SEPTEMBER 2022
BCIT CULTURE & STUDENT LIFE
Talks about: New Student Patio. Earthquake Safety. Rental Scams. Wild Animals Safety. Mango Float. Summer Nostalgia. Campus Spot Tour.
part-time and taking a lighter course load. For me, it’s a reminder that as summer reaches an end and fall begins to drift in, I need to take things slow—like the way that leaves change colour.
Whether you’re new or returning to BCIT, the weight of uncertainty that may build during this time of year can be overwhelming, so remember to give yourself some space to breathe. Talk to your instructors, talk to your classmates, and join a club to better connect with the community around you. And if you’re ever feeling lost, you can always flip through a copy of Link to find comfort in the words and stories that are shared. Who knows? You might be inspired to reach out and take hold, and the next issue just might feature your voice, too.
I told myself that I used to work part-time alongside a full course load, so three courses plus an internship shouldn’t be that hard to juggle. Boy, was I wrong. (You can imagine what happened…)
And while my three courses were online, I had to visit campus a few times. BCIT isn’t extremely big, but it still felt like a maze every time I dropped by. On one occasion, I circled around the whole place twice before I even realized I’d passed by the same buildings. I also didn’t know that some buildings required card access, so I stood awkwardly outside the entrance of one, feeling hopelessly lost, until someone let me in.
As the seasons shift and our days settle into a new school year, make sure to find some time to recharge. Take a deep breath. This is just the beginning.
This September, I’m better equipped to navigate life as a BCIT student; I now have backups to my backups of campus maps (which just means I have 12 tabs open on my phone—you know, just in case). Additionally, I’m taking a much mellower approach to start this school year: working
—Christy Chan Program Assistant
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During my internship last September, I took three BCIT courses—my first time taking that many classes since graduating from UBC in 2019.
Have an idea? Contact us! editor@linkbcit.ca | linkbcit.ca
SE2 Building, 3rd Floor 3700 Willingdon Ave. Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2 604. 451. 7191
Printed editions are distributed to all five BCIT campuses & additional content is published online at linkbcit.ca
staff Christy Chan Link Program Assistant Shawn Chang Link Editor Catherine Lam Link Graphic Designer Tatiana Yakovleva MicroLink Host
Link Magazine would like to respectfully acknowledge that it is printed and distributed on the traditional & unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples.
ISSN 0715-5247 (Print) ISSN 2562-3257 (Online)
LINK | SEPTEMBER 20222
We feature exceptional people in our community, big ideas in a changing world, and evolving social dialogue.
We welcome writers, photographers and artists of all backgrounds and abilities. Our purpose is to provide a collaborative platform for student expression, and to connect you with one another’s stories and experiences.
Micky Harris Publications Coordinator Shaleeta Harrison Publications Manager
Summer ExploringNostalgiaourBurnaby Campus
issuethisin
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Student Spotlight: Nolan Nordwall
How to Protect Yourself from Rental Scams
Link Writing & Editing Corner Games 2824181412846263236
Summer at a Glance
What to Do in an Earthquake
Wild Animal Safety in BC
My Last Summer Hurrah: A Sweet Mango Float Recipe
New Student Patio is Open!
Thepatio.planincluded
patio tables and chairs, Adirondack chairs, umbrellas, and garden lights. After the proposal, cost breakdown, and layout design were presented to the key stakeholders, I had the green light to order the furniture, which consisted of patio tables and chairs from Uline and umbrellas, patio lights, and Adirondack chairs from Canadian Tire.
Located on the south side of the SE2’s third floor where the sun beams down, it is now available for students to enjoy daily.
New PatioStudentisOpen!
*the food pantry is a BCIT Student Association initiative in partnership with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. The goal is to bring fresh food to the Burnaby Campus for students facing food insecurity. Visit bcitsa.ca/food-support/ to learn more!
Near the end of my term as the Chair of Transportation, Construction, and the Environment, Yael Zachs (the Executive Director of the Student Association) came to me with an idea—remodel the third-floor student patio with a garden that would help supplement our food pantry.*
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The vegetables we grow would supply the pantry for students to access when needed. With the Executive Director’s support, I brought the idea to the Student Spaces Development Committee (which I chaired) for a budget approval. Once I received the approval, I made a detailed proposal for furniture and accessories for the
The garden supplies came from GardenWorks, where I also found maturing vegetables like tomatoes, beets, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and zucchini. Following a week of running back and forth from Canadian Tire and GardenWorks and assembling the furniture with some colleagues, the patio was ready.
Burnaby Building SE2, 3rd Floor Liam Lauren
Stranger Things is Netflix’s most popular English television show ever. In July 2022, season 4 of the series had been watched for over 1.3 billion hours.
Miller is now getting help for “complex mental health issues” after terrorizing Hawaii and Vermont with erratic behaviour and arrests—from burglary to disorderly conduct to second-degree assault. It’s expected they still stand to star in the stand-alone movie The Flash, slated for a 2023 release.
While the risk to the general population is still low, outbreaks of Monkeypox have occurred in many countries where it doesn’t usually happen. Visit immunizebc.ca to find out if you should get vaccinated.
Griner is a professional basketball player for the WNBA in the US, currently imprisoned in Russia for carrying prescribed vaporizer cartridges containing less than a gram of hash oil. Her fate is left up to possible prisoner swaps between Russia and the US.
Stranger Things Season 4
Monkeypox Vaccine
Summer at a Glance
Ezra Miller Controversies
This section is where we tell you all about what’s been happening (on Campus, in BC, and around the world) since the previous issue! Give these not-so-carefully selected highlights a quick read over your morning coffee or tea, and if something piques your interest, Google it to learn more!
Brittney Griner
Pete Davidson’s Reality TV Era: A Question Mark
A parody of Star Trek by Seth MacFarlane has sparked social commentary in the best way. Featuring humans, aliens, grit, and laughs, The Orville has started to out Star Trek. The show focuses on an alternate version of humanity and solving problems that humans deal with, rather than on the space battles that many sci-fi shows today focus on.
Russia has lost 44,700 troops in Ukraine, and explosions have been reported at military targets inside Russianoccupied areas (as sabotage missions happen deep into Russian-held territories). Rescuers have been searching for survivors in Kharkiv, where Russian rockets struck two hostel dormitories.
Following his breakup with Kim Kardashian, how much screen time Davidson will have in Season 2 of The Kardashians is unclear. Anything to stay off of Kanye’s radar is probably a good plan.
Canucks select Elias Pettersson as the 80th-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. This Elias Pettersson shouldn’t be confused with the Elias Pettersson on the current roster, who was selected as the 5th-overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
BC will ration liquor and limit purchases as job action persists. According to the Alliance of Beverage Licensees of BC (ABLE BC), the individual items purchased in bars, pubs, restaurants, and the public must not exceed three in total in one given day. The only exception is beer. Items in 4- or 6-packs count as one item.
The Orville: New Horizons
Minions Movie Madness
What is Happening in Ukraine Now?
Some cinemas in the UK banned teens over the summer from seeing Minions: The Rise of Gru due to the #gentleminions trend, where young people dress up in suits and sunglasses, wielding (you guessed it) bananas. While gentle is in the name, young UK viewers were being extremely unruly. Canada has not had the same problem. According to a spokesperson for Cineplex, it has just been “costumes, fun, and fandom.”
Ration Your Liquor
Two Elias Petterssons on the Vancouver Canucks
Lea Michele on Funny Girl: Theatre Kids Cringe (or Rejoice).
Michele will finally get her time on Funny Girl as Fanny Brice, which has been a lifetime goal for her (and a dream for her character, Rachel Berry, in Glee). Glee alum, Jane Lynch, has announced that she is leaving the show just before Michele arrives.
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What to Do in an
While only 1.3% of the 4000 earthquakes are big enough to be felt, most occur along the Cascadia subduction zone just off the coast of BC. This is the fault line where the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate sinks below the North American plate. Being so close to this boundary, BC is considered as one of the most vulnerable and seismically active regions in all of Canada.
As the Geological Survey of Canada previously reported, more than 4000 earthquakes are recorded in the nation each year. Around a quarter of those happens in the western areas alone.
Earthquake
Earthquakes can have enduring and destructive effects; megathrust earthquakes, which happen at subduction zones like the one near BC, often trigger tsunamis and result in further devastation. With BC at high risk, it’s vital to frequently rehearse what to do during an earthquake so you are ready if you are ever caught in one.
Christy Chan
• Hold on to something sturdy until the shaking has stopped for a full minute.
• If you’re outside, find an open area away from buildings, trees, power lines, streetlights, and other potential hazards.
• Lock your wheels in place after getting to a safe area (find options under “Cover” in the list above) and stay seated. If your walker does not have a seat, use it to get as low as possible to the ground.
Remember the survival steps
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• Cover the back of your head and neck. For further protection, cover these areas with a book, pillow, bag, briefcase, coat, or anything else you have.
• Drop to the ground on your hands and knees. If you use a cane, lower yourself to the ground as much as possible and keep your cane near you.
When an earthquake strikes, you must react quickly to minimize risks of injury and death. Once you feel the ground shaking, immediately:
• Hold on to the legs of the desk or other sturdy objects until the shaking has stopped for a full minute.
• Pull over to a clear location. Avoid bridges, overpasses, power lines, and other potential hazards.
• If you are inside and cannot find one near you, crawl to a corner or wall inside the building while continuing to protect your head and neck.
Drop, cover, and hold on if you’re physically able to.
• Stop the car. Remain seated with your seatbelt fastened.
• Put on your handbrake and stay inside the vehicle until the shaking has stopped for a full minute.
• Cover the back of your head and neck and take shelter under something sturdy, such as a desk or table.
Pull over, stop, and put on your handbrake if you are in a car.
Lock, cover, and hold on if you use a wheelchair or a walker.
It’s always important to be informed and prepared so you know what to do when an earthquake happens, especially due to the higher risk BC faces. For more information and to keep updated about earthquakes in BC, visit the Natural Resources Canada
BC,References:(earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index-en.php).websiteEmergencyManagement.“BuildanEmergencyKitandGrab-and-Go Bag.”
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “Get Prepared for an Earthquake.” Province of British Columbia. Province of British Columbia, July 15, 2022. preparedbc/know-your-hazards/earthquakes-tsunamis/earthquakes.www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/
Province of British Columbia. Province of British Columbia, July 15, 2022. preparedbc/build-an-emergency-kit-and-grab-and-go-bag.www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/ Canada, Public Safety. “Earthquakes - What to Do?” Public Safety Canada, January 15, 2015. getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/rthqks-wtd/index-en.aspx. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. “Frequently Asked Questions about Earthquakes (FAQ).” Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Hazards Information Service. Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada, March 1, 2019. earthquakescanada.ca/info-gen/ faq-en.php.
Here are some basic supplies to include:
☐
Water – each person should have at least six litres (two for each day spent in an emergency); pack more if possible ☐ Non-perishable foods – canned or dried foods, granola/energy bars, and a manual can opener ☐ First-aid supplies ☐ Your emergency plan – this should detail what you and the people you live with should do in an emergency ☐ Cash – ideally at least $30 in $5 and $10 bills ☐ Supplies for sanitation – hand sanitizer, wet wipes, garbage bags, toilet paper, soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste ☐ Battery-powered or wind-up radio and flashlight, with extra batteries ☐ Phone charger or power bank ☐ Seasonal clothes and blankets Having an emergency kit prepared will allow you to stay selfsufficient until the earthquake passes and help arrives. Include enough necessities to last at least three days. Store this kit in a place you can easily access, even during a power outage.Remember
that while these are the main essentials, you may need to adjust and pack according to your personal situation. Additional items include medications, extra pairs of glasses or contact lenses, infant formula and diapers, and equipment for people with disabilities. Your to-pack list may also grow if you have any pets. Assess what you need and how much space to allocate for them. If you live with others, you may want to pack the items in separate grab-and-go bags for individual use.
Pack an earthquake emergency kit
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With inflation reaching record highs worldwide, students at post-secondary institutions in BC have been facing a precarious and uncertain situation over affordable rentals. These ongoing circumstances have lured many BC students to become the unwitting targets of rental scams.
How to Protect Yourself from Rental Scams
Jasper Chu
“People are looking for vacation spaces, long-term rentals, and they may have less money to try to find things, so there’s high demand.”
“Unfortunately, what [students] hear when they talk to someone is that this person has this great space, they’re moving out of the country and looking for someone really responsible, and they need money to secure the space right away. And so the student reaches out, sends them a deposit, and then ultimately finds out that they were dealing with a scammer.”
“I would be looking for some sort of contract where you’re able to fill out your account and your information and show that the party that you’re dealing with is legitimate.”
This situation has created a problem for post-secondary students, who are among those most susceptible to these scams. Lis highlights that the most common type of scam reported by post-secondary students is where a rental is offered at a convenient location for a low price.
Lis also says to consider investigating the listing if a rental company owns the property.
According to Simone Lis, president of BC’s Better Business Bureau, this is due to the incredibly high demand for the few affordable rentals on the market: Accommodations in general have become significantly less available and more competitive.
Lis says it comes down to doing research when looking for affordable rentals and trying to avoid scams. She goes on to say that there are several methods for assessing whether a rental offer is genuine. “Make sure you’re…checking out the property and meeting with the homeowner. This way, you can get some sense of assurance that this is a legitimate offer.”
Fortunately, there are ways for students to protect themselves from these kinds of scams. Lis advises to look out for signs that a rental offer could be a scam. One of the signs is a high urgency to send deposits using a traceless method.
For those who cannot visit a rental property in person, Internet searches are suitable.
“I would be googling the address. I’d be doing reverse image searches as well. If that posting shows up in another city with [identical] details, that in itself is very suspicious.”
Lis recommends that, in the end, students should be vigilant. With record inflation driving up demand for the few affordable rentals on the market, it’s best to research and confirm the validity of what’s available to avoid being scammed.
She adds that it’s always best to ask the landlord to provide a contract that can verify the authenticity.
“I might be looking at some of those associations to see if the organization belongs to an association. It’s not always an individual who’s renting property. It can be a property owner company as well.”
“They want you to transfer money through wire transfer; we’ve heard of people asking for money through Bitcoin as well...something that’s untraceable where you can’t get your money back.”
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Image Courtesy of Eric Yip
BC’s beautiful natural landscape is a vast playground for those who love exploring the outdoors, but it’s also home to diverse wildlife such as bears, wolves, and mountain lions. You may encounter these animals on a trail, near a camping site, or even in your communities.
Wild SafetyAnimalinBC
Most importantly, be informed and aware of how to avoid crossing paths with wildlife creatures—and how to selfprotect if you do encounter one.
To ensure the safety of all involved, it’s important on these outdoor adventures to travel in groups where you can, making sure to stay close together. It’s also a good idea to carry deterrents such as noisemakers (like air horns) and bear spray in case of emergencies.
Christy Chan
To avoid an encounter, be sure to keep:
• To familiar terrain/official trails and travel during the daytime.
There is still a chance that you will encounter wildlife even if you follow the above tips. In these cases, remember to stay calm. Your way out of the sticky situation varies depending on which animal you come across. See the next page for animal-specific tips!
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• Pets home or otherwise leashed. Roaming pets can provoke defensive behaviour in wild animals, so it’s best to leave them home. Bringing dogs may be a good idea, as they may help detect wild animals and warn you ahead of an encounter. Just remember to have them leashed.
• An eye out for signs of fresh tracks, droppings, animal remains, unconsumed prey hidden under debris, and disturbed vegetation such as torn sticks, logs, and tree markings.
• Everything clean. Lock away all food, belongings, and waste.
• A safe distance from wild animals. Never feed wildlife because doing so may result in food conditioning and human habituation, which means they grow accustomed to your presence. Feeding deer, raccoons, or small rodents may also indirectly attract predatory animals such as mountain lions.
• Making lots of noise every so often.
• Children close.
• Turn your back.
• Prepare for a defensive attack, which can happen if bears feel threatened, are defending cubs, or are protecting food (including garbage cans.) They will rarely make contact, but will often huff, hop, and slap the ground.
• Use bear spray if it attacks.
• Make eye contact.
DO NOT
• Back away slowly.
• Move closer.
• Back away slowly.
DO NOT
DO
Black bears are common in BC and are sighted regularly within city limits. They come in a variety of colours, including black, brown, and even white! Though very unlikely to stalk, pursue, or attack aggressively, they are extremely sensitive to disturbances within their ecosystem and may feel threatened by human presence, especially when travelling with their young. Grizzly bears are also common in BC, though are more often found in remote areas. If a bear approaches:
DO
• If the bear gets too close, use bear spray and talk loudly and firmly. If you aren’t next to their food or cubs, you can play dead. Roll on your stomach and cover the back of your neck with both hands until they lose interest in you.
• Keep a clear route for the bear open at all times.
• Run.
• Turn your back.
Wolves
Bears
• Run.
• Play dead.
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• Appear big and be aggressive while maintaining eye contact. To convince the wolf that you are a threat and not prey, raise and wave your arms to look as large as possible. Make lots of noise and throw sticks or rocks to scare it away.
Wolves usually avoid encounters with humans. However, they may approach visitors if they become habituated to areas regularly occupied by humans, such as camping sites. They can also become foodconditioned due to direct or indirect feeding by humans. In the city, you are more likely to see coyotes, which are more of a threat to pets and children due to their smaller size. If a wolf approaches:
Always remember that BC is home to both humans and wildlife. When enjoying the outdoors, be prepared, alert, and aware of what to do if you ever encounter a wild animal. By doing so, you can help keep BC a safe place for both communities to coexist in harmony. To learn more about wildlife in BC, visit wildsafebc.com.
DO
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “Cougars.” Province of British Columbia. Province of British Columbia, November 2, 2017. www2.gov. bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/human-wildlife-conflict/staying-safe-around-wildlife/cougars. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “Wolves & Coyotes.” Province of British Columbia. Province of British Columbia, June 18, 2018. www2. gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/human-wildlife-conflict/staying-safe-around-wildlife/wolves-coyotes.
Mountain lions
• Back away slowly.
DO NOT
• Appear big and be aggressive while maintaining eye contact. Stand tall and wave your arms to convince the mountain lion that you are a threat.
• Turn your back.
“Cougar.”References:WildsafeBC, January 24, 2022. wildsafebc.com/species/cougar/. Government of Canada, RCMP. “Cougar Season.” BC RCMP, June 4, 2013. bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ViewPage. action?languageId=1&siteNodeId=2082&contentId=25694.
• Throw sticks or rocks to scare it away.
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• Use bear spray if it gets too close or attacks.
• Play dead.
• Make lots of noise.
Wildlife NazaninIllustrations:Hosseinmardi
• Bend or crouch as this may make you look like prey.
• Run.
• Speak in a loud, assertive voice.
• Pick all children and/or pets up.
Mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are solitary creatures and will usually avoid humans. However, they may mistake children for prey due to their smaller sizes, higher-pitched voices, and unpredictable movements. Never let children wander or leave them unattended. If a mountain lion approaches:
Ministry of Environment. “Staying Safe in Bear Country.” Province of British Columbia. Accessed August 19, 2022. bcparks.ca/explore/misc/bears/. Ministry of Environment. “Wolf Safety.” BC Parks. Province of British Columbia. Accessed August 19, 2022. bcparks.ca/explore/misc/wolves/. Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. “Safe Travel in Bear Country.” Safe travel in bear country - The mountain national parks, October 23, 2017. pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/mtn/ours-bears/securite-safety/ours-humains-bears-people.
Student spotlight: Nolan Nordwall
A TinyHundredAttempts
There is often awkward silence when we meet someone new, but that didn’t happen when I met Nolan Nordwall. Perhaps it’s his unique character, his friendliness, or his sense of humour that makes him easy to approach and talk to.
Beyond academics, Nolan is the Chair of the School of Computing and Academic Studies. He represents the school in council and board meetings, and his portfolio
Puii Duangtip
I can still remember the day I received an email from Shaleeta, Publications Manager at Link, asking me to take on, in her words, “fun photo-journalism” to feature a student executive. Every time I get asked to do photoshoots of someone, it’s always of a talented individual, and Nolan was no exception. During the photoshoot with Nolan, I discovered how intriguing he is. So, when Link magazine asked me if I would like to interview him, I jumped at the chance. It paid off: Nolan’s story assured my thought that he has much more to offer than just his handsome photos.
Nolan has always loved technology, from exploring his dad’s electronics to using computers at numerous jobs. With advice from his brother-in-law (who had completed and recommended to him the Computer Systems Technology (CST) program at BCIT) and the passion for learning about the limitless possibilities available in the software world, Nolan is currently a student in the CST program and plans to pursue software development as a career. “With enough time and a little grit,” he reflects, “you can create anything you can think of on a computer. It’s really special.”
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As someone still struggling to get enough sleep after becoming a BCIT student, I needed Nolan’s secret sauce for handling all those overwhelming workloads and challenging,
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Outside of school life and all his responsibilities, Nolan makes time for his hobbies. He has played Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) for 11 years. He even got inspired by his character class from D&D, adding “Software Sorcerer” as a job title to his resume. He also has a dream to one day create music, video games, and fantasy books of his own, as he’s a huge fan of those, too. Along with those interests, he enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts and watching anime.
involves managing a $10-million annual budget to best benefit students. Aside from those responsibilities, he helps organize events like this year’s Hackathon and conducts regular Set Rep meetings among CST students, listening and helping them overcome challenges they face at BCIT.
For those who know little about him, it’s easy to assume that he has no struggles. He has a sunshine smile and positive vibes. Even so, his life isn’t the bed of roses we imagine it is. Just like anyone else, he has encountered ups and downs. What he learned from them is how much power he has in shaping his life. For him personally, that can mean making, as he recounts, “a hundred tiny attempts” to become the person he wants to be.
“I understand myself better than anybody,” he says, remembering what he had gone through and overcome. “I knew that things were bleak. I did and fought in whatever way I could to keep growing. I would also say that I’m proud of who I am today, as a result of all the years of work I did before.”
stressful deadlines. Nolan revealed that time management, perseverance, and positive self-belief are essential keys to success, not only at BCIT but anywhere.
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Today, Nolan continues to pursue his long-term goals, such as founding a software consulting startup. He is currently working on a business plan with Entrepreneurship to achieve that. In addition, he works hard to solidify his place in the industry, a challenge many CST students face. “Tech is in high demand,” he shares, “but entry-level positions and internships are super competitive.”
This feature piece is up to date as of May 2022. At the time of publication, Nolan is the Vice President External of the BCIT Student Association.
Now, as I write this, days after our conversation, I realize there’s still an unresolved mystery: It is unbelievable that Nolan, even with his awesome traits, hasn’t been mentioned (yet) on BCIT Crushes, the Facebook group where BCIT students anonymously declare their secret love. If I could give Nolan any advice, it might be to take more breaks from his BCITSA duties and present his handsome face to people around campus.
Through this conversation with Nolan, I realized that no one becomes excellent without having gone through difficulties. While it might seem like an endless journey, we will only realize the sweetness of rewards after going through all the different tastes, especially bitterness. I learned from Nolan the importance of viewing setbacks as a part of life, accepting and learning from any failure with an open mind, admitting we need help when we do and reaching out for it, staying empathetic and humble, and learning from others. As a result, we can grow and get through any difficulties we encounter.
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This outlook has helped him overcome challenges and reminded him that he is and will always be strong, and it even shows how perfectly he embodies a motto I cherish: “Live life to the fullest.” He motivates himself to improve little by little every day while enjoying the journey.
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Astrid Agbayani
My HurrahSummerLast
A Sweet Mango Float Recipe
1 can condensed milk
1 cup cream (whipping cream or all-purpose cream)
2-3 whole mangoes, sliced (You can also use canned mango, frozen mango, cubed mango, avacado, or even squash!)
2. Line the bottom of a square or rectangular container with the intact graham crackers, then cover them with half of the mixture of condensed milk and cream.
6-12 graham crackers, intact
Since local Filipino restaurants don’t seem to offer mango float, I’m here to share a sure-fire hit that’s quick and easy—with only four ingredients! I may have picked it up watching older kids and my aunts make this dessert in the kitchen during big family events, but it’s hard to remember the exact moment I learned how to make it myself. It was almost like everyone just knew how. Even the measurements were something you just figured out through taste.
5. Add another layer of the cream mixture.
8. Freeze for at least four hours or overnight. Enjoy!
3. Lay half of the sliced mangoes on top of the mixture.
Ingredients
2 cups graham crackers, crushed into crumbs
Summer may be over, but you can still enjoy the sweetness of tropical fruits.
4. Add another layer of crumbled graham crackers (or intact, if you’d prefer!) on top of the mangoes.
6. Layer the remaining mangoes over the cream (you can add more layers as needed until the container is filled).
Directions
Mango float is a popular dessert in the Philippines, commonly served during house parties. When I was younger, other kids and I would fight over mango float; it would be gone so fast, no one could get any seconds. Every household has a unique way of prepping mango float, but there’s a consistent theme: People make it with basic ingredients to save money. Even so, I’m sometimes surprised by how complicated recipes can get!
1. Combine condensed milk and cream in a bowl.
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There’s truly nothing like making this sweet, refreshing dessert all for yourself as you savour the last bites of summer’s sweetness while cooling down.
7. Garnish with graham cracker crumbs.
While mango float is often considered a party dessert, my favourite way to enjoy it is to have the whole container to myself, turn on the fan, sit in the comfort of my couch, and watch my fave TV show.
Do you ever find yourself reminiscing about your childhood summers?
Astrid Agbayani
I always felt supported by my kind and encouraging teammates and coaches, but it was still intimidating because not only was I learning to work with my teammates, but we also had an entire audience. The bleachers were always filled with parents, families, and guardians watching us train. Sometimes I’d feel some eyes on me, as if waiting for me to fail. I learned to block them out, as if I still had the blinders on when I played, eventually wowing the crowd when I would score points during games.
Summer Nostalgia
Those times when I was at the mercy of adults and their decisions were always frustrating. But summer was fleeting, and my frustration surrounding it would disappear once I plunged into another activity. With each new summer, I would find myself more fully involved and present because I knew I would never have another summer like it. And just like that, each new summer would be over. By the time a new school year started, I had already moved on from the disappointment, replacing it with excitement to see my school friends.
I do. There’s a picture in my head of when I was 12. My friends and I were walking back to the soccer field on a summer’s day, licking vanilla cones bought at a McDonald’s by the highway. The ice cream was our simple treat for ourselves after hours of running around under the hot sun, our bodies covered in grass, dirt, and sweat.
I can’t remember the names or faces of the people I was with, but I can still remember the feeling of contentment and joy under that summer sun.
I spent another summer as the only girl in a basketball clinic, learning how to dribble while wearing dribble goggles that acted as blinders. You could only see what was ahead of you so you learned to feel and dribble the ball without looking down.
Some summers were spent taking review classes, acting, ballet, or whatever else my mother fancied at the moment. There were times when I wanted to pursue the same things I did the previous summer but couldn’t make the final call. These included the times when I wanted to go back to soccer training or enroll in the next level for basketball, not because I wanted to improve but because I wanted to nurture the friendships I made that summer.
As we grow older, though, the kind of summers we experience starts to change. On our path to gain a different sense of freedom, the carefree feelings of our youth somehow start to fade. Each summer that passes
But most of my summers were (to borrow the quote from Forrest Gump) like boxes of chocolates—I never knew what to expect.
I remember being challenged by another kid to be his goalie the summer I was learning soccer. I was able to block all his shots at the expense of my whole body, taking hits to the stomach and arms. But that, and the ice cream treat at the end, made it all the more memorable.
For many kids, summertime is a special time of year. It’s sweet and carefree. No school, no homework, and plenty of time to play outside with friends. Maybe I can liken those summers to vanilla ice cream: sweet and simple.
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is lost to the years. And it becomes increasingly more fleeting as we juggle day jobs and responsibilities.
As we go back to school and say goodbye to the fleeting season that was, let’s fully appreciate the present and keep learning to own our decisions. In doing so, maybe we can somehow relive the spirited summers of our youth—unafraid, excited, and confident. And ready to overcome whatever tests our resolve.
This summer, I found my answer. What’s best for each of us may look different and we may have yet to be experts at deciding what’s best for ourselves. There will be seasons in our lives when we won’t be making the best decisions. And that’s totally okay. Every fleeting season gives us a chance to learn.
As an adult, I have had to confront the consequences of not having been allowed to decide for myself. When my parent’s practice of figuring out what to do with my free time finally became mine, I felt paralyzed by the possibilities of decisions I could make for the summer. I had so much fear. What if I decide not to do a summer internship and I don’t get a job after graduation? What if I do take a summer internship and still don’t get a job right after graduation? Is one decision better than the other? What results will this decision lead to? Which decision will lead to fewer regrets? Because deciding for myself wasn’t a much-practiced skill, decision-making became a burden of choice. Even when there weren’t many choices to start with.
Apart from those little practices, there’s also a couple of voices that have helped me stand firm with my choices. A friend’s “Don’t look back!” echoes in me on days when I feel tempted to ruminate on what-ifs. My therapist’s
sage advice—“Always ask yourself what you want”—gets me through every particularly hard time. I learned to ask myself questions like: Do I want to do the summer internship? Who wants me to do the internship? If the answer was anyone but myself, then clearly it wasn’t what I wanted. “Remember,” my therapist had told me, “you should only do what you want to do.”
Learning to own my decisions started with my last summer as an undergraduate. I once again realized how I’d never be able to experience this kind of summer when the next year starts. I found myself immersed in the experience. I learned to enjoy the long walks across campus to my next class. Even the math problems and language classes became enjoyable. It was one of those summers where I felt I was ever-present in just being and doing the smallest of tasks. These moments grew into little practices, like deciding to eat pasta for lunch and owning it rather than regretting I had chosen that instead of tacos.
As summer days come to an end, it’s time for a new term at BCIT. Returning students likely have a familiar routine to go back to, but first-year students might need some time to adjust.
OurExploringBurnabyCampus
I still remember feeling quite lost during my first term, trying to navigate through or around all the buildings. Now, I know all the best places to eat, finish your assignments, hang out with your classmates, or just wait until your next class—keep reading to learn more!
For students taking classes at the Burnaby location, it may help to remember that the layout of campus is split up into four quadrants—northwest (NW), northeast (NE), southwest (SW), and southeast (SE). Buildings are named according to their location in the quadrants, followed by a number.
Above: the exterior of SW1
Catherine Sohit
SW1: Also known as the Gateway building, this is one of my favourite structures. Standing three stories tall, SW1 is BCIT’s first building to achieve LEED® Gold Certification, an international rating system recognizing sustainable design.
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belonging for Indigenous students. You can also stop by the Indigenous Garden between SW1 and SW3, which was completed this spring. The new garden features plants important to Indigenous communities. These plants include sweetgrass, buffalo sage, wild tobacco, and the “three sisters”—a trio of beans, corn, and squash, commonly planted together and used to make traditional soup.
SE14: If you are looking for a quiet space to study alone or with your classmates, the library located at SE14 is one of the best places to do so. You can book any of the 14 Project and Study Rooms to work on presentations and group assignments without distractions. Rooms can accommodate groups of four to 10 people and may be reserved for at most two hours per day. Online bookings can be made through the BCIT study room booking system at studyrooms.lib.bcit.ca
As an architecture student, there’s nothing better than being welcomed by the colourful double-skin façade of SW1—a multilayer exterior wall that helps regulate indoor temperatures, adjust airflow for window openings, and save energy. Upon walking in, you can find the International Student Centre, the Admissions Office, and the sitting steps in the atrium—an open and luminous area where I usually read my notes or just sit for a few minutes while waiting to meet my friends.
Above: inside the library | Below: one of the entrances to the library
Mi Chap Tukw: The Indigenous Gathering Place or Mi Chap Tukw, meaning “a home away from home,” is a welcoming and safe space open to everyone at BCIT, including families. Located at SW1 (room 1521), Mi Chap Tukw is here to celebrate the richness and beauty of Indigenous culture, as well as to nurture a sense of
Above: the Indigenous Garden | Below: Mi Chap Tuk
Habitat Pub: If you need a quick snack, Tim Hortons (at SE12) and The Stand (at SE2 and SE12) are popular picks. But if you want to have a more filling meal and a place to chat with your friends, have a date, or just enjoy a drink after a long day, I recommend the Habitat Pub, located on the lower floor of SE2 and open Monday to Friday from 11 am to 5 pm. My friends often grab the Pulled Pork Sandwich or the Habitat Burger, while I always prefer their Classic Caesar Salad.
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I hope this article encourages you to explore and enjoy all the perks our wonderful campus has to offer.
Geared Up: To show your BCIT pride, the Geared Up store located at the Student Association Building (SE2) has a great selection of products to choose from. From essential school supplies such as backpacks and calculators to BCIT-branded hats, T-shirts, and hoodies (my favourite item to keep me warm during the fall and winter), you’re sure to find what you’ll need for a great school year!
Pavilion: Another great location for food is the Pavilion at the NE1 building, open Monday to Friday from 6:30 am to 4 pm. They offer breakfast burritos, pizza, salads, fruits, and many other fresh in-house items to make you feel right at home. You can shop for school supplies while waiting for your food, and if you’re craving dessert, the coffee shop has great options on their menu. There are also microwaves available nearby, in case you decide to bring your own lunch to eat in the lounge area.
Recreation Services: Trying to find a healthy balance between school, work, and friends can be challenging; it can often take a toll on our mental and physical well-being. Regular exercise can help provide a positive boost.
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The recreation centre at SE16 offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities such as squash, ping-pong, and frisbee. Outdoor sport facilities such as tennis courts, a soccer field, and a basketball court are located on the south side of the building, which can be booked for use. If you prefer solo workouts, check out the gym—open from early mornings to the evenings Monday to Friday. As some areas of the recreation centre may be available at different times, please visit bcit.ca/recreation for more information.
Two types of niches to know
1. Format, the form your writing takes. This is how you write and whom you’re writing for.
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2. Genre, the topic you are writing on. This is what you write. It connects to and cannot exist without the format.
The format can be the essay you write for class or the landing page your boss asked you to create for a website. It can also be that novel you always wanted to write. The genre will be the topic you will write about. It serves to keep your audience’s interest and can present in various formats. My favourite topic is vampires, and this genre niche has taken many forms, such as full-length novels, short stories, essays, blogs, and even a full-length publications course.
· Landing pages (format) on the local election (genre)
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· Blogs (format) covering travel (genre)
Now that you’ve gained insights into these differences, the next step is to decide on your niches. This will be helpful when (or if) you’re looking to break into the industry—or maybe even the next time you have to determine the format and topic for an open-ended assignment!
Micky Harris
· Novels (format) on—wait for it—vampire romance (genre)
· SEO (format) for medically relevant webpages (genre)
As a writer, you intend to create a consistency in your work, showing your readers you have the necessary knowledge and experience. This means you will have to be proficient in your writing niche, the specialized branch of the market (for a particular kind of product or service) that you’re writing or creating content for.
Some additional examples of the interplay between format and genre are:
You can think of niches as two distinct areas:
Both niches will be predetermined for you in some cases, commonly at school or at a job. But if you are looking to break into the market on your own, you can choose those yourself. The niches you choose to write in should be ones that you know well and, ideally, have maintained your interest for a long time. To make things easier, prioritize clarifying the form and structure by choosing your format first and your genre second. (More on this later.)
Writing & Editing Corner
· Short stories (format) unveiling small-town crime (genre)
So, how does format differ from genre?
Two steps to finding your niche
Step 1. Consider niches separately
c) What’s happening in the market?
You can also find your strengths in your areas of knowledge on specific topics. Which credentials do you have? Do people come to you with questions about a particular subject? Are you the go-to person for certain skills at work? Is there a topic you know an (unreasonably) ample number of facts about? That could be the best topic for your genre niche.
To determine your strengths, you can look at your successes such as class assignments and work performances you received high praise on.
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What do you love to read about, think about, and dream about? Write down at least five things you are passionate about: gardening, baseball, travel, baking, motorcycles, etc. Then think about sub-topics that include your passions: gardening in winter, Canadian baseball, and so on. You will find so many niches this way.
First narrow down the format, then pinpoint the genre. To do this, ask yourself these big questions:
Some niches are more popular than others. For example, novels are thought to be more popular than essays, as they
b) What are my strengths?
The first (and sometimes hardest) thing to do is figure out what you love. Writing is never stress-free, but it can seem impossible if you aren’t interested in the topic or dislike the format. So, wanting to write can save you time and help create a positive environment for writing.
a) What am I passionate about?
So far, you’ve had a chance to reflect on your passions, strengths, and desired markets. Now, consider your two niches together:
Ultimately,niche.determining your niches, both format and genre, will be helpful for school, work, and explorations into any new industry. If you ever hit a snag, take a breather and remember that your passions, strengths, and market research can be your guides.
What’s next?
Once you have chosen your niches, understand them better by checking out even more of the research resources
Researching the market may lead you to ditch a format you thought was perfect. These setbacks can happen, but they are part of the journey to find your perfect niches. With research and trial and error, you can find the ideal mix.
Step 2. Understand the crossover between your two niches
Also consider what’s popular online. To do this, research your niche on social media, Google, post-secondary libraries, and digital bookstores (such as Amazon and Indigo).
However, some circumstances aren’t as intuitive. For example, news sites reporting on events at amusement parks may not be something you’d expect to be popular, but WDW News (a leading source on all things Disney Parks) seems to be constantly hiring new writers.
So, do some research: Look for opportunities in the market. Your market may already be available to you through work, but if you write on your own, look for what is in demand.
Even if there is a market for SEO writing (your tentative format) and werewolf fiction (your tentative genre), there probably isn’t much crossover between the two. In such scenarios, you may benefit from a different combination.
tend to be much more engaging. Common niches have larger markets, but some can be oversaturated. Others can be neglected, where no one is really getting attention. That may indicate it’s best to select another opportunity.
Additionally,available.youwant to stay in the market, so now that you have started, let your audience tell you how they feel about your writing and its format(s). Sometimes it will be easy to find out if people like your content, such as where your only audience is your instructor or where you have data like sales. What if you had a blog? With it, you can check views, comments, and shares. You can try tools like Google Analytics and see how much time people have spent on each page and if and how they engage with your content.
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Some crossovers may be obvious. If you’re writing an openended essay for a journalism class, you can choose a topic related to the syllabus.
For better results, do more research on who your audience might be or consider rethinking your niche. If this is the case, ask your audience which new formats or genres they want to see. Eventually you will figure out what your audience is looking for, and maybe this will even help you discover a new audience entirely!
And if you hope to retain your previous niches, don’t abandon them altogether. Instead, find offshoots and new crossovers, since branching from your original niches is always good if you want to write something else and still want to keep the same audience. For example, you can explore formats within the same genre and, as a bonus, this can help you become an expert in a genre
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