Summer 2022 by Link Magazine

MAY 2022 | SUMMER

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Dear Link Reader, With summer on the horizon, we’ve reached yet another year-end. Take pride in everything you’ve explored and experienced this past term! Here at Link, we’re planning content for the summer and beyond. Some FYIs: We’ll be working on publishing online exclusives over the summer, so please stay connected to get (or to contribute to) the latest scoop. As for our next magazine issue, we’ll be picking that back up this fall. In the meantime, explore our current issue, where you’ll get to suss out what your fellow BCIT students hold closest to their hearts. I say this with confidence because this issue is themeless, unlike all its predecessors. Oh, one moment, please, as I mute my ornery self – (He’s busy ranting that “themeless” is still a theme.) As an editor, I find open-themed submissions delightfully revealing: Each captures and candidly unveils what’s been occupying our writers’ minds. And, as you’ll discover, these articles

can range, in nature, from the pluperfect to the future. Spoiler: What you have ahead is a gorgeous medley of memories, dreams, and epiphanies. Of course, open-themed submissions are challenging to write. After all, the word “open” prompts, weirdly enough, the thought of “nope” (its anagram)—the immediate thought for many writers when overwhelmed by possibilities galore. But weirder still, perhaps, is how many writers end up infusing similar themes into their work—as is the case for this issue. Call it coincidence if you will. Or maybe it’s just that we care more about certain things than we might have imagined. And that makes sense, since we’re all part of the same BCIT community. Now, I’ll send you on your way. Enjoy the reads and be open to a little reflection, too. What’s on your mind? What do you hold true and care about? Wishing you a fulfilling summer!

—Shawn Chang, Associate Editor

ISSN 0715-5247 (Print) ISSN 2562-3257 (Online)

We feature exceptional people in our community, big ideas in a changing world, and evolving social dialogue.

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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.

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Printed editions are distributed to all five BCIT campuses & additional content is published online at linkbcit.ca

Christy Chan

Associate Editor Associate Editor

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Shawn Chang Associate Editor

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Publications Editor

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Publications Manager

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IN THIS ISSUE Review: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

How Decluttering Helped Me (Re)gain Presence

7 Tips for Overcoming Burnout

Poem: Difficult Woman

How Staying Engaged with Diverse Communities Has Shaped Me

Women in Computing: Architects of Networks

Contributors, 2021-2022

How Much Caffeine is Too Much? Café Hopping Edition

Summer Days in the City

How I Fell in Love with BC

A Story of an International Student in Marketing (& Borscht Recipe)

Resocializing

When Do We Grow Up?

Games

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows review Christy Chan

hen we don't know a word, we look it up in the dictionary. There's usually a word for most things, and we'll often come out of our search with a word we didn't know existed. And yet, it just so happens that our dictionaries don't define all the things we experience, no matter the language. Take English for example, where there aren't many words to properly express certain emotions. That's contrary to German, where there are terms like schadenfreude, the pleasure from experiencing others' misfortunes, and weltschmerz, a feeling of sentimental sadness or weariness, knowing that reality will never reflect the ideal state you picture. Or even yūgen in Japanese, the awareness of the profound, elusive beauty of the things around us, and ukiyo—translated literally to "floating world"—meaning to live in the moment, free from the burdens of life. It's not surprising that our vocabularies are limited, given how strange our feelings and thoughts can be. Some of our emotions can be easily named, like love, pain, sadness, anger, doubt. But sometimes they're complex, made up of an overlap of several emotions, or seemingly too intricate and personal to be defined. They're often fleeting, too, consuming us for days at a time and then disappearing altogether—but they're also constant, persistent, intense, and fragile. It would be difficult to find words to capture our emotions in bite-sized descriptions. But it's comforting when we do find them. The gap in the English language, in particular, is what prompted John Koenig to start The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, a project he has been working on since 2009. It's a compilation of neologisms (newly coined words

or phrases) that aim to "give a name to emotions we all might experience but don't yet have a word for," he writes. The project first started as a website—dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com—before expanding into a YouTube channel with longer definitions, and is now finally published as a book. Koenig's goal with this project was relatively simple: to build a home to shelter all those nameless, indescribable emotions we've felt, and to help us find comfort in those shared experiences. It's a reassuring thing, to find a word that pins our wild thoughts into place and explains our strangest feelings. Even more reassuring to know we're not alone in the things we've lived through. We're not the only ones afraid. We're not the only ones worried. We're not the only ones lost. Flipping through Koenig’s dictionary, you'll likely feel minor jolts of recognition. Maybe you come across a word for something you've felt before, or something you didn't even realize you've felt until you see it defined. Of the many you do recognize, there might be a dozen more you weren't aware of, and reading their meanings will make you wonder about what other emotions exist out there, still waiting to be rescued from the void and given a name. No matter the case, the words you'll find may resonate with you, like the ones listed below: • Dès vu, the awareness that this moment will become a memory; • Yu yi, the desire to feel intensely again, as you did when you were younger; • Maru mori, the heartbreaking simplicity of ordinary things;

Word of the Day (shortened excerpt): onism – n. the awareness of how little of the world you'll experience

Maybe most importantly, it's a relief to know that we're the ones who give words their meanings so that they can live to tell our story. Just as Koenig once said, "Words are not real. They don't have meaning. We do."

If someone were to ask you on your deathbed what it was like to live here on Earth, perhaps the only honest answer would be: "I don't know. I passed through it once, but I've never really been there."

MAY 2022

By the time you reach the end of Koenig's dictionary, you'll probably find yourself aching. Curious. Restless for more. What other words are out there? What other metaphors could we make? What other meanings could we discover?

It's strange to think that some of those lights in the distance might be looking right back at you, wondering to themselves what it's like to be standing right where you're standing, and they might even be feeling a sense of loss, knowing they'll never have time to explore your corner of the world.

Most of these words were derived from multiple languages—German, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, French, and more—then pieced together to form new meanings. It's a process like the birth of existing words, having either been borrowed, recycled through history, or adopted through wide usage. Despite all the words in Koenig's dictionary being "made up," they're no less real than the words we use now—since, at some point, all words were made up by someone. It's a reminder that our possibilities can be infinite if we just stretch the limits of our language and explore a little further, dig a little deeper. And it's a relief to know we're not bound only by the words we know now.

Sometimes late at night you look out at the lights flickering in the distance, just on the edge of the horizon, and find yourself struggling to imagine the alternate universe that each of them represents. You think of all the places you'll never have time to explore, some of which might feel like the home you never had, or like a living hell, or like walking around on another planet. You might one day be able to visit one or two or ten of these places, but you'll never be able to shake the feeling that with every step you take, a thousand more lights will appear, and a thousand more, and a thousand more.

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• Anemoia, a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past you've never experienced; • Kenopsia, the eeriness of a place that's usually bustling with people, like a school hallway or a busy intersection, that’s now quiet and abandoned; • And sonder, probably Koenig's most known word— the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.

It's strange how little of the world you actually get to see. At any given time, you're barely more than an hour's walk from a completely different world. Alas, even if you lace up your boots and take off for the hills, the circle of your horizon will follow you around like a prison searchlight.

how decluttering helped me

(re)gain presence

They say that absentmindedness has no cure. And I believed it. Whether it’s misplacing things, forgetting about meetings, walking into poles, or daydreaming during class, my past self had done it all. But I have good news. A year ago, I discovered and dove into decluttering: removal of what’s unnecessary, followed by organization of what remained. I found that by tidying up my surroundings, my memory and focus improved. Better yet, I no longer had items go missing, unexplained absences, or embarrassing crashes. Most surprising of all, anime characters stayed clear of my notes. And all that goes to show something: Being absentminded is curable.

words Shawn Chang illustration Kailee Vanderwoerd

1. Is it essential—that is, is it used? 2. Is it (still) suitable/comfortable to use? 3. Does it bring me joy? I approached my closet first. Immediately I was face to face with bleak reality: Over several months, I only wore three of the many shirts I had—and two out of my four hoodies. My disappointment from reviewing my clothes sank to despair when I studied my bookshelf. I had quite a display, with the likes of Oliver Sacks and G. K. Chesterton. Unfortunately, I never (fully) read half of the books. And the books I had read just sat there like ornaments, never revisited. Finally, I confronted things of sentimental value— many items no longer useful or, for that matter, usable. They included my duvet from before preschool. The gentlest shake would liberate feathers through the seams and onto the floor. I also had a pair of leaky boots, broken electronics, a damaged water bottle, and more. Clearly, my room was storage for the unused, the unusable, the uncomfortable, and the non-pleasing. So, purgation it was.

Bidding things goodbye—with thanks Before discarding items identified for removal, I took photos to remember them by and thanked each of them for having been there for me—I had learned

With this gratitude, I donated a slew of books, removed clothes that couldn’t be (or hadn’t been) worn, tossed out hangers (I vowed to fold the few clothes that remained), and recycled electronics. I discarded notes and handouts I was never going to reread. I also chucked empty boxes, such as those previously containing desserts from friends. Following all this elimination, I felt refreshed. Cleansed. All at once rejuvenated, as though I’d lathered on five layers of SK-II. Then, I felt upset and irritated. If I’d discovered decluttering sooner, I could have dodged the heavy lifting when I moved out of campus residence (each trip threatened a visit to the chiropractor). But, within moments, I realized two things. One, regret is unnecessary as no one can change the past. Two, maybe I wouldn’t have understood the principles of decluttering back then. So, I eliminated those feelings as well.

Beyond decluttering Ever since I read Yamashita’s and Kondo’s books, life has felt lighter, my mind clearer. Maybe it was because I had fewer things to keep tidy; maybe it was the newly gained space. Or, perhaps, it was through both reflection and removal that I found what I truly cherished. Whatever the explanation, learning to declutter has transformed me. To this day, I keep few possessions. Items are categorized. Clothes are folded. Books are arranged. And there’s a bonus. I’ve also been able to apply the decluttering principles beyond room organization—from more quickly distilling lecture content to editing for concision. Most of all, I have learned to treat what I do own with care and appreciation— and I am more in the present, more (dare I say?) present-minded.

MAY 2022

This book revealed that keeping a minimalist lifestyle can create opportunities for focus and introspection. It also taught me to select what to save— and what to discard—by evaluating possessions from three angles:

this from another book on decluttering: Marie Kondo’s Spark Joy.

I credit my transformation to books on decluttering. First, Hideko Yamashita’s book 人生を変える断捨離, which translates to “life-changing cut-off” (Google Translate) or “life-changing abandonment” (Microsoft Translator). Interestingly, although the book appears to come in French and German editions, no English version exists, to my knowledge.

LINK

Objectively assessing objects

Tips for Overcoming

Burnout words Anastasiia Naboka

Your body may work to prevent (or diminish) that pain by turning off emotions and protecting itself. It enters energy-saving mode, where it only performs the essential to ensure vital processes. And alongside this can come an indifference to everything—a serious symptom of burnout. I used to think that burnout could never happen to me. I believed that burnout was a weakness that emotionally strong people could not have. I remember a period in my life when I said “yes” to every opportunity presented to me. I signed up for volunteer events and clubs, and committed myself to doing all the work, despite being a full-time BCIT student. I chased my own clock, begging it to stop going so fast. The first time I noticed my symptoms of burnout was last April, in my second term. I did manage to turn in all assignments on

At the time, I didn’t realize it was the start of burnout, and I blamed all of it on fatigue. I would remind myself that everyone gets tired because life, in general, is a difficult thing. It’s common to attribute our state of being to fatigue, and this is the quiet insidiousness of burnout—it creeps up. But what had seemed like fatigue, which I carelessly disregarded, eventually grew into a full-scale burnout: One moment I would feel a cynical indifference, and the next, an emotional roller-coaster with a final scene of bursting into tears and ending up with zero energy. Self-quarantining for two weeks somewhere no one could contact me seemed quite desirable. Unfortunately, it took me two more terms to finally understand that I could not keep the same order of affairs. I had to discontinue working on certain projects and exit one club. Prioritizing myself—and not feeling embarrassed about that—was truly a learning curve. Here are some tips that helped me overcome burnout and might help you, too, in case you ever need some pointers, whether now or in the future:

MAY 2022

In this burnout state, it becomes increasingly difficult to communicate with people, and there may be feelings of anxiety and dissatisfaction with everything and everyone. Work that used to bring joy may no longer feel pleasant and may even become irritating. Everything can be perceived sharply, painfully.

time (and even received good grades), but each minute I spent doing those things felt almost nauseating. Positive emotions had disappeared, and slight irritation had taken their place. I realize now that I might have overestimated the scope of commitments I could handle.

uring the hectic pursuit of development and careers, you may not immediately notice how the body’s emotional resource is depleting until it is completely gone.

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Tip #1: Avoid things (and people) that make you feel upset It is important to remember that the resources of the mind and body are finite. Everyone has limits and boundaries, as defined by so many factors, including experiences, lifestyles, and the immediate environment. So, spend energy on things and people that bring you joy.

Tip #2: Massage your body Whenever you feel tired, massage your neck and shoulders. Hug yourself. Pay attention to your body. Rubbing the body with a brush from the bottom up has a good effect on the lymphatic system. Another option is patting the meridians that go through the arms and legs: Go from top to bottom and from bottom to top.

Let your mind focus on the sensations in your body instead of on moments that were or will be.

Tip #6: Explore nature You live in British Columbia! I encourage you to explore it this summer. It can help you (re)become an enthusiastic and full-of-life person. A day in the fresh air somewhere in the mountains can do wonderful things for your mental health. Give yourself a chance to let go of your worries and connect with nature.

Tip #7: Get enough sleep Healthy sleep might help restore your energy. Try to reduce activity in the evening. To avoid insomnia, you can brew a soothing tea with lemon balm or mint.

Tip #3: Treat your inner child Every now and then, let go of the constant self-control you have. Buy yourself some chocolate or treat yourself to something tasty. Spend the evening the way you want, like watching your comfort movie.

Tip #4: Let go of commitments that no longer serve you During the most challenging time of my burnout, I found myself drowning in the tasks I had. Some of them were on my shoulders just because I didn’t say no at the time. I told myself to pause to reassess the direction I wanted to go, and I felt some of those tasks were not for me. When I explained my decision to people, they supported and understood me.

Tip #5: Meditate and exercise regularly

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Meditating helps clear the mind. After all, the restless mind often creates tension that drains all our strength. Combine digital detox and breathing. To do this, turn off all electronics, whether computers or phones. Pause the music you’re listening to or the movie you’re watching. For just a few minutes, practice mindful breathing: Observing how you breathe for five minutes might be enough for the body to recharge. Give your lungs five minutes of undivided attention. For resources on implementing this mindful practice in your routine, I recommend listening to guided meditation.

Also, consider exercising in a way you enjoy. Try walking, running, or swimming. Approach the activity consciously; feel your body during the exercises.

And there you are! Although simple, these tips are within the power of each of us. It is important to understand that burnout will not go away on its own. To cope with it, you need to consciously take steps towards a healthy, balanced life. Even if the steps are very tiny, the main thing is to do them every day. Ultimately, wherever you are along your academic journey, monitor yourself for signs of burnout. If you ever feel stretched, remember that challenging things come to an end. These can include exam periods. Most importantly, remember that you are not alone. I, too, have felt the emotional exhaustion of studying at BCIT. No matter what happens, I believe that you have the strength to overcome feelings of burnout and boost your mental health. At the same time, if you feel unable to overcome burnout on your own, get professional help. BCIT provides access to resources and support services for free. Find options at bcit.ca/health-services/resources.

i am a difficult woman, gladly. many of us weren’t wanted when the ultrasounds at the gynac’s read - FEMALE many of our parents had to shield us throughout our lives, by restricting us from being truly free but our parents, they don’t succeed cuz our society’s restrictions make it impossible to build that wall

difficult woman

many of us are given away at the first opportunity we were labelled as the burdens they didn't need, didn’t want... so many of us molded by society, by our families, friends, to grow up thinking that we are here to serve another family and for the ones who weren’t molded into what society wants, those whose parents were able to create a high enough wall, fall prey to colleagues; mentors, the systems; constitutions and the law, fall prey to regressive systemic values regardless of our sizes, we jump as high as the hurdles require us to... cuz we’ve built endurance, stamina, strength to fight... to power through it all the average me may be smaller but the resilience we carry surmounts all beings, the average me may be

poem Aastha Pandey

restricted from many opportunities but when given the tools we fend for ourselves and for all of you too, when given the knowledge we make valuable changes in our worlds, and yours... yet our ideals and philosophies are ignored giving life is merely a small miracle that some of us may easily manifest, but remember it is a gift, one that we should be able to choose to use, or not to... but if we chose anything other than that, we’re incompetent if we walk a road that isn’t what society built, we are burdens if we question the illiberal ways we are difficult

LINK

MAY 2022

but I say so proudly and loudly, that I’m here to be difficult, cuz if living on my own terms as the woman i truly want to be, is at the expense of your comfort, then I’m here to be difficult, i’m here to make you uncomfortable, gladly.

How Staying Engag Communities Has S M

any international students (including me) would agree that moving to a new country can be daunting—yet rewarding. We are grateful for the lessons and experiences that made us who we are now. In 2020, my brother and I came to Canada from Kazakhstan. Adapting to our new lives was incredibly challenging: We had to learn a new language and understand a different culture—during a global pandemic. Like my brother, I was feeling isolated. I wanted to feel I was part of this new place, the way I felt back in Kazakhstan. To cultivate this sense of belonging, I turned to a solution I’ve always known: Proactively engaging with the community. The word "community" can refer to a group of people who work and engage with one another for the common good or, more generally, the place where they do so. Getting involved in my community was integral to my life in Kazakhstan, where I had learned to contribute and collaborate with others from a very young age. Growing up, I explored new experiences (such as relocating to different cities and schools), which informed my understanding that actively engaging with the community can afford new values, perspectives, and ways of living. With this insight, I decided to frame this new experience of studying abroad in the same way and explore the numerous communities here.

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First, there was the residence community.

Living on campus allowed me to connect with people from many different cities in and beyond British Columbia. After all, BCIT Student Housing is well known for its solid sense of community. Sure

Reflecting on my experience, I felt that being a student fostered a sense of belonging. The student community is unique because you get to meet people who have the same goals, concerns, and interests. There is always a chance to learn and grow, especially when the student body is diverse. I worked as part of the Student Association, which helped me expand my social connections, gain cultural knowledge, and develop leadership skills. This community engagement created a fulfilling experience that shaped how I see life today. And, of course, there was the general community: the Canadian community. As part of this community, I discovered that people always look for ways to improve lives and solve problems, and that we all genuinely care for the beautiful environment we live in. Sometimes it feels like Canada is a hub of the world, where many different nationalities, cultures, and people come together to live and work in harmony for the greatness of the community. I realized that the community's well-being depends on each member, and I sensed that respect, kindness, and sharing are the central values in Canadian culture. We can see these reflected in what we do for one another, like how we thank bus drivers, hold open doors, and yield the right of way to emergency vehicles. We also find them in services and designs commonly taken for granted: an enhanced garbage recycling system; ramps, door buttons, and pedes-

Global citizens are people whose actions help define the values and practices of the emerging world community they’re in, creating opportunities for everyone to prosper. Being an open-minded and respectful community member is essential to any global citizen, and it’s not a state of mind but constant work. The world is facing many global challenges now, and global citizenship is a solution: Everyone can help the world become kinder, more understanding, and more present for one another. The way I see the world has truly changed in these two exciting years (time flies so fast!). Through actively engaging with all these communities, I have explored many places, made many friends, and learned many life-long lessons. I feel that I’ve nurtured a strong sense of belonging, that my mind is now always open to new ideas and perspectives, and that I have become more empathetic. As I complete my studies, I will use the priceless experience I’ve gained in Canada to continue contributing to the well-being of the global community, wherever I go next.

MAY 2022

Then, there was the student community.

trian signals for accessibility; washrooms in secluded areas (like campsites); needle disposals in public spaces; and emergency blue buttons on campus for safety. These all show that we care for one another, that we are a community, and that we are, most of all, global citizens.

enough, my roommates and I became friends, and they were the first mini-community that truly helped me sense Canadian culture.

words Amanzhan Duisek

LINK

ged with Diverse Shaped Me

Women in Computing:

Architects of Networks

words Shawn Chang photos Nicole Jingco, Dannicah Salazar, Asma Mohamad

Navigating life as BCIT students can feel isolating for many of us. But in certain programs, fostering a sense of belonging can be particularly challenging. The execs of the BCIT Women in Computing (WiC) club are no strangers to these experiences.

WiC empowers female students in computing programs: It creates safe spaces for them to comfortably connect to one another and to female leaders in the industry. It also offers them the resources to be successful in the workplace. Nicole (the longest-standing club member) shared that Shasha Hua and Loretta Cheung co-founded the club. She also explained that activities like events and workshops were developed through the efforts of past execs Christy Yau and Saki Serizawa. Nicole herself was a member when those changes took place. She’d initially joined the club to support her friend, Mikhaela Layon (an exec at the time). When she experienced how supportive the club was,

“Although I was doing okay academically in my set, I still felt that I did not belong and was not good enough,” says Roelle, who found it challenging to build connections in the male-dominated environment. “I joined WiC and realized that I was not the only one feeling this way, and I want to give back.” Monika, who recently started studying at BCIT and has been learning online, also got to make connections through the club. The same goes for Dannicah, who was pleased to have discovered a Women in Computing event through a mass email. “I didn’t know this was offered at BCIT,” she admits. “I joined the event, and it was welcoming and fun. I wanted to be part of it and grow with everyone.”

MAY 2022

Popping up—and updating

In time, more people got involved, like Nicole’s fellow execs. They had similarly been inspired to support women in computing programs, which didn’t have the best women representation. (Geetika estimated a 5:1 men-to-women ratio in her set, and Roelle reported only four women in hers.)

• Roelle Kim (outgoing President) • Sally Poon (outgoing Treasurer) • Nicole Jingco (outgoing Exec, previous President) • Dannicah Salazar (current VP, incoming President) • Geetika Varma (incoming Treasurer) • Monika Szucs (current VP, incoming Communications Director)

she decided to become an exec herself. “I felt really empowered to help keep running the club and recruit more members,” she reflects. With this motivation, she later became the President, a role she held for more than a year.

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I had the chance to interview six WiC execs for their stories and perspectives. These friendly and insightful individuals are:

Programming today The club is not just open to women, despite its name. Anyone who values empowering women is welcome. Plus, the club requires no commitment: Just come to the events you want; there are no meetings involved. Sally says, “All events are created for everyone to grow or take something away. There are opportunities to take advantage of what we put together.” WiC typically implements large monthly events (between six and eight per school year). Additionally, they plan hangouts like game nights. Just in April this year, the club ran a hackathon alongside the Computing Club and the Coding4All Club. They also held professional development sessions, such as résumé and LinkedIn profile reviews with Hootsuite, mock interviews with IUGO and A Thinking Ape, and a talk from/with Sarah Ménard, an SAP Design Leader. That session with Sarah was memorable to every exec, as it helped spark feelings of inspiration and revealed insider knowledge about the workplace. Best of all, through planning and running all those events, each exec feels that she’s grown as a person. Roelle learned organizational skills through coordinating events and liaising with professionals. Geetika grew more confident at hosting events. Monika learned to open up and communicate even more skillfully, building on her experiences working in sales.

Reflecting on her personal development, Nicole says, “I used to be introverted and would only speak to my friends.” Now, she’s gained leadership skills, such as identifying the strengths of the people she leads. Meanwhile, Sally feels confident initiating conversations with industry professionals to gain career advice. “There are people out there who are happy to help you succeed. Reach out to anyone. The worst thing is that they’re too busy.” Dannicah appreciates all the positive learning experiences she’s gained as well: “These helped me come out of my comfort shell.” In the coming year, we can anticipate more in-person opportunities, such as hikes, study sessions, and movie nights. Face-to-face panel events and prep sessions for interviews, including Co-op technical ones, can also be expected. The incoming execs are all thrilled to roll these out. “I’m excited to work with companies like Best Buy,” Dannicah says. “They have a big female leadership in the IT sector. Many IT directors and managers are women.” “I’m excited to help reach out and talk with companies,” Geetika tells me. “Similar to Geetika, I’m excited to help out where I can and meet with different industries,” says Monika.

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Get your application in!

Find WiC on Instagram at @wic.bcit! If you’re a BCIT student interested in joining as a member, let the club know through their email at wicbcit@gmail.com, or apply to join their Discord server via the Google Form linked in their IG bio. Applications are accepted anytime. Alternatively, if you’re looking to become an exec, applications are accepted twice a year, around graduation time.

Thank You to our 2021-2022 contributors

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Aastha Pandey Alicia Plesich Amanzhan Duisek Andre Nowak Angelina Ravelli Astrid Agbayani Catherine Sohit Darla Williscroft Emma Gollner Harleen Kaur Saini Jasper Chu Jean-Luc Jackson Josh Mendoza Kailee Vanderwoerd Karisa Cheng Katarina Petrovic Katie Dalziel Merce Munoz Midori Haraguchi Nazanin Hosseinmardi Nelson Ellis Nolan Nordwall Philipp Bossert Shivani Joshi Solongo Orkhon Takshita Kumar Tara Chloe Dusanj Zach Blaney

Anastasiia Naboka

An (almost) Marketing Management Communications graduate who joined Link this January; she truly regrets not doing it sooner! She comes from Ukraine, so she feels it is her duty to continue spreading the word. Her last few articles covered Ukraine, because you never know the impact your contributions can have, even the smallest ones. Nevertheless, she encourages you to read through the Summer issue very carefully... You may find her personal recipe for the best Ukrainian borscht!

Dani Kent

Dani is currently a part-time student taking the Graphic Design Associate Certificate. She has been working in local media for the past 17 years and hopes to branch out into graphic design in the near future. Her favourite design platform is Photoshop, and she is a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's films.

Duangtip Yengsakunpaisan

A marketing student from Thailand who is exploring Canada for photogenic locations: "I can walk a marathon for six hours to scout a good place." She appreciates little things surrounding her, even wildflowers on the street. Occasionally runs away from homework into parks to take random pictures.

How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

Café Hopping Edition

words and photos Karisa Cheng illustration Kailee Vanderwoerd

ummer is fast approaching, Vancouverites! Now that there are no more deadlines and finals to pull all-nighters for, what better way to spend your days than grab a coffee and chill? This one is for all my coffee addicts, pastry lovers, and aesthetic Instagrammers. Keep reading for all the hot spots to visit this summer!

Nemesis Coffee

Gastown North Van Great Northern Way If you like anything buttery and flakey, Nemesis Coffee is the place to visit. They're known for their cruffins (the love child between a croissant and muffin) and their innovative pastries. With three locations spread around Vancouver, this café might be closer to you than you think. They first opened up in Gastown, and this location features a cozy wooden interior and outdoor seating for those warm summer days. The moment you step foot inside, you will be surrounded by buttery scents and a rich coffee aroma.

Each location has a slightly different brunch menu, so make sure you check it out online before you head over! (PS: Be ready to line up at all their locations if you visit on the weekend!)

Pictured above, beside their tiramisu croissant, are their oat milk lattes! These bad boys were filled with coffee-flavoured cream and made with Nemesis’s own espresso. They were also super smooth, which gave the most satisfying first-sip-of-coffee feeling. As for the croissant, I liked that it wasn’t *too* sweet, since the bitterness from the espresso helped balance out the sweetness of the cream filling.

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Their newest location is Great Northern Way, which might be known for its red pointed roof. Since it is located next to Emily Carr, it makes sense that this building looks the most artistic. With a wooden interior and a ceiling made from strips of white linen pieced together, GNW Nemesis has a modern touch.

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Their second location in the North Van Polygon building (also known as Dope Bakehouse) is encased in glass and gives off future-esque architecture vibes. This location is beautiful for photos since it lets in lots of natural lighting. It also carries all their newest, prettiest baked creations.

Nukid

Robson Street Nukid is the new kid on the hustlin' bustlin' Robson Street. The Korean-style café carries the traditional twisted donut (꽈배 기, or kkwabaegi) with a “twist.” What is traditionally topped with just sugar can now be found topped with fruit loops, strawberries, Oreos, and many other options! If you are an adventurous pastry enthusiast, this is the place for you. Their donuts are super chewy and don’t leave an oily aftertaste. They also a have large selection of drinks that can satisfy anybody’s desires. Craving coffee? They have that. Want something non-caffeinated? Go for any of their ades (a fruity cider) or smoothies. My personal favourite is the Green Grape mojito Ade! Nukid is also great for all your Instagram photo needs. The interior is absolutely adorable, decorated with blue, red, and yellow colours, colourful '70s style lamps, and clear glass tables. If you grab pastries and drinks to go, you will also be graced with their adorable takeaway boxes and cups. One of the best things about the café is that they close at 10 pm every day! Perfect for when you feel like having something sweet after dinner.

I ordered the Potato/Cheddar Cheese and Choco Crunch twisted donuts, plus an iced oat milk latte (yes, oat milk latte again). The Potato/Cheddar Cheese twisted donut had a very interesting taste—like mashed potato with cheese, but with a hint of sweetness. (It's difficult to describe in words, so you’ll have to try it for yourself!) The Choco Crunch one tasted 10x better than it looked and would be a safe option for chocolate lovers who don’t want to branch out too much on the first visit. Their oat milk latte was yummy as well—nothing too unique, but still a great afternoon pick-me-up!

Fondway Burnaby

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Fondway is an Asian coffee shop tucked behind Metrotown in Burnaby, selling coffee and grass jelly dessert drinks. You can also find seasonal cakes, sandwiches, and waffles here. Locals will know that they have been around for a long time, serving delicious drinks and food that make a great afternoon snack.

Fondway has almost an industrial feel: brick walls, wooden tables, and metal pipe decor on the walls.

Something unique about this café is that some of their food and drink menus are illustrated, so you will be able to see exactly (well, in art form) what you are ordering. Make sure to check out their gradient drinks when you visit (like the Blue Yuan Yeung and Violet Haze)!

Sunny M Specialty Coffee & Tea Richmond

Located inside Empire Center in Richmond, Sunny M stands out from its neighbours with a pastel green banner that catches your eye. The interior gives off maximum cozy vibes with plants surrounding the windowsill and fairy lights strung around the shop.

Although there are only three tables and one single bar stool inside, light music and comfy chairs set a pleasant atmosphere for a coffee date. I will warn everyone coming on a weekend—if you go on a Sunday, be prepared to wait for a seat!

Happy café hopping!

With so many café options in Metro-Vancouver, it isn’t easy to just pick one to visit! Each of them is unique, so why not hit up all of them during the summer break?

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My friend and I ordered the avocado and egg tomato toast (which came with a side salad), tiramisu cake, and mochas. Everything tasted fresh in the toast set and all the ingredients worked well one another. It also made us feel very healthy…which made us feel less guilty about eating the tiramisu after! The tiramisu tasted lighter and fluffier than most tiramisus I’ve tried. It paired well with our mochas!

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I ordered an iced brown sugar latte and a yuzu dacquoise. The unique thing about their iced lattes was that they used crushed ice! The yuzu dacquoise was an interesting dessert made from rice, not flour, and featured two pieces of pastry sandwiching a refreshing citrus créme center. The outer shell of the pastry was crisp and sweet, while the inside was light and creamy. I loved the contrast and would definitely recommend trying it!

Sunny M specializes in coffee beans from around the world. Some coffee beans for sale include Matchstick, Kawa, and Mum’s Coffee. The shop offers drinks like teas, espresso-based drinks, seasonal drinks, and pour-overs. Pour-over coffee is what they are most known for, as patrons can choose which beans they want. This part of the menu is for true coffee lovers! They also offer seasonal pastries and sandwiches.

Spinning Chandelier Rodney Graham

summer days in the city words and photos Catherine Sohit

s much as I enjoy staying in with some takeout and Netflix, going out for a walk around the city is crucial for my mental health and well-being. So, after two years of being mostly stuck indoors due to the pandemic, I'm excited to head outdoors more often this summer! I have to be honest—I'm not the most outdoorsy person. I go camping and hiking from time to time, but I always start to miss my WiFi and my favourite coffee shop after a few hours. The great news is that exploring outdoors doesn't have to mean going camping and hiking—you can also wander through the city. You'll be surprised by how many hidden gems you'll find. I love finding cool and inspiring structures in Vancouver; it's like a streetscape scavenger hunt, especially for architectural enthusiasts. It's also a budget-friendly experience that only requires a sunny day, some comfortable shoes, a TransLink day (or monthly) pass, and—of course—your water bottle. If you're like me and also enjoy exploring the city, read on to see some of my favourite buildings!

Vancouver House Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and completed in 2020, the Vancouver House is a residential tower incorporating neo-futurism and high-tech architectural styles. Located at 1480 Howe St, you'll spot it along the route through the Granville Bridge. The complex includes three glassy prism podiums inserted between the bridge. At first, it might look like it's twisting, but this is due to the Vancouver House expanding from a triangular floor plan to a rectangle, giving the illusion that the building is winding. Fun fact: for the architect Bjarke Ingels, “it looks almost like a genie coming out of a bottle.” Don’t forget to look at the public art installation centrepiece of the development—a $4.8 million spinning chandelier by Vancouver artist Rodney Graham, suspended beneath the Granville Bridge.

Project: Vancouver House; 52-story; mixed-use Architecture: BIG Bjarke Ingels Architectural styles: High-tech architecture, Neo-futurism Completed in 2020 Location: 1480 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1R8

The Waterfall Building After spotting the Vancouver House, you can continue through the Granville Bridge to the iconic Waterfall Building, one of my favourite structures in the city. Located on 1540 W 2nd Ave, this project was designed by Arthur Erickson with Nick Milkovich Architects in 1966 but was finally completed in 2001. The building consists of five separate structures organized around a public courtyard for the community within the complex. It also includes a roof garden on all five building structures designed by Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, a landscape architect. From the pedestrian walkway, you can admire the curtain of water that descends into a reflecting pool, where the Waterfall Building earns its name. The Waterfall Building is also within walking distance to Granville Island in case you'd like to have a stroll or grab a bite at the market.

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Project: The Waterfall Building, mixed-use Architecture: Arthur Erickson and Nick Milkovich Architects Completed in 2001 Location: 1540 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1H2

Deloitte Summit

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You can also get breathtaking pictures of the city from the Vancouver Public Library's new Phillips, Hager and North rooftop Garden on level nine. The garden is planted with a mix of arbutus hedge, honeysuckle, white roses, lavender, and coral bark maple trees.

Project: Deloitte Summit Architecture: OSO & Merrick Architecture Architectural styles: Postmodernism Completed in 2021 Location: 410 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1Z3

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The new Deloitte Summit headquarters, also known as the "living sculpture," is another exciting structure to visit. It's a 24-storey office building made up of steel-framed stacked cubes inspired by the shape of a Japanese lantern and is located just across the street from Library Square in Downtown Vancouver. The tower, designed by Tokyo-based OSO and Vancouver-based Merrick Architecture and completed in 2021, features glass floors with city skyline and mountain views, rooftop terraces, and vertical gardens.

The Polygon Gallery A little farther out, located beside Lonsdale Quay and overlooking the Burrard Inlet, is my last recommendation to visit: The Polygon Gallery. Designed by Patkau Architects and completed in 2017, The Polygon Gallery has a unique sawtooth roofline shape in reference to the nearby shipyards on the North Vancouver shoreline. Fun fact: the specific cladding detail (made of layers of perforated stainless steel) used on the building was new and didn’t have a name for it. As one of the architects have said, "It was the first time this cladding has ever been used.” Admission to the gallery is by donation if you wish to visit their exhibitions. All galleries are located on the second level of the building—a floor that almost appears to be floating as it sits above an open floor glazed lobby and a gallery shop. After visiting the gallery, you can grab a bite at any of the restaurants, cafés, and shops at The Shipyards. Or you can relax and enjoy the view of the waterfront, visit the market, or head to the splash park.

Project: The Polygon Gallery Architecture: Patkau Architects Completed in 2017 Location: 101 Carrie Cates Ct, North Vancouver, BC V7M 3J4, Canada

I hope learning about these buildings will motivate you to walk around the city (or even your neighbourhood) to find more interesting and inspiring structures, new and old.

How I fell in love

with BC

words Amanzhan Duisek "Let’s go, bro, almost there!" I am slowly making my way up the Eagle Bluffs Trail. Beads of sweat are rolling down my cheeks. My heart is beating so fast. My legs are shaking. Every step is a challenge, but I keep pushing forward. Finally, the trail gets less steep, and the wind starts playing with my hair. I can see my brother standing near the edge of the cliff. I head closer to have a look, and my heart leaps in awe.

A stunning view greeted me: the beautiful sky, deep-blue ocean, huge mountains, amazing weather, and microscopic people. Even as we stand here now, I still cannot believe how far my brother and I have come. Ten months ago, we arrived in Canada to start our studies (2021 winter term) in the middle of the pandemic. I was so happy to come to Vancouver to study in the Telecommunications Systems program because BC has long led this industry. My goal was to earn a diploma and become a knowledgeable and skilled specialist ready for work. School was always a top priority, as I had, after all, come all the way here to study. I had numerous hands-on courses and labs starting from the first

week of school. My classes felt very safe, and everything went well with all health safety guidelines in place. Over the many months that followed, I learned a lot about telecommunication technologies, worked on various equipment and machines, designed interesting projects, and connected with great people from the industry. Outside of academics, I got to dive into the world of work. After we settled down, I decided to find a part-time job to learn about the Canadian workplace culture. I looked into BC restaurants and food services, and after a month of job hunting, I landed my first job at LOCAL Public Eatery (Local Gastown). That was super exciting since Downtown Vancouver is known for its diverse and delicious cuisine. This job gave me a taste of the Canadian workplace culture. During the three months I worked there, I learned a lot about the restaurant industry, from line cooking to portioning and serving. My cooking skills got much better! During that time, I worked with an incredible team of chefs and servers from Mexico, the Philippines, the States, South Korea, Russia, and Vietnam. Through another job, I got to see BC for the vast and beautiful province it is. Last summer, my brother and I found perfect summer jobs in door-to-door sales. We went on daily road trips and followed our own schedules. This has been the most interesting, rewarding, and

My work experience at the LOCAL Public Eatery helped a lot. After several rounds (with many pitch deck presentations), we won 2nd place and got funding for further development. Earlier this year, my team of three also participated in the Nourishing Innovation: Campus Nutrition and Food Security Contest, held by several institutions, including BCIT, SFU, UNBC, and VIU. This competition focused on solving food insecurity in post-secondary institutions. We competed against ten teams from other schools and won 3rd place. We earned funding to run a pilot project this winter term. Our idea is to offer students living on campus free weekly shuttle bus rides to stores like Superstore, Walmart, and T&T directly from residences.

So many individuals are very friendly and always willing to help. Even as an international student away from home, I never felt lonely or homesick: I have great friends, instructors, roommates, colleagues, and my brother. They always support me as I pursue personal growth and bring happiness and unforgettable memories into my life.

2. BCIT resources

Many Canadian institutions have international student centres, student associations, and student life departments that focus on helping students thrive at school and navigate challenges—and BCIT is one of them. I connected with all the BCIT resources and services I needed to make the most out of my time here. And here I am now, standing on the top of a mountain with my brother and reflecting on what I’ve experienced. We came to Canada with just ourselves and vague ideas about the future. That feels like yesterday, but it has been a year. I feel so grateful, looking back on everything we went through together. Every obstacle I encountered was a learning experience. I adapted to the new demands of life, and nothing has diminished my hunger to achieve and learn more. I see where I need to go and what I need to do. My adventures here have been like the hike I just had—I can make it to the mountaintop by moving forward. But I also know that there is always a taller mountain waiting for me.

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My brother, my best friend, and I also participated in the 2021 BCIT Student Innovation challenge, where we introduced our start-up idea: a mobile app for finding the best restaurant deals and offers.

1. People

Beyond academics and work, I also got involved in on campus activities. Last spring, I was elected as the Chair of the School of Energy for the BCIT Student Association. I am grateful for my brother and my best friend (an international student from Taiwan), who helped me run my campaign. During my term, I spearheaded many projects and events, such as coordinating grocery deliveries for students living in residence, developing social events like a Spike ball contest and a Halloween event, and creating hands-on opportunities for Engineering students.

Looking back on all these experiences, I feel that I have transformed as a person. Now I am in my last term, and things have been going well. Over these past months, I have also faced many challenges, whether they’re related to academics, work, or involvement. But I was able to navigate them—here are two key support systems that helped me along the way:

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challenging job I’ve ever done. Every day, I drove through and explored new neighbourhoods, met many people from different backgrounds, learned valuable life lessons, discovered different cultures, and challenged myself to walk faster, knock harder, and sell better. My best summer memories were our crazy weekend hikes to the mountains and swimming in lakes and rivers. This work experience enhanced my speaking skills, boosted my confidence, strengthened my character, and showed me that hard work and perseverance beat talent.

A Story of an International Student in

Marketing words Anastasiia Naboka

Hi! My name is Anastasiia, and I am an international student from Ukraine. I am graduating from the Marketing Management program (Communications option) this June, and this is my story. I chose BCIT here in Canada as my post-secondary institution because a few BCIT alums had recommended its excellent Marketing program to me. I started my studies in September 2020, amidst the first year of the pandemic. Back then, Canada had travel restrictions, and the borders were closed. Because of that, I had to study online from Ukraine for my first two terms. I don’t think I can complain a lot about the time difference (I know many students studying from Eastern Asia had it much worse), but I will not miss finishing exams at 4 am. When I finally arrived in Canada, I was thrilled. English was not something I struggled with, as I was lucky enough to have seen the world and studied English. Canada’s cultural diversity excited me and expanded my worldview even more. But, at the time, being only 18 and in charge of creating a successful life in another country did feel stressful. During the first few months here, I noticed some changes. I felt that I became more extroverted and ambitious, more of a go-getter. I tried dissecting the origin of this feeling. My current theory is that it is a mechanism of survival, basically a way to self-protect and adapt to my new surroundings. It encouraged me to be constantly out of my comfort zone. Though I must say that there were benefits (I got involved in many projects and clubs), I also walked a very tricky path that threatened burnout. For ways

to overcome burnout, check out my other article in this issue: “7 Tips for Overcoming Burnout.” These last three months of my program have been extremely challenging, and the reason is far beyond just writing exams or finding new housing. The political situation in my home country created a wound that I cannot heal. All my family and friends are there, so the pain can be overwhelming. Still, there are always things we cannot influence, and this is one of them. However, what I can do is empower myself to continue living my life to the fullest, despite all the pain. For anyone in a similar situation, please avoid being hard on yourself and allow yourself to move through these emotions at your own pace. As for me, I have Ukrainian friends here, and I am grateful because we have been able to share the pain. We have gotten together to make comfort food to heal our souls. Our top choice is borscht, which is common in the Eastern European culture but originated in Ukraine. It culturally warms us from the inside. It is not the quickest soup to make, but once you make one pot, it will last a wonderfully long time. So, as my gift to you, read on for my recipe.

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Borscht...

culturally warms us from the inside.

Directions

1. Pour 1.5-2 litres of water into a saucepan, add meat, and cook over medium heat. Once the water boils, remove the foam and place the lid on. Simmer for 90 minutes. Wash and clean beets and carrots. Grate the beets with a large grater and the carrots with a medium grater. Dice the onions.

3. Remove the meat from the broth to cool, then toss the shredded cabbage into the broth. After 5-10 minutes, add the diced potatoes.

5. The borscht is ready! Serve with sour cream and garnish as needed. Enjoy!

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4. Chop the meat into small chunks, discard the bones, and return the meat to the borscht. Add salt and the roast (from step 2), then give it a stir. Sprinkle in herbs, then cover and cook for another 5-7 minutes.

• 1.5-2 litres water • 400 g pork or beef, in chunks and attached to bones (it’s tastier when bones are kept) • 2 small beets • 1 carrot • 3 medium onions • 4-5 tbsp sunflower oil • 1 tsp lemon juice • 2 tbsp tomato paste • 300 g fresh white cabbage, shredded • 4 medium potatoes, diced • Salt, herbs like bay leaves and finely chopped parsley to taste • 1 tbsp sour cream per serving

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Ingredients

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Stir in carrots and onions and fry for 5 minutes before adding the beets. Sprinkle lemon juice on the beets to make your borscht a vibrant red. Keep frying for another 5 minutes, then add the tomato paste. Stir and fry for another 5-7 minutes to form the roast.

words and illustration Nazanin Hosseinmardi

A shift in our social interactions will happen this summer: we'll be resocializing.

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But now, changes are coming. With restrictions lifted, we can come out from behind our screens and jump back into nature. We can hug and kiss and play together without fear. We can catch up with our friends and resocialize with the world around us. Our days this summer will be great and lively again as we get back to the normal social aspects of life.

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For the past two years, we lost close interactions due to COVID-19 restrictions. Children couldn't go out to play freely in the playgrounds, grandparents couldn't hug or kiss their grandchildren, and friends couldn't meet up to socialize and catch up with each other. Our conversations were limited to cold digital screens. Everything was dark, bleak, and scary. Time passed like a blur.

I used to think that once I got a degree, I'd feel more like an adult. I didn't. Instead, I reminisce about being a kid more than ever.

when do we grow up? words Christy Chan

As a kid, I saw the world as a paint-bynumbers challenge and I'd be armed with crayons, ready to take it on. Despite that, ten-year-old me would complain about things like waking up at 7 am (because who the heck wakes up at 7 am?). I also had nightmares about division, stressed over whether I had enough points to feed my always-starving Neopet, hated the thought of performing in school assemblies, and absolutely dreaded track and field season (or anything sports-related, for that matter). Those were the kinds of worries I used to scribble in my diary under the covers on a school night, as if venting them out on paper would somehow make things less scary. Putting stickers on the pages definitely helped. And of course, as all kids do, I dreamed. I imagined the future. 25-year-old me would be successful, I assured myself. I'd be a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, or like that nice lady who gave me extra sprinkles on my ice cream at Purdys. I'd be somebody. I just had to follow the path and graduate from school. After that, the world would be my oyster. Things don’t always pan out as expected, though. Because while life felt more structured during school, my days were a constant push-pull: I'd be

But the transition from our youth to adulthood is a blurred line, filled with endless hurdles and split into a thousand different paths. It's unrealistic to say we need to do x by x age, or y by y age. That’s too linear—and constraining—of a way to look at life. And isn't it unfair that in our twenties or thirties, we're already considered "adults" and expected to have our lives figured out? How are we supposed to brave the world with the limited knowledge and experience we've gained after only a handful of years? From a kid’s perspective, tackling the world seemed easy. We didn't need to picture how to achieve our dreams—we just thought of the dreams themselves.

What does it mean to be “grown up,” anyway? And what happens if we're not quite there yet? A large part of me still feels like a kid, even now. There are still so many things I've yet to learn, experience, and achieve. So many more things I'll probably never get to do or understand. Maybe I'm not where people expect me to be at my age. Maybe I don't consider myself an adult yet. I'm just treading along, trying to find my way through life and stay afloat. As you're reading this, maybe you are, too. That's okay. We'll figure it out eventually.

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Most of the pressure of growing up probably results from the hidden timeline we're taught to follow, like a checklist of things we're supposed to accomplish. Maybe that's why it feels strange when we deviate from it. After school generally comes more school, and after that comes either even more school or a stable, well-paying job. (Then comes marriage, family, retirement, young people start offering you their seats on transit, yada yada. The works.)

Naïve as I am, I still frame the world in a simple way so it's easier for me to make sense of. I'm also guilty of clinging to the assumption that my future will somehow fall into place one day. It's a mindset I probably owe to my university years, where, regardless of the path I chose, I would find myself standing at a finish line somewhere along the way. I wouldn't remember how I got there, only that I did in the end.

And as the years went by, my worries only morphed into bigger concerns. I felt like I was still the same kid who's afraid of the world, too scared to dip my toes into anything in fear of being swept away by the tide. As everyone sprung forward, becoming the kind of people I only ever dreamed I could be— the doctors, the lawyers, the engineers—I lingered around, lost.

We also fantasized about growing up, because being an adult meant driving a car and buying a house and affording three gallons of ice cream at Safeway (with no regrets!), and it just seemed cool to be older. But once we were teens, we became aware of the challenges that came with our goals and what it took to reach our dreams. And then, after having grown up some more, we realize being an adult is kind of lame.

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pushed towards the idea that I was getting closer to my career goals, but I'd be instantly pulled back to the reality that I still wasn't sure where I was going.

G A M E

discover the answers by reading this issue of Link! Answer key will be posted on linkbcit.ca