events are held in various community venues across Ottawa and often include partnerships with local groups such as the Mahjong Club, further supporting cultural exchange and understanding.

The events are usually in a room, where people just sit and talk and share advice with each other. They are usually held at Jewish Family Support group headquarters at Carling Avenue, where An-Chen volunteers.

Each month, An-Chen brings together diverse groups of students in hopes of fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange and career development in an effort to overcome the communication barriers that often divide them.

“I started the YCD because I saw a gap,” he said. “Local and international students often lack opportunities to connect, but if they share their skills and experiences, both sides can benefit. Understanding different backgrounds and perspectives is vital in today’s globalized world. We can learn so much from each other.”

Despite An-Chen’s enthusiasm, attracting and maintaining consistent participation has proven challenging.

While many students initially express interest, attendance has not always met expectations. “People were excited and took tickets, but only a handful showed up on the day. It was disheartening,” An-Chen said. This challenge has led him to rethink promotional strategies to boost engagement and retention.

The perception of the dialogue as a casual social gathering, rather than a platform for serious growth, is another hurdle.

“I want attendees to understand the value of these meetings and how they can impact their careers,” he said.

Kevin Chen, a level-2 regulatory affairs student, volunteers with YCD and shares An-Chen’s vision of a supportive student community. Introduced to the initiative by An-Chen, Chen quickly found purpose in contributing to the project.

“I wanted to gain experience here, so I decided to start as a volunteer,” he said. Having attended two events, Chen found it challenging to form lasting connections, noting that many attendees are shy and hesitant to reach out after the events end.

Kevin Chen, a Regulatory Affairs student and volunteer with the Youth Connection Dialogue, hopes to gain experience and build connections in Canada. "Volunteering helps me learn about Canadian work culture and connect with others facing similar challenges," he says. — Kevin Chen, a regulatory affairs student and volunteer with the Youth Connection Dialogue, hopes to gain experience and build connections in Canada. "Volunteering helps me learn about Canadian work culture and connect with others facing similar challenges," he says. Photo credit: Agrani Tiwari

For Chen, volunteering is also a way to adapt to Canadian work culture which is different from his native country Taiwan. “I haven’t had any working experience here,” he said. “Volunteering is a great chance to learn about Canadian society.”

An-Chen’s plans for YCD include deepening partnerships with local community groups like other local NGOs and increasing the initiative’s appeal to boost attendance. He believes that cultivating commitment and participation can help YCD attendees recognize the platform’s value for career and personal growth.

Chen, too, is determined to continue his involvement in YCD while weighing future opportunities outside of Ottawa.

Through YCD, An-Chen and Chen have opened the door for students to connect, grow, and support one another as they navigate their unique challenges and aspirations. As YCD continues to evolve, An-Chen remains hopeful that students will recognize the value of this collaborative space in shaping their futures.

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Agrani Tiwari

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First Person: Don’t let work steal life’s little pleasures from you

I had to work two (terrible) jobs over the summer to make ends meet. What got me through it all? The people I love

Siobhan Rollo

Photos: Laiyiady Lam

November 8, 2024
Revised: November 8, 2024 12:58pm

Photo: Laiyiady Lam

The key to surviving a tough experience? "Surround yourself with love." While the author couldn't control the world around her, she could surround herself with supportive humans.

It’s Sept. 4 and my partner and I are outside sipping from Halloween-themed mugs. As we sit in the sun in camping chairs around our backyard firepit enjoying the peace and quiet, relief washes over me.

School starts soon. The nightmare is over.

The nightmare of working two jobs.

In June, just three months before, my hands shook as I typed in the password to my banking app. A cold sweat hit me as I realized a bitter truth: I was two months short on rent.

After a frantic month of job hunting, I landed two positions unintentionally. Desperate, I handed out resumes to local businesses. One call-back came, then another a week later. Excited by how much money I could make, I kept both jobs.

Starting your first adult job often feels like being a small fire in need of kindling. Newbies need the right amount of support and mentorship in order to grow. Elizabeth Grootendorst is a professional with a criminal justice background who specializes in working with youth. She acknowledges this struggle.

“It’s hard enough trying to find a job these days,” she said. “I think it’s mostly about feeling safe in the workplace. Especially these kids in the middle of growing up… kids are tough and mouldable, but it’s hard to find a fine line between moulding and breaking their spirits.”

As I continued to work, I noticed two main issues that plagued me: poor self-esteem and unhappiness. My self-esteem suffered from over-analyzing mistakes my bosses corrected. My unhappiness stemmed from lacking energy to enjoy life’s little pleasures.

I’d often come home exhausted, hungry and irritable. My roommates would encourage me to rest and have something to eat. My partner would drag me out for fresh air and dopamine.

In fact, spending time with my roommates seemed to be the only thing that eased my stress.

I recall sitting on our dingy, navy blue couch, that was far too small for me and my three roommates. Yet, as I was handed an Xbox controller and encouraged to play a game or two, I found myself beginning to relax.

This would become a reoccurring soother.

Adam Hassan, my roommate who has known me since moving to Ottawa, was aware of what the stress did to me.

“You seemed very worn out, for lack of a better descriptor,” he said. “Constantly tired, constantly busy. And when you weren’t busy you were often very restless, hardly anything seemed to make you happy, even things you would otherwise enjoy.”

There would be days that I would be rotting in my bed. My hair was unbrushed, my skin shiny from the hot summer heat and my body limp and lifeless.

Despite that, my roommates would peek through my door, pull me out of bed and take me outside, reassuring me that this too, shall end.

I wish I had answers for everything that happened during those jobs. What did Boss A mean by asking if I was “artistic?” Why did Boss B correct non-existent grammar mistakes? I don’t have those answers.

But I know the key to surviving two jobs: surround yourself with love. I couldn’t control being short on rent or the way my bosses acted. However, I now understand that a supportive environment makes life more manageable.

The struggle of juggling two jobs while trying to make ends meet is a reality for many young adults entering the workforce. Oftentimes, it’s a balancing act between financial necessity and personal well-being.

The experience taught me valuable lessons about resilience, time management and the importance of self-care. It also highlighted the critical role of a support system – friends, family and my partner who provide emotional sustenance during tough times.

While the journey was difficult, it shaped my perspective on work-life balance. As I move forward in my academic and professional life, I carry these insights with me, hoping they’ll guide me toward a fulfilling career path.

For other young adults facing similar challenges, remember: it’s okay to struggle, it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s crucial to prioritize your well-being alongside your finances. The workforce can be intimidating, but, with the right support, it doesn’t have to be.

Ultimately, the key to surviving challenging work situations lies in surrounding yourself with love. I know if it wasn’t for my partner and my roommates, I might not have been able to get myself back to school to tell the tale.

I’m on the other side now, where it’s calm and peaceful. Where I have a backyard that I can spend time with my loved ones, who helped me through the storm. Work sucks, but the people you love sure don’t.

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Siobhan Rollo

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First Person: My journey to writing a children’s book

Over seven days, I put my dream of writing a book for kids into motion. The adventure taught me I can do more than I ever thought I could

Grinje Randa Bringi

Photos:

November 8, 2024
Revised: November 8, 2024 12:11pm

"I never imagined that enrolling in Algonquin College’s journalism program would lead me to begin to write a children’s book," writes the author.

“No, Auntie! Don’t go!” Kavaiah’s sweet voice stops me just as I’m about to step out the door. She tugs at my hand, holding tight to a new book I bought her, I Am Born to Be Awesome by Mechal Renee Roe. “Just read the book one more time, Auntie, PLEASE!” she begs, her eyes wide. How can I not be compelled to stay?

I smile, settle back onto the couch, and she jumps into my lap, eagerly flipping the book open to the first page. Kavaiah is full of energy when we read. She acts out each line, her four-year-old voice rising and falling with each word, making faces and gestures, soaking in every picture and phrase like it’s her first time hearing them.

I start, “I love the stars,” and she shouts, “I love racing cars!” Then we both chime in, “I am born to be awesome!” She takes her time turning each page, determined to slow me down if I go too fast. With every line, she finds something that resonates, whether it’s her love for bath time or playing in the park. She’s not just listening; she’s living each rhyme, seeing herself in the words and pictures. Each time we reach “I am born to be awesome,” she beams, and I feel it too. Her high-pitched voice makes my heart melt.

I never imagined that enrolling in Algonquin College’s journalism program would lead me to begin to write a children’s book. When the opportunity to write a personal narrative arose, I thought, why not take it further? Why not challenge myself to write a children’s book in seven days? I naively thought it wouldn’t be too hard, after all, it’s a children’s book. How complicated could it be?

Well, as it turns out, it was more challenging than I anticipated.

Day 1: Brainstorming the big idea

I knew the core theme of my book would focus on empowering young girls, especially through the mother-daughter relationship. My mother and I have always been close, a bond that grew even stronger as I got older and moved away. She instilled in me a strong sense of self-worth, reminding me that I was beautiful, smart and one of a kind. I never saw reflections of myself in toys, books or cartoons, so I relied on her validation to feel valued.

Looking back, I also see that while she built my self-image in terms of appearance, she often made my decisions for me. I rarely had the chance to choose for myself, which made it hard for me to trust my choices as an adult. I want my niece, Kavaiah, and other young girls to feel a deeper confidence, one rooted in their instincts. This realization sparked a clearer purpose for my story, but it still felt broad. I knew I needed some outside guidance.

Day 2: Seeking professional advice

Natalie Morrill, a writing professor at Algonquin College, offered me invaluable advice: “Write from the child’s point of view, not the adults.” Adults often impose what they think children should learn, Morrill explained, but what truly resonates is what appeals to children themselves.

This shifted my whole perspective. Up until then, I had been approaching the story from my adult experiences, thinking of my struggles, my insecurities and the decisions I sometimes feel lost in. I was focusing too much on Me, Me, Me and what I needed to heal my inner child, rather than thinking from the perspective of my protagonist, a four-year-old girl.

With this new insight, I felt more prepared to move forward, but I knew I needed more inspiration.

Days 3 & 4: Diving into research

Armed with Morrill’s advice, I immersed myself in the world of children’s books to better understand the writing process. I spent hours on YouTube, watching interviews with children’s book authors and soaking up their tips for creating stories that resonate with young readers. One piece of advice that stuck with me came from author and YouTuber Eevi Jones. “Show, don’t tell,” said Jones. “Let the illustrations complete the story.”

I realized I hadn’t read a children’s book in a while, so I needed to experience them firsthand.

Day 5: A field trip to Indigo

I spent nearly three hours at Indigo, walking through the aisles of the children’s section and reading books aimed at my target audience, kids aged 2 to 5. The books that resonated with me most were stories of empowerment like I Have a Superpower by Stephen Curry and The Idea in You by Sean Qualls. Yet, I noticed something missing…the focus on the girl child. Most of the protagonists were boys.

What I loved about I Have a Superpower was its cinematic feel, allowing for roleplay and animated reading, a full experience that makes the story come alive. The Idea in You centred the child in the illustrations, giving kids space to see themselves as the main character.

Through Kavaiah, my protagonist, I hope to show young girls that their voices and choices matter.

Day 6: Outlining my story

With fresh inspiration from my research and bookstore trip, I returned to my plot, ready to give it structure. I developed a curious and adventurous four-year-old protagonist, and her mother, who would serve as a guide rather than a decision-maker.

Similar to the moment with my niece, where she took my hand and led me to the couch to read together, I wanted to capture that same essence. She knew what she wanted, expressing her desire to spend time with me. It was her choice, and I validated it by reading with her, assuring her of my return to share more moments like these.

Day 7: Writing the first draft

The final day arrived, and I was feeling the pressure. I sat down to write, letting everything I had learned over the week flow onto the page. By the end of the day, I had completed my first draft. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a result of seven intense days of work, growth and learning. The journey of writing this book taught me more than just how to craft a story it showed me that I’m capable of more than I ever gave myself credit for.

Although my book isn’t finished yet, I now have a manuscript that I’m excited to refine and eventually publish. By the end of the journalism program, I will proudly say that I am a self-published author. More importantly, I’ve created a story that I hope will inspire young girls to trust themselves and their instincts.

And if my book helps even one girl embrace her autonomy, I’ll know I’ve succeeded.

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