Confluence The
COLLEGE NEWSPAPER
SEPTEMBER 2017 Artwork By: Chris Striker
BACK TO SCHOOL VIBE
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THE IMAGE OF CONVULUTION
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Kyle Rowell Editor In Chief The Confluence
Harman Dandiwal Organizer CNC Students’ Union
Welcome
Kyle Rowell, Editor In Chief
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Submissions, inquiries and requests can be made to news@cncsu.ca, in person at the CNCSU room 1-303, or mailed to “The Confluence c/o CNCSU 3330-22nd Ave. Prince George, BC V2N 1P8. All submissions are welcome, the authors of edited works used in the confluence receive a $20 cheque upon publication. Advertisement rates are available upon request.
Welcome to CNC! This year I’ll be the Editor-inChief for the Confluence Magazine, your CNC Students’ Union Magazine. I want to start the year by telling you a little bit about myself. I’m a Prince George Local, born and raised, and I have a lot of pride for this city. It’s not perfect, but it’s growing and changing in a way that’s exciting to be a part of. I’m an English major going into my third year here at CNC. In the time I’ve spent here I’ve had the opportunity to meet great faculty and peers, many of which have become friends. I’m dedicated to publishing more news, more information, and more student submissions. You’re why we’re here, and we want to hear from you. To contact or submit to the confluence email editor@cncsu.ca. You’ll be able to find The Confluence all over the campus, in several businesses, and online. So here’s wishing you a great year, full of success and new experiences.
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Editorial
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You might fail. Don’t panic, I’m not trying to bring you down, in fact a lot of people believe in you. No matter what, you made it here. You’re out doing the things you have to because you want something better. It won’t be easy to fail, it never is, especially the first time. I’ve been here long enough to see friends and peers miss the marks they set for themselves. You might miss a class, you might fail a test, maybe even miss a bus. If you drive, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll catch a parking ticket. I’m not telling you you’re going to fail because I want you too. I’m not saying you’ll fail because it’s inevitable. I’m saying you might fail, because it might just be a little easier if you know you’re not alone. I’ve seen smart dedicated people miss class, struggle to finish papers, and stay awake studying just to sleep through the test. I’ve done a little bit of that myself. It’s okay to forgive yourself. It’s a big jump we all make when we come through those doors at the beginning of a semester. We made that jump and when the time comes, we’ll have to jump once more. Whether entering the workforce, moving up to a university, or changing your goals and major completely, we can all jump again. I’m not trying to tell you college is impossible. Faculty is driven towards student success, and most of them understand how crazy college is. Many of us work, maintain relationships, and some students are even raising a family while trying to build a better life for them. Nearly all Instructors understand. Work sucks, relationships are hard, and kids are nuts. In spite of all that, you’re here. While you’re here you just might fail. It can be disappointing and a fear of failure is reasonable. Class is expensive, and education takes a long time as it is. With that considered, it’s important that you forgive yourself, learn from your mistakes, and be proud of the times you succeed. If and when you are struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out. CNC boasts a health and wellness clinic, counseling, a center for student success, and a student’s union, all working together to make sure you survive your time here at CNC. In between the minimum wage, the long nights and longer papers, and the many hours of studying, do your best to enjoy your time here. Just for coming through those doors, there’s people in the background rooting for your success.
The Confluence Your College Newspaper Part of the Students Union Sharing Information on your school news Student created content Available on Campus In several local businesses Available Online Through Issuu.com/cncsu
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Follow Us On Facebook @TheConfluenceMAG
The Back to School Vibe
By: Justin Macdonald
Summer’s over, now what?
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Saying goodbye to the care free summer vibes isn’t easy. For some of us “newbies,” the end of our free life trial has ended, which means no more parental advising, no more free rent, no more Mom’s home cooked meals, and an added sixteen hours of weekly slave labour. For the lucky ones, part time work isn’t required (but don’t tell people that) and for the ones who aren’t as fortunate, working sixteen hours is weak. For the other half of us returning to school this year, this is just a new folder of stress in our already existing file cabinet of misery. Usually, us “oldies” spend most of our summer working two jobs just so we can return, so stress and boredom isn’t new. Life hasn’t really lightened up on us, and if it weren’t for the weekend benders, we probably wouldn’t have made it back. It’s funny really, how us intellectuals are so smart that we decide to put ourselves through blood pressure inducing mental work that could potentially shorten our lifespan that could also potentially kill us before we can really make something out of ourselves. Who knew life was so giving? Obviously, we all love to jump at the idea of spending money to practice stress control. To be fair, it is a really useful life skill! Right? I mean how important is it that we restrain ourselves from yelling at our parents about last week’s test results? Ever been hungry, while texting your best friend about her ex while your Dad is also trying to call you about car payments? It’s lovely, and every time it happens to me I think, “Hmmmm, it’s a good thing school helped me learn how to deal with my stress!” School is really just the greatest.
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Although my optimistic approach about school seems accurate, I value my education. My honest opinion is that, I love school! And compared to work, education is a blessing! That’s what we’re all here for. And regardless of how much pressure we put on ourselves we want this! Through all the stress, heartache, and headaches, we want to prevail! We value knowledge, because we chose knowledge. Unfortunately, knowledge has a price, and if it were for us, we’d make it free! But, that’s the thing, it’s not, and this is why we work our a**es off. We want to be here. And our accomplishments so far, are because of us, we did this! We wanted to be smart, and as a result, we are the future. So for everyone's sake, we better make sure we know our s**t.
Sisters In Spirit’s Vigil
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When: October 4th 2017 Where: College of New Caledonia Time: 6:00-9:00 PM Please RSVP with Stephanie Jack stephiejack2015@gmail.com
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I want it beautiful. It is ugly, but there is something beautiful in its raw honesty. And so, it is beautiful. I want it ugly. It is beautiful, but there is something ugly in its pleasant superficiality. And so, it is ugly.
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There is something to be said for reality. The reality in fake things, and in natural things. In ugly things, and in beautiful things. But this doesn’t mean that all fake things are ugly, or all natural things are beautiful, or that all fake things are beautiful and all natural things are ugly. Because reality isn’t that simple. Reality is known by every living thing, yet is unfathomably complex. Reality can be regarded as a parallel; life versus death, black versus white, East versus West, day versus night, cold versus hot. Yet what can be said for gray, center, sunrise, or lukewarm? If no tangible thing on this list can be truly parallel, why is the existential any different? It is therefore reasonable to consider life and death, existence and non existence, to be likewise two extremes on either end of a gray tangent. What does that mean then? That there are levels to life and death? Existence means nothing to non-existence because non-existence doesn’t exist, so what is life? If there was no reality of life, there would be nothing in existence to know any difference. Does this mean then, that perhaps there is a dimension, an experience, a level of reality that is possible, but does not exist, simply because it does not exist? Or does everything that could possibly exist already do so?
The Image of Convulution
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By: Anonymous
A Publication By You! We are looking for • Essays • Short Stories • Articles • Poetry • Artwork Showcase your work
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Receive $20 per published submission Submit your work to editor@cncsu.ca
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Support and Crisis Contacts and Help Lines • Crisis Line- for immediate 24/7 support and information and referrals: 250-563-1214 Toll Free: 1-888-562-1214
• Youth Support Line: 250-564-8336
Chat line at www.northernbccrisissuicide.ca
• Provincial Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-784-2334
• College and University students for mental health • CNC Counselling: 250-561-5818 • UNBC Counselling: 250-960-6369
• Individuals who identify as aboriginal or wish to access aboriginal services • Carrier Sekani (Family Services): 250-562-3591 • Central Interior Native Health: 250-564-4422 • Native Friendship Centre: 250-564-4324
• Healing Centre: 250-564-4324 • SUCCESS Chinese Help Line:
Cantonese Help Line, available 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.: 604-270-8222
Mandarin Help Line, available 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.: 604-270-8222
• Bounce Back teaches effective skills to help adults overcome early symptoms of depression and improve their mental health: www.bounceback.ca