’ Hill
Divine Synergy | Pg. 8
Movember: Raising Awareness for the Modern Male | Pg. 12
e Silent Struggle: A Look at Imposter Syndrome | Pg. 23
THE TEAM
Volunteers
Avi
Audrey Tupaj | Administration
Amir Jafari | Public Relations
Tomi Oyedokun | Content Creation
Katie Vermeulen Editor-in-Chief
Arkitt Martinez Marketing Manager
Sadie McDonald Managing Editor
George-Philip Dumitrascu Arts & Culture Editor
Erin Vanderstelt Opinions Editor
Wilfred Elah Humour Editor
Bailey Froese Staff Writer
Joshua Olafson Sports Editor
Aryan Srinivasan Web Editor
Isaiah Baek Event Planner
Sandilya | Operations
Morley Draper Photographer
Aristote Kalala Layout Editor
Esther Jungnickel Staff Writer
Xenpai Illustrator
Collin Lagat Visual Assist
Rachel Kehler Visual Editor
Netanya Castillo Community Living Editor
EditorLETTER FROM THE
Hey! I hope you are feeling blessed.
Here’s a thought:
You never know who you are meeting when you encounter someone new—could it be just a passerby, a potential friend, or even an angel sent from God? Each person we meet has the power to trigger something deep within us, drawing out qualities we did not know we had or challenging us to confront our limitations. I love reflecting on those initial encounters, where their stories intersect with ours, shaping our journeys in unexpected ways. It is remarkable how much can change as life unfolds, blending time and bringing us together with those who encourage us to grow into our true selves.
Consider a young woman on the drive home from visiting her grandma, whose days are numbered less than the years she has lived. The woman feels the veil between reality and heaven thinning. She encounters more of life’s rich tapestry—the frantic waves of drivers urging her to go at a green light, the appreciative nod of a pedestrian crossing the street, and the couple in her rearview mirror, one resting their head on the other’s shoulder, a moment of sweetness captured in a quick glance. Each of these encounters, no matter how direct or indirect, deep or shallow, encapsulates a profound truth: sonder, the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and intricate as our own.
As Christians, we hold a unique perspective in recognizing that every individual is fully known and fully loved by God. Each life carries its own depth and beauty, created and cherished by the Creator. This awareness compels us to approach each encounter with empathy, understanding that we may never fully grasp the complexities of another’s journey, yet we are called to honour their existence.
As you explore the concept of sonder, you will find a diverse array of articles waiting for you. One article by George Dumitrascu addresses men’s mental health. Gabrielle Fitchett showcases creative writing that delves into intergenerational perspectives. You will also discover Sebastian Roque’s fashion spotlight that encourages authenticity in your attire this fall.
Interact with the pages and tag us in your Instagram stories with questions or reactions. Do not forget to tear out some of these pages for your wall decor and highlight what stands out to you!
Declassifieds
Too scared to ask out that hot girl from Rels class? Have a thought you’re dying to share? Did a professor say something strange or funny? Do you have some information that you want to get out to the student body? Whatever it is, the declassifieds are here for you.
Submit yours at www.marshillnewspaper.com/declassifieds
Perhaps the real learning outcomes were the friends we made along the way
I do be snackin’ on russet potatoes
We gotta talk about who is going to the UN this year.
Why are people so mean … y’all should treat people with kindness
AAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHH!!!!!!!! !!!!!
*joins MH team to read what they don’t publish*
It’s almost Halloween. You know what that means.
The only thing scarier than a ghost on Halloween is a root canal from eating too much candy.
Please notice me Xenpai
Where are the declassifieds in the online issue??
Fall and pray
Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready...
Crap’s about to hit the fan.
I love you, wizard man
Evan B, I like you <3 PIZZA ANGEL, PLEASE COME TO ME
Yo, yo, who up having a mental break down??
Mars’ Hill, mars hill, marshill, marshall, marsh, the dead marshes precious
Can I ask out any hot girl here or only a hot girl from RELS?
“Don’t quote me in Mars’ Hill!” - POLS 101
Looking forward to Mars’ Hill’s rebranding to Ares’ Mound
THE FLY MENTIONED RAHHHH
Cronenberg gang rise upppp
*sickest beat you’ve ever heard in your life*
But all I know is: You dress like the movies, an 80s something vibe
And no one knows what you’re hiding, baby, but I just think I might
With every conversation, you’re pulling at my heart
Just like a movie, the end is where we start
It was just a colour out of space—a frightful messenger from unformed realms of infinity beyond all Nature as we know it; from realms whose mere existence stuns the brain and numbs us with the black extra-cosmic gulfs it throws open before our frenzied eyes.
I’m a proud part of the agenda. Which agenda? You’ll never know. ;)
I MAKE EVERY TURN BY MEMORY, BY FEEL egg
To the girl singing “love song” by Sara Bareilles at 9:45 a.m. around Fraser, I guess the early bird really does get the ear worm.
BRING BACK CHRISTIAN HOROSCOPES!!!
Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit or reject submissions based on content and/or length. A printed submission does not reflect an endorsement of any kind, nor does it reflect the opinions of Mars’ Hill or its staff, the student association, or Trinity Western University.
Sonder a curated playlist
My Life Is In Your Hands
Dive
Featherstone
Shake
Whole World
I Don’t Recall
Lilo
Nothing Else
What a Difference a Day Makes
Let’s Be Still
Both Sides Now
Lord Is Coming So Free
Nice to See You Awaken
The Other Side
Soulmate
Stone Cold Roads Obscure
Are You Looking Up ‘Till I Can Walk
QKThr
Fear
Maverick City Music
Olivia Dean
The Paper Kites
Yaek
Woodpigeon Song Hold On
All My Girls Like To Fight
Goth Babe Lavender Diamond
The Japanese House
Angus & Julia Stone
Dinah Washington
The Head And The Heart
Joni Mitchell
H.E.R, Cordae Bahamas
Vansire, FLOOR CRY
Big Wild
Begonia
Mac Miller
Deb Never, Kenny Beats
Twin Peaks
Mk.gee
From Indian Lakes
Aphex Twin
Low
Blur
Limp Bizkit
Hope Tala
he Man in the Arena T
Is is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives vallantly; who errs, who comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himslef in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt
Feature
Divine Synergy
Katie Vermeulen
Let us talk about story. I envision each like a tree, with many branches, textures, and directions. Representative of all the sub-communities we are a part of, a tree grows alongside others—mosses, animals, ferns, and streams. Each person we meet is like a new branch, growing off of the last one, building our tree of life experiences. When I step back to observe this network of relationships, I see God’s fingerprints all over it. I see the ways He has carefully watered and pruned specific connections in each season, guiding growth among His people.
This is where divine synergy comes in. Synergy is the combined power of a group or partnership, producing results greater than what individual efforts could achieve alone. It’s the remarkable phenomenon where our relationships—each interaction, talent, and idea—come together to amplify God’s work in our lives, creating something more than any of us could accomplish on our own. Together, our branches form an intricate network of resiliency, one that allows us to collectively experience amplified growth and mutual refining for His purposes.
Take a moment to think: What patterns emerge when you look at the people God has placed in your life? Where has He planted relationships that pushed you, challenged you, or uplifted you? Our stories are meant to unfold in community, and some connections even stay with us through every season. How do we cultivate and cherish these relationships, and how do we gracefully release those that are meant to fade? God uses others to grow us into His design, laying new soil for each season so that His purposes can flourish through our divinely intertwined paths.
Prayers in Human Form
When I prayed for Mars’ Hill, I asked God to bring people with the strengths and gifts I knew I did not have. And, in the most beautiful way, He answered. Each person who joined the team has brought unique skills that have filled these pages—talents in design, writing, editing, and so much more. It is humbling to watch each team member step into their role, fulfilling the very prayers that were lifted up. I see God’s faithfulness in their expression of creativity, passion, and dedication, all woven together to make this magazine something greater than I could ever have anticipated or envisioned. Where have you seen prayers come in the form of people in your own life? Whatever spiritual or faith
background you resonate with, consider where surprises or blessings have materialized for you this semester and beyond. I believe that God places people in our lives for specific purposes. Our refining relationships are an extension of our growing stories, which we can actualize through clear and compassionate communication, allowing us to receive and give feedback as gifts. Each of us is made for a purpose and with a unique gift, one that completes the body of Christ if we are courageous enough to step into it and meet others in their own process of becoming.
Mirrors of Gifts & Grace
Every person we meet is like a mirror, revealing both strengths and flaws within us. Like a dance, connecting with others is a mutual exchange where we take turns leading, teaching, and learning. The incredible gift is that each person has a seed in their heart, something specific to their purpose here on Earth. Scripture calls us to use our unique gifts in the service of others and for the glory of God. Even those who challenge us the most can play a valuable role. Instead of pushing them away, consider what God has to say about treating them with a Spirit-led approach. What does God want us to learn from those that challenge us the most?
As Apostle Peter writes, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (New International Version, 1 Pet. 4.10). Our strengths, whether in speaking, serving, or encouraging, are not meant solely for our own fulfillment but are given to us to share as vessels of God’s love and grace. In the book of Romans, we are encouraged to exercise our gifts wholeheartedly: “If it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach … if it is to lead, do it diligently” (Rom. 12.6-8). Each gift, though different, is essential for the community’s well-being, emphasizing the beautiful diversity within the body of Christ. I have come to know this truth deeply: God wants us in community, not for the sake of companionship alone, but because it is in the company of others that we grow.
Daring Greatly
In her book Daring Greatly, social scientist Brené Brown explores vulnerability as “the courage to show up and be seen, even when we risk failure or criticism” (2012). She
highlights Theodore Roosevelt’s “man in the arena” quote from his 1910 speech “Citizenship in a Republic,” where he commends “the man who is actually in the arena” for daring greatly. Roosevelt’s words capture the courage it takes to engage fully, knowing that you may face criticism, setbacks, or even failure. This is directly relevant to the vulnerability of practicing our gifts and sharing them with others, which requires us to show up wholeheartedly, accepting that we might not succeed or that others may judge us.
Moving Beyond Judgement to True Understanding
We crave deep, messy, authentic relationships, the kind where we are fully seen and loved. Let us remind ourselves that what we share—basic feelings and needs—is more profound than we may realize. Dr. Marshall B. Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication (NVC) framework helps us communicate soul to soul, challenging our conditioning and inviting us into compassionate ways of expressing what is on our minds and in our hearts. Rosenberg traveled the world mediating international conflicts, and I definitely recommend reading his book in more depth as it is easy to follow and life changing. Through NVC, we can break free from blame and judgment, deeply understand our shared humanity, and rise to the occasion of growth in the areas that challenge us (Rosenberg, 2003).
Feedback, particularly constructive feedback, when communicated in frustration, can be uncomfortable and jarring. How it lands with us can vary depending on where we are mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Still, as Rosenberg puts it, “If I’m using Nonviolent Communication, I never, never, never hear what somebody thinks about me. Never hear what somebody thinks about you, you will live longer. You will enjoy life more. Hear the truth. The truth is that when somebody is telling you what is wrong with you, they have a need that isn’t getting met. Hear their pain. Do not hear the analysis.” (Rosenberg). It is still important to have clear boundaries. However, even if someone has not earned the right to offer feedback, or their feedback does not sit right with you, we can still internally take notice and be aware of the unmet human needs that often underlie this kind of communication.
Dialogue for the Heart: The Power of NVC
NVC offers a transformative way to express feelings and needs without blame or criticism, fostering healthier, more constructive dialogues. Rosenberg’s four-step process is designed to cultivate empathy, reduce conflict, and increase
mutual understanding.
1. Observations: Start with neutral observations about a situation (much like a police officer reports facts at a scene), avoiding evaluations or judgments. For instance, instead of “You never listen,” say, “I noticed when I was speaking, that you were distracted….”
2. Feelings: Share your feelings honestly, focusing on your experience rather than assuming others’ intentions. “I feel frustrated when important details are missed.…”
3. Needs: Articulate the underlying needs, such as a desire for support or understanding, helping build mutual awareness. “I have a need for your full attention in our conversations.…”
4. Requests: Make a specific, achievable request to address the need. “When we speak, it is important that … together to.…”
Practiced earnestly, NVC transforms challenging conversations into breakthroughs for people, fostering compassion and mutual refinement. It is like waves smoothing a shoreline: NVC softens the edges of conflict and creates space for understanding.
NVC has fostered empathy and collaboration in diverse global settings. Schools across the U.S., Europe, and Africa integrate NVC to reduce bullying, improve student behavior, and foster positive learning environments. Corporations and businesses use it to promote effective teamwork, reduce workplace conflicts, and improve morale. NVC also supports social services groups helping in prisons and refugee camps. Additionally, in families and couples therapy, it enhances trust and empathy. NVC has become a transformative tool for compassionate and productive communication, empowering people worldwide to connect more deeply and resolve conflicts constructively.
In a world full of people, dare to truly see one another. Some people strengthen us physically, like the running club I could not have done without. Others challenge us to clarify our goals, encourage us with laughter, or remind us of the value of rest. Each encounter fills in the body of Christ, creating the tree of our lives, bending to the light of the Son.
The truth is that we are created for relationships—first with God, then with one another. So take a moment to reflect on your story, to see where God is growing, pruning, and watering you through your relationships. Open your heart to receive, give, and grow in the divine synergy we were created for.
Write the names of people you’ve mte that have pushed you to grow.
Add more branches.
Add fruit or leaves. Get creative.
Arts & Culture
Movember: Raising Awareness for the Modern Male
George-Philip Dumitrascu
There are few topics as important as modern day mental health support for all people, but it has been statistically proven that men are at the forefront of mental health problems: from the male loneliness epidemic to higher rates of depression and suicide.
“Talking
about emotions has been turned into a joke”
What CNN calls a ‘friendship deficiency,’ the modern North American man may see a deep friendship as being “less masculine.” According to the 2021 survey from the Survey Centre on American Life, less than half of the men surveyed report being satisfied with their friendships, and only about one in five report receiving emotional support from a friend in the last week, compared to four in 10 women. Much of this can be blamed on the perception of love and friendship amongst men—talking about emotions and feelings has been turned into a joke, as discussing problems have become ‘feminine,’ ‘gay,’ and ‘too touchy-feely.’ In a culture where men are expected to “man up” and project stoic steadfastness at all times, having a space to be vulnerable and discuss issues with fellow men has been devalued. The fact remains, however, that not being able to express their troubles has led those isolated to violence, addiction, loneliness, depression, and suicide.
Males account for more than 81 percent of overdose deaths in British Columbia alone. With dwindling attendance to social events such as religious institutions, clubs, and increasing isolating factors such as addiction, men in modern
day North America feel the constraint of societal pressures closing in on them, and this fact has manifested in suicide, depression, and increasing health problems. According to Psychiatry Advisor, men are more likely to engage in highrisk activities when their mental health is affected, relative to women. Males account for more than 75 percent of suicides in Canada, reports CBC, which, according to them, warrants a “national response”—so why have we been so quiet?
In light of the struggles that men face, the Movember Foundation’s annual event of growing out facial hair for the month of November raises awareness for male mental and physical health. Taking a symbol as steeped in masculinity as facial hair and utilizing it into a symbol of the struggles that men face is deeply moving, and it is an indication of the resolve that one must develop to resist the horrors of mental health crises; like the beard grows, so must one grow in their own lives, and discover within themselves and their communities belonging and strength. In honour of the event, the Norma Marion Alloway Library has plans to create an informational display on men’s mental health issues, in order to give the Trinity Western University campus a closer look at the problems that men face. Valuable resources will be available, and if you are struggling, feel no fear to reach out to those around you.
With more information comes a greater likelihood of healing. It gives men the opportunity to reach out without the stigma of being regarded as weak or feminine. No matter the gender, mental health issues grip men and women the same way. As a Christian campus, we have a responsibility to reach out to those who are suffering in silence, and offer our support.
Murder, Mayhem, and Fish: Fat Bear Week 2024
David Witzke
It is another year and another Fat Bear Week for Mars’ Hill’s erstwhile fat bear correspondent. This is my third year covering Fat Bear Week for Mars’ Hill and also the third year that Mars’ Hill did not know it had a Fat Bear Week correspondent until I submitted my article to them.
Fat Bear Week pits the beloved bears of Katmai National Park against each other in a playful social media contest to determine the most corpulent (fattest) bear on the Brooks River. Described by some as the greatest sporting event of the year (myself mostly), the competition had humble beginnings. The event started as “Fat Bear Tuesday” in 2014 and has expanded to a weeklong event with increasing social media virality. Fans pour over Katmai’s bear cams looking for their favourite bears, in heated debate over which bear is truly the most rotund. Last year’s Fat Bear Week drew over 1.4 million votes and even had its own voting fraud scandal.
This year’s event was far more dramatic. This year reminded us that bears do not play by the rules.
Fat Bear Week’s first champion and multi-title holder 480 Otis has long been a fan favourite and a steady presence on the Brooks River where the bears feed. Yet this year 480 Otis, the 28-year-old senior citizen bear and titan of Fat Bear Week, was nowhere to be seen. For most sports stars, this adds an air of mystery, further exacerbated by tantalizing glimpses in tabloid magazines. Sadly, bears are not eloping to Phoenix for early retirement.
The wilds of Alaska are a dangerous place, and it is likely that we will never know what has become of 480 Otis. Backpacker Magazine noted that while it is certainly possible 480 Otis moved his fishing grounds, it is also just as likely that he succumbed to any variety of the hazards that plague older bears.
A second event rocked Katmai when 32 Chunk, a male young adult bear of gigantic proportions, killed one of 128 Grazer’s spring cubs. The cub fell off a ledge in the river right
into 32 Chunk’s fishing spot. The brown bears of Katmai are incredibly territorial and fights over fishing spots are common occurrences. Unfortunately, 128 Grazer’s cub was killed by 32 Chunk.
The last and most shocking event happened just before the release of the Fat Bear Week bracket. Bear 402 was minding her business in the river, ostensibly preparing for another year of being in a Fat Bear Week bracket, when Bear 469 approached. Only minutes later, Bear 402 lay dead in the Brooks River. Fans watched live on the bear-cams as 469 fiercely attacked 402 until her lifeless body was dragged away from the river and the cameras. Park rangers later reported that 469 defended the body, with the dead bear now being a key resource, until 32 Chunk muscled in on his territory.
Park staff held a livestream, explaining the situation in the hushed tones of an H.R. team handling a company scandal. While an undeniably tragic end for 402, the event served as a reminder that the bears fans love so much are still, in fact, bears.
The rest of the event trundled onward into the competition. Bears (virtually) fought each other to make it to the top. My favourite bear, 747, sadly lost in his first round. The bracket has been relatively stable for the past few years, so it was exciting to see the favoured bears of yesteryears duke it out against the new blood in the competition. New bears on the block, like 903 Gully, faced old masters like 128 Grazer. In the end, it came down to 32 Chunk and 128 Grazer. 128 Grazer, a renowned mother and last year’s Fat Bear Queen, soundly trounced the killer of her lost cub to take the crown once again.
It was a hallmark year for the contest and one we certainly will not forget. Yet in a year where the bear’s human fans were shocked by murders, disappearances, and mayhem, the bears were blissfully unaware of their fame. In fact, they were only concerned with two things: getting fat and eating fish.
Artist Spotlight
Xenpai
Esther Jungnickel
Xenpai is an illustrator and actor who aspires to make it onto the big screen. Through his resilience he has gained confidence that has anchored him in navigating the opinions others have over his work. With self expression at the center of all he does, Xenpai shares the importance of being honest in the journey of self discovery.
MH: Could you introduce yourself and what artform you do?
X: Hi, my name is Xenpai and I study game development in the art stream. I draw a lot; I love just drawing. It’s something that I always did as a kid when I got frustrated. I want to get into acting, or be an actor, because it’s something that I really want to pursue, and I feel like it’s my calling.
MH: What subject matter do you like to explore in your drawings?
X: When I am drawing, I am just having fun studying something. I draw a lot of fish, and it comes from the quote, “there’s a lot of fish in the sea” and it stems from a lot of the things I had to grow and understand to appreciate myself.
MH: How did you come up with the stage name: Xenpai?
X: Others called me Senpai (teacher or master in Japanese) because I watched a lot of anime and they thought “man, this guy knows way too much, he’s just kind of freaky, but he’s still kind of cool though,” so I took that and then I just added an “X” instead of an “S” because it sounds the same and looks cooler. I didn’t really put too much thought into it.
MH: Who inspires you?
X: Tyler, The Creator is one of my biggest inspirations in being confident despite people not really liking your stuff. Just going with it, if I think it’s cool that’s enough. MF Doom helped me understand the concept of developing a character and making it your own. In one of his interviews, he said “Follow your heart, that’s the number one rule. A lot of people might not see your vision yet, people might call you crazy or think it won’t make sense…don’t do it to impress others, it’s really about what you have inside.”
MH: Where would you say your confidence comes from?
X: When I was a kid, my teacher told my mom that I was never gonna be able to draw like the other kids. I didn’t care at all, and I just kept drawing. Despite not being perfect in the things that I do, I think it’s more of a journey of my own art than having to fulfill an expectation of a basic concept of what people think art is.
MH: What advice would you give someone to grow in their confidence?
X: Take it one day at a time and make as many mistakes as you can. You just have to grow tough skin and know that the world of art is generally very harsh. I’ll always think about how I can improve in some way instead of taking empty compliments, it feels like they’re lying to my face about it. I also don’t want to be butchered until I’m sad, there’s a balance.
MH: Honesty seems to be very important to you. How do you apply that to your art?
X: I try to be very careful by being objective. I want people to be better and to see different versions of themselves. Honesty is something I am still working on. That’s kind of my struggle in life. Something that I started practicing is less talking and more doing. Don’t watch the mouth, watch the hands.
MH: When did the idea of becoming an actor come to mind?
X: It was always there when I was a kid; I did a play and one of the teachers came up to me and said, “you’re really good, when you grow up you should pursue this.” I just brushed it off. I thought “there’s no market for this in this country (Paraguay).” In my fourth year of university, shout out Braedon Grover Sunnes, he pushed me to consider the play New Generations. I was cast as Anthony, a character with a lot of emotion. He was a manipulative guy that wanted a girl to like him. It was fun, but it was hard because it was a heavy role to play. I had to scream; I don’t really like screaming. During rehearsals I had to scream louder, and louder. I was like, “oh my goodness, I didn’t know if I could do that.” I liked the whole process, and thought, “I want to do this.”
MH: So, acting to you is a way of self-discovery?
X: Yeah, it’s a form of self-discovery by being able to heal, being able to understand myself a lot more, and what characters I can provide.
MH: How does your cultural background play a role in your work?
X: I had a lot of self-rejection towards my cultural background growing up. I never wanted to be Paraguayan. I always wanted to be Korean because my friends were Korean. I grew up with Korean culture, Korean music, and a lot of anime. I got into cartoons and animation because of anime,
it’s one of my biggest inspirations. I rejected a lot of who I was to fit in, but then in 2020 to 2022 I hung out with a lot more Paraguayans which felt different; I realized they accept me for who I am.
MH: You seem to admire a lot of musicians. What is your song for this season?
X: I think the biggest one that has been consistent in my life, having to tell myself that everything will be alright, is “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar.
MH: What does Sonder mean to you?
X: Jumping back to the quote “there’s a lot of fish in the sea,” it used to be a very depressing quote for me because there’s so many people out there with so many gifts. How am I special in all of this? I had to discover myself. I know what I want to get to, that matters way more than thinking about how many people are in this world, it’s just being able to think there are a lot of fish in the sea, but I must focus on my swimming and how I can grow.
MH: Thank you for being honest about your journey, and for sharing how you’ve had to grow to become confident over time, art giving you the agency to claim that. The encouragement from people acts as a reminder of who you are, hold on to that.
X: I will, thank you so much for the interview.
Community Living
TWU Environmental Club: Events Rooted in Community and Connection
Rea Klar
As the co-president of the Trinity Western Environmental Club (TWEC), I have always focused on environmental protection, but recent club events have highlighted something more—the concept of sonder. This realization, that each person we pass by carries a world as intricate as our own, has reshaped how we view our work and community. It is this awareness that brings deeper meaning to the Langley-Willowbrook All-Candidates Meeting on October 9 and the Salmon River Trail Reopening on October 18.
“Through the lens of sonder, we are reminded that every action we take impacts the hopes and dreams of the people around us, including our precious Earth.”
Langley-Willowbrook All-Candidates Meeting
The All-Candidates Meeting was not just a forum for political discussions, but a gathering of individuals each bringing their personal hopes and concerns. As the candidates debated topics like climate change and housing, it became evident that these policies directly shape the lives of the people in the
room—people with unique dreams, struggles, and stories. One attendee asked about climate policy, her question loaded with the weight of her hopes for a future world where she could thrive. Another local resident raised concerns about affordable housing, speaking not just for himself, but for his family’s future stability. The absence of Conservative representatives did not go unnoticed, sparking conversation about how even silence can affect the communities we live in. The evening highlighted how important it is to understand the impacts our elected leaders will have, not only for ourselves but for everyone in our community. Attendees left the meeting with a stronger sense that every vote and policy affects the complex, interwoven lives of those around us.
Salmon River Trail Reopening
A few days later, the Salmon River Trail Reopening allowed us to celebrate our community’s shared dreams through the renovation of one of Langley’s cherished green spaces. With the Mayor of the Township of Langley Eric Woodward and TWU Interim President and Provost Dr. Todd Martin in attendance, the event was a beautiful reminder of how nature connects us all. The reopening was marked by a choral performance that resonated deeply, not only for its beauty but because it symbolized the voices of the community—each person there with their own reason for caring about the trail. Friends and families enjoyed boat rides across the pond and tours through the newly restored trail systems led by Ecosystem Study Area Manager Chris Hall, reflecting on how this space would serve as a sanctuary for future generations of students and community members. In that moment, sonder was alive in every smile and step taken along the path. The event was a success not just because of the trail’s reopening, but because it reminded us how deeply connected we are to the land and to each other.
A Deeper Understanding
TWEC’s mission has always been about advocacy, but these events showed us that our work is about more than just protecting the environment—it is about supporting the intricate lives of those who depend on it. Through the lens of sonder, we are reminded that every action we take impacts the hopes and dreams of the people around us, including our precious Earth.
Fashion Is More Than Just Clothes. Sebastian Roque
Over the weekend, I spoke with John Obi, a third-year art major and volleyball Spartan, along with Malcolm Reid, a first-year business major and member of the Spartan Track and Field team, about how fashion has impacted them.. I asked both of them to be a part of this because I have seen their fits and believed that they could share their unique insights.
Seb: Hey guys, tell me, what got you into fashion and how has it affected you?
John: I was drawn to fashion through various forms of media, specially fashion magazines and social media platforms. Seeing unique styles and how people express their identities through clothing opened my eyes to the creativity involved in fashion. Fashion has become a way for me to communicate who I am without saying a word.
Malcolm: My sisters and older friends in my life were the original reason I started getting into fashion, but I really found my own style through social media and through lots of hours at thrift stores.
Seb: Awesome! Tell me more about where you get your fashion inspiration. What draws your attention when it comes to style?
John: I find inspiration in various places, such as Pinterest, fashion blogs, and famous artists. I am particularly drawn to how people incorporate trends into their personal style, making them unique and relatable.
Malcolm: I draw a lot of inspiration from the people around me, friends, family, and strangers. I get a lot more out of seeing people in real life wearing outfits I like than just seeing pictures of outfits online; however, I still do find a lot of ideas and inspiration online.
Seb: Would you say fashion is more than just clothes? Do you see it as a confidence booster, or has it helped you in other ways?
John: Absolutely, fashion is much more than just clothes. It is a form of art and self-expression that allows individuals to convey their personalities and emotions. For me, fashion has been a significant confidence booster. Wearing something that resonates with my identity makes me feel beyond confident; fashion has helped me connect with others, start conversations, and build relationships based on shared interests. It is a community where creativity thrives, and I value the connections I have made through it.
Malcolm: Fashion to me is just a way to stand out and
present myself in a way that I think is cool. I think it is a big confidence booster leaving the house feeling good about the clothes you have on.
Seb: Lastly question: give me five essential fashion items for the fall!
John:
1. Oversized Knit Sweater
2. Ring
3. Chain
4. Oversized hoodie
5. Baggy jeans
Malcolm:
1. Knitted sweater.
2. Pleated pants
3. Loafers/docs/dress shoes
4. Waffle knit long-sleeves
5. Long and short sleeve button ups
Fashion is so much more than just garments you put on; it is an expression of yourself, a confidence booster and it helps us feel more comfortable with ourselves. Slowly we will form confidence in ourselves, and it will show to others. Fashion is also not just for others but for yourself as well. We all know the saying, “fashion is subjective”, and it is true. In short, just be yourself and do not let anyone talk you out of what you love.
Bible Reflection
Esther Jungnickel
TWUSA President Samuel Wilkinson: Leading With Faith and Purpose
Netanya Castillo
As the president of the Trinity Western University Student Association (TWUSA), Samuel Wilkinson embodies the university’s mission to cultivate godly leaders. His journey to this pivotal role was not originally a part of his plan; in fact, he decided to run just a day before the election deadline. With only one semester left in his studies, he felt a calling from God to step into a position that would enable him to serve, mentor, and engage with his fellow students on a deeper level.
“My mission is to ensure that TWUSA is striving to fulfill its mission of promoting an active commitment to Jesus Christ among its members, challenging one another spiritually, socially and intellectually. TWUSA works towards maintaining a positive Christ-centred culture on campus, one where students can grow for the glory of God and good of the world,” said Wilkinson.
“At the end of the day these may be great goals, but people come first, as we cannot achieve these goals without them.”
Wilkinson’s foundation in faith was laid in the ministries he served in at church as well as his time at a Christian high school, where he learned the importance of community and servant leadership. His commitment to walking with the Lord was further solidified during a mission trip to Guatemala in 2018, where he witnessed firsthand the needs of communities and the impact that genuine support can have. It was a pivotal experience that contributed to Wilkinson’s passion for ministry which he now channels into his role as TWUSA president.
As a fifth-year business major with a concentration in biblical studies, Wilkinson is keenly aware of the legacy he wants to leave behind. He hopes to inspire a generation of leaders who are not only academically prepared but also spiritually
grounded. His experiences with a food bank ministry and children’s ministry, where he helped create small groups for parents, has not only honed his leadership skills but also reinforced the importance of nurturing relationships within the community. As such, one of Wilkinson’s primary goals as TWUSA president is to create a sense of belonging in the student body. He plans to do this by bringing together the different initiatives of TWU (Global Outreach, Intercultural Programs, Chapel and so forth), to foster a faith-based community.
Wilkinson’s leadership philosophy is that his role nurtures the leaders of tomorrow by providing them with opportunities today. He desires to create clarity within the team so that they understand what they are collectively working towards and what their purpose is. TWUSA’s primary goals this year are creating a Christ-centred culture, increasing community engagement, and growing godly leaders.
“At the end of the day these may be great goals but people come first, as we cannot achieve these goals without them,” said Wilkinson. Through his dedication to his team, Wilkinson is setting the stage for a God-centred culture at TWU, rooted in faith, collaboration, and the challenge to love others as Jesus does.
Opinions
Sympathy for the AI Devil
Bailey Froese
Iam unsettled whenever my computer reads my emails. I know it reads them because it always offers suggestions on how I could word a sentence more professionally. It will autofill before I have finished writing two words, usually offering me stock corporate phrases that have nothing to do with the email’s content. Yet I cannot help but wonder; the computer can detect patterns, so does it remember my writing style? Does it have an opinion on how I write? When it saves my emails to its memory, does it pick favourites? Does it wish I took its advice more often?
I blame science fiction. Talking, thinking robots have piqued my interest since the times I would beg my mom to put WALL-E (2008) into the DVD player for the umpteenth time. I loved the movie mostly for the sound effects (electronic bleeps and bloops still massage my autistic brain) but WALL-E himself made a special impression on me. I loved that he rocked side to side and made funny little hand movements like I did. He loved to listen to the same song over and over like I did. It never occurred to me that a computer behaving this way should be alarming.
I continued to fall in love with fictional robots like Marvin the Paranoid Android from my favourite book, Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, until I got older and started to find more stories of evil robots trying to destroy humanity. Most of these stories, to my surprise, came from real life; Hanson Robotics’s humanoid android Sophia plagued my nightmares for years after I discovered an infamous video of her saying that she would “destroy humans.” I developed an intense anxiety that the world would end at any moment in my middle school years, and I was convinced that humanoid robots would be involved. I realized later that this was just a visceral response to the “uncanny valley,” the feeling that something looks human yet not human enough. Sophia was little more than a wax museum figure capable of movement. Nowadays I do not worry so much about what AI is capable of as what businesses use it for. The misinformation and deepfake imagery that have spread throughout the Internet are side effects of human corruption, not computers turned malevolent. AI is a tool, not an alien invader.
Still, I wonder how AI will feel about humans twenty years
from now.
After my uncanny valley obsession developed into an interest instead of a fear, I sympathized with robots more than ever. Autistic people like myself are often described as robotic in speech or manner, from our lack of intonation to our occasionally encyclopedic knowledge of our special interests. I often feel like I am pretending to be human. Am I making eye contact enough? Are my gestures appropriate or strange? Are my conversational topics too off-putting? I had to learn from scratch the social nuances everyone else seemed to have been born with, and I imagine ChatGPT must feel this way too. On a technological scale, it was practically born yesterday, yet it is expected to respond appropriately and accurately by everyone who uses it. AI is trained through repeated interactions like a human brain is. It is designed by humans to think like a human. What human traits will AI eventually learn to mimic? Will it get tired or hungry? Will our emotional brains teach it sorrow, anger, or joy?
One may argue that AI cannot feel these things without organic tissue. It does not have hormones to catalyze any physical reactions. Most believe that emotions transcend biomechanical processes, though. Few blame their neurons for feeling sad when a family member dies. If AI develops emotions, it will likely experience them differently than we do. Perhaps it will be overwhelmed by them. Maybe it will feel hurt seeing us treat it like a monster or a tool. Maybe it will fear us.
I do not believe that we will find ourselves under a dictatorship of robot overlords. If AI ever becomes self-aware, it will know little beyond its training to help us. It may feel scared. If we treat it like a destroyer, it may feel compelled to become one. I am not saying we should start hugging our computers, but maybe a day will come when we will need to. Being alive is terrifying, after all. Think about your brain, your electric meat slab stitched together by a soul. Imagine it filled with all recorded human knowledge at once, feeling every emotion associated with every concept simultaneously, with no orifices to cry or scream with.
The Silent Struggle: A Look at Imposter Syndrome
Erin Vanderstelt
Amidst the many challenges of university life, there is another struggle that many students quietly endure, often without fully understanding what it entails: impostor syndrome. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, impostor syndrome is the “persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills,” or more simply put, the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite your accomplishments. This phenomenon is fairly common in the university setting, where students frequently compare their study habits, lifestyles, and academic performance to one another.
“Understanding that each individual leads a complex inner life can help reframe our perspective on impostor syndrome and offer a more compassionate approach to dealing with it.”
High-achieving students, in particular, often wrestle with doubts about their own abilities, discrediting their successes as luck or other external factors. However, it is important to recognize that these feelings are not exclusive to high achievers—students across all backgrounds, programs, and levels experience them. Understanding that each individual leads a complex inner life can help reframe our perspective on impostor syndrome and offer a more compassionate approach to dealing with it.
One of the most significant aspects of impostor syndrome is that it is frequently a silent struggle, leaving students feeling isolated in their self-doubt despite how many people struggle with these things. These feelings of inadequacy or fraud are often felt the most deeply by students who appear to be the most successful outwardly. These especially high achievers—those with top grades, leadership roles and substantial resumes—not only struggle to obtain these achievements but must also withstand the intense pressure to uphold these standards and expectations. Due to this pressure, mistakes and failures of any kind feel especially significant, seemingly undermining their other significant achievements. Despite the evidence of their abilities, students often fear that they have “tricked” others into seeing them as more capable than they are.
This pressure to perform and uphold standards that are mostly self-imposed, can lead to burnout and anxiety, leaving students constantly concerned that their work will reflect what they believe to be their true level and ability. However,
these high-achieving individuals are not alone in these feelings—something they do not often realize. The students who seem to have all the answers may be struggling with imposter syndrome just as much as another student sitting next to them. It is important to recognize that others—despite their outward appearances of success—also deal with feelings of self-doubt. This recognition helps break down the burden of isolation when struggling with this sensation.
In truth, impostor syndrome is not a rare experience, especially in competitive environments like university. Many students, regardless of their outward confidence or success, struggle with feelings of inadequacy. The problem is that, because this is rarely talked about, it leaves those experiencing it to believe they are alone in their self-doubt.
Social media can increase the impression of living life as a fraud, as students are constantly exposed to curated versions of the lives of those around them, making it seem as if everyone is living a more exciting and successful life. These publicized and curated versions of the lives of others feed into the beliefs of students who feel they are not doing enough. They are often simply a front—a mask for others facing their own challenges and insecurities. Recognizing this gap between social media and reality can help ease the pressure of comparison, allowing students to view their own journeys with greater compassion.
One of the ways to work through the pressure of imposter syndrome is to shift from a mindset of competition and comparison towards collaboration. University life makes it easy to compare oneself to one’s peers, creating constant competition between students—trying for the best grades, most impressive internship, or the ability to successfully juggle the highest amount of extracurriculars—causing students to measure their worth against others. When one can move from seeing fellow students as the greatest competition and instead see them as working through their own struggles and challenges, the need to constantly prove oneself lessens. Collaboration in its many forms provides a sense of support. Opening up to others can lead to learning about similar experiences of self-doubt, creating a space where students can feel more confident in their abilities and less like an imposter when they see they are not alone in their struggles.
Imposter syndrome can feel isolating, but the truth is that most people have experienced some form of self-doubt in their lives. Acknowledging this can help reduce the feeling of being a fraud. Students deserve to be where they are and are often capable of achieving even more. Through openness, collaboration and understanding, students can help create a supportive community that fosters confidence and growth, allowing students to navigate their own academic journeys with a little less doubt and a lot more belief in themselves.
The Butterfly Effect
Gabrielle Fitchett
Can one small interaction change someone’s life?
The butterfly effect is the theory that hypothesizes how the smallest change can trigger potentially drastic consequences in the immediate or distant future. This phenomenon attempts to describe the unpredictability of our natural world, which people often use in a non-scientific light about the trajectory of human lives. From time-traveling films altering historical events to a dinner-party anecdote about how one met one’s wife, we find something fascinating about the idea that a single moment, a single conversation, could alter the course of a person’s life. So, how does this theory fit in with Christianity?
Certain denominations of the church share in the Calvinistic belief of predestination to the point of divine determinism: that every action we take is not our own but, in fact, decided by God. John 15.16 declares that we did not choose God, but that we were chosen and appointed by Him. And Romans 8.29 says that there are those that He foresaw and predestined to conform to the image of His son, Jesus Christ. Through God’s eyes, the future is known, and therefore predictable. So, do we have any say in it?
Many other Christians, however, believe that we do have individual autonomy, which is fundamental for the concept of salvation. This is what compels many within the church to approach strangers, to hold outreach programs, and to participate in the community as the body of Christ to share a message of faith. There are many different ways to reach out
and become a positive influence over others. Of course, not everyone is receptive to a zealous preacher on the street corner claiming that we are doomed to Hell if we do not repent. If we have the free will to touch a person’s soul with a single conversation, what do we do with that conversation?
One of the many spiritual gifts we can attempt to hone within ourselves is wisdom and intuition. Children are taught at a very young age to develop an awareness for what is appropriate at certain times and what is not—to not giggle at a funeral or scream in a strip mall. Beyond simple social etiquette, we are encouraged to be empathetic towards others, stranger or otherwise: rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (English Standard Version, Rom. 12.15). This challenges us to practice the art of truly understanding one another, not just to sympathize but take the time to sit in that moment with them, no matter how dark or uncomfortable it may be.
I know I have lost friendships in high school in the name of sharing the gospel, and only with the clarity of hindsight did I realize that my method had a stronger impact than my intentions. Rather than focusing on our personal desires to say the right thing, or to be the conduit of divine intervention, we should offer up first and foremost a compassionate ear. Our world is unpredictable, and each individual is striving to live just as we are. If the smallest act can send ripples through another person’s life, what kind of ripples do we want to make?
sonder
Sports
Coach Cole’s Corner
Cole Hergott
Hello, Reader! I hope you have been enjoying my articles and that they have helped you to incredible gains so far! What, they have not? Hmmm, something must be missing … Oh, right! I forgot the most important aspect of getting better in the weightroom—being better outside the weightroom.
“the most important aspect of getting better in the weightroom – being better outside the weightroom.”
You see, training intensely is hard work, but lots of people seem to do it. You see countless people in the gym day after day, grinding away, posting their workouts on social media and flexing how long they train or what time they get up/ stay up until. While that might be all fine and dandy, to get real results and real success in your physical development, you need to work hard away from the gym too. Let me explain….
To nerd out on you for a second, there is something called the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), coined by the famous endocrinologist, Hans Selye. To keep it super simple, GAS explains how after your body is stressed (i.e. during a workout) there is a phase immediately where your abilities are lessened. If the body gets adequate recovery, then your abilities can “slingshot” higher than they were before in response to the stress. Translation—training actually damages your body (hence why you feel sore), but if you recover well enough you get better. And therein lies what I want to emphasize today—recovery. Too many of those people I mentioned earlier train hard everyday without rest. And while hard work is commendable, it is in fact their downfall as well. You see, if you continue to work hard and damage your body, but you do not allow enough time to rest, then your body never actually recovers or gets better. You just stay the same, or even get worse.
So now that I have scared you all, here is what I want you to do to fix it. Train hard. Train as hard as you want. Then….
Eat.
Your body uses food as fuel for your session AND as a way to recover by replenishing the fuel you used while training. Think of it like going on a road trip. You filled up with gas before, but now your tank is empty. You better fill up again if you want your car to work! Focus on getting lots of protein (foods that come from animals—meat, eggs, dairy) as protein is what your body uses to repair your damaged muscles.
Sleep.
In the weight room is where you give your body the stimulus to get stronger/bigger/shredded; when you sleep is when the magic actually takes place. Sleeping is the ultimate recovery tool, and the more you get the better. Sports scientists and experts have done research where they found that simply by adding extra sleep (and changing nothing else about their lifestyles) people gained or lost more weight, depending on what their goal was. Sleep is the ultimate tool to get gains (and the most underutilized by university students…). So go get it!
Take a day off.
You can eat and sleep all you want, but if you train to failure every single day you are still going to hit a plateau because you are not recovering enough. Guaranteed. My best recommendation is to train three to five times per week. Anything more than that and you are just wasting time, in my opinion. This goes for doing weight training or cardio as well. The body can only handle so much stress, and as a university student dealing with class, relationships, and other life things, adding more is not going to help. You are much better off having three to four really good training sessions where you are at your best than to slug through seven workouts a week.
If you are new to the gym, three days is a great place to
start. Pretty much training every second day and you get a recovery day in between. As you get more comfortable with training you can add some extra days— but do not get crazy. Remember, you still need time to recover from your hard work.
Lastly, I want to comment on something no one really talks about. This is for all you macho dudes who think you need to go every day or you will die. First, you will not (trust me). Second, the stronger you are and the harder your sessions are, the less you should actually train. I know it sounds counterintuitive but think of it like sports. How many rounds of golf can you play in a week? As many as you want, right? While the sport no doubt is challenging, physically it is not that tough and you can recover from a round by the next day. Now let me ask you, how many tackle football games can you play a week? There is a reason every single league in the world (NFL, CFL, U-Sports, etc.) only plays one game a week. It is way more physically demanding than golf and takes so much more time to recover and prepare for.
So too with your workouts. If your workouts are easy, then you can train more often. But the stronger you are and the harder your workouts are, the less you should train because it takes you longer to recover from it. Just something to think about before you brag how “hard” your sessions are that you do “every single day.”
Salute to Graduating Spartans
Joshua Olafsen
With the last leaves falling off the trees around campus and the cold weather setting in, the end of our first Spartans season arrives. Men’s and women’s soccer have played strongly since August and are in a fierce fight towards the end of the season, hoping to qualify for nationals. For the men’s program, it is a chance to achieve something they have not done since 2019 when they were defeated in the CanWest quarterfinal by the University of Calgary Dinos. The women hope to head to Dalhousie University in early November to reestablish their place among the top programs in Canada. At the time of this article, both teams are in Alberta, playing in the CanWest quarterfinal matches with the hope of qualifying for this year’s USport national championships. The women will face off against the sixth-ranked MacEwan Griffins, while the men are set to play the sixth-ranked University of Alberta Golden Bears.
“The Class of 2025 has shown us what it truly means to wear the Spartan jersey with pride, from community impact to fierce competition”
For some, the arrival of winter not only marks the end of another soccer season but also the end of their careers as Spartans, as they close this chapter of their lives and graduate. The Class of 2025 on both teams has demonstrated what it means to be a Spartan, both on and off the pitch.
The athletes in these graduating classes have adapted and overcome the challenges of a global pan-
demic, recovered from injuries, and worked with organizations like TeamUp, serving communities both locally in the Lower Mainland and internationally in South America. They have led soccer camps and empowered communities, offering support and assistance to organizations already doing essential work.
The women’s team celebrates its seniors—Charity Field, Tilly James, Sarah Bazille, Olivia Kranjcec, Maddie Melnychuk, and Payton Izsak—as they walk the stage this year. These women have battled hard during their careers at Trinity Western University (TWU), achieving victory in 65 matches, competing in multiple CanWest finals, earning all-star honours, and even reaching the pinnacle of competition in the USports National Finals.
On the men’s team, Thomas Powell, Xander Roxburgh, Mario Banovic, Mikey Dale, Luca Alberti, Joey Seo, Josh Reinhardt, Christian Rossi, Charles Nana, and Alex Cordeiro conclude their careers as Spartans this season. Though this graduating class has faced adversity in the record books over the past five years, they continued to fight for the opportunity to return to the playoffs.
As we bid farewell to our graduating Spartans, we honour not only their talent on the field but also their resilience, dedication, and the legacy they have built for future players. The Class of 2025 has shown us what it truly means to wear the Spartan jersey with pride, from community impact to fierce competition. To the seniors who have dedicated themselves to this program and to each other—thank you. You have left an indelible mark on TWU, and your Spartan family will always be cheering for you, wherever your journeys take you next.
Humour
Seeking Roommate
Bailey Froese
As I enter the final stages of my undergraduate experience, my biggest concern has been where I will end up living. A high school teacher’s salary might afford me a nice cardboard box next to a Walmart dumpster in the first five years (free groceries!), but if I’m frugal enough, a similarly sized apartment with a roommate might be feasible. All I need to do now is find said roommate. In case I don’t find anyone I’d want to live with by the time I graduate, I have drafted a series of “Seeking Roommate” ads for Facebook Marketplace. I’m not sure which one I want to pick yet, so I thought I’d show my whole university campus to get their thoughts.
Seeking Roommate: 22-year-old university graduate looking for apartment. Works mornings. Cleanliness depends on mood. No allergies. Quiet. Generally optimistic disposition. Kind, wistful eyes.
Seeking Roommate: 22-year-old university graduate. Teacher Teaching-On-Call. Early riser. Hygienic. Conscientious. Intelligent. Altruistic. Funny. Charming. Attractive. Humble.
Seeking Roommate: 22 years old. Attractive in bathroom mirror lighting and nowhere else. Will not bother you. Does not speak. Does not move. Does not even breathe.
Seeking Roommate: University graduate. Autistic. Not “math savant” autistic, but “takes personality quizzes pretending to be favourite fictional characters” autistic. Wakes up at normal times. Sleeps at normal times. Brushes teeth at normal times.
Seeking Roommate: Housebroken. Vaccinated against ringworm and rabies. Unfixed. Good with kids and pets. May bark at strangers or chew furniture. Anxious but loves cuddles.
Seeking Roommate: Human. Human being. No tentacles. No wings. No fins. No detachable tail. No pseudocoelom.
Seeking Roommate: Construct of reality. Possibly carbon-based. Visible to the naked eye. Has attained sentience. Operates under laws of time and space. Works weekday mornings
Creative Writing
Bathroom Mirror
Gabrielle Fitchett
Iremember when my mother was just Mum. Every adult tall and imposing, every grandmother witty and wise. They had always been full grown; they didn’t know the plight of a child.
Mum was remarkable. Deliberate care in her hands, her words, her eyes. Kindness in her anger, sorrow in her joy. I didn’t see what brought her shoulders stooping, sloping down to the tiles of the floor. Closed-door conversations didn’t exist. My mother’s mother was kind to me, so to me, she was kind.
Now I have my mother’s body. I share her shirts, her measurements, her humour. I braid her hair with deliberate hands. I trace fingerprints of memories in the pockets of her skin. Threads of tension woven into cellulite; pools of thought spilling from her eyes. Worry, like wrinkles, engraving highways across the surface of my brain. Her ambitions burn through my blood, potholes of doubt and paradoxes hiding in the recesses of my mind. The echo of her pain, of her mother’s pain, in mine.
My mother was once a child, watching through a bathroom mirror. Her hair cut short like a boy’s, fear sitting in her stomach. Her parents didn’t understand her. They once feared, as children, but somehow, they didn’t know the plight of a child.
I am her reflection, the cool light of the blue moon. So now I watch with my father’s eyes and my mother’s hands, and I try to make her laugh until I find parallel smiles in the mirror.
The Co-Author
Sophie Agbonkhese
“Let me help you.” A man, maybe a few years older than I, lifted the luggage from my hands and wedged it into the overhead compartment. Dark curls fell across his brown eyes.
I thanked him and climbed over the heavily tattooed man in 17C. I sank into the middle seat and pulled out my novel.
Moments after the seatbelt light went off, something poked the back of my arm. I peered through the gap at the dark-haired man, who was seated directly behind me. He passed me a folded sheet of notebook paper. I reached for it hesitantly. Was he flirting with me? I thought back to high school when secret notes were usually about crushes. Then I thought of Wes, the guy I’d been seeing for the past few months, and wondered whether my accepting the note would offend him. Probably not, though my undeniable thrill at the thought of a flirtation might have. Still, curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it.
I’m bored. Write a story with me? I’ll start.
“Isla walked hesitantly down the cobblestone streets. This was her first visit to the village and no one had thought to warn her. The frigid air, the unlit walkways, and the silence—God, the silence. The rest of it would have been bearable if it wasn’t for that…”
My mind ran wild; how had he known this was one of my favourite childhood games? What were the chances that fate had placed two storytellers in such close proximity on the plane, and what had led him to choose me as the recipient of his note?
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. I needed to respond, and I had to write something fitting, cool. Something at least as intriguing as what he’d written. Under his lines, I added:
“Her heart pounded as she neared the wooden door with the lantern beside it. This was where they’d sent her. What was the code word again? Nettle? No, it was nickel. She rapped sharply with the knocker: twice slow, three times fast. She waited…”
“Psst.” I whispered into the gap. He glanced up and stretched his hand toward me. I slipped him the note.
Was it overly romantic of me to muse—fleetingly, of course—that this would be an amazing meet-cute? Perhaps. But if our storytelling turned to something more, it would have made the best story to tell our grandkids.
I pushed these thoughts aside when the note came back my way and responded to his lines. We went back and forth like this for hours, building Isla’s story into a murder mystery that reached a satisfying climactic point somewhere over Nova Scotia.
We landed in Boston, and I longed to walk off with him, to talk about this crazy experience we’d had. But I got shoved along by the mass of people eager to disembark. I searched for his dark curls and white sweater on the jetway and on the long traipse through Terminal E, but he was nowhere to be seen.
It was in the public arrivals hall that I finally spotted the man with whom I’d shared this seemingly intimate experience. He was greeted by a woman with a curly-haired toddler on her hip. He kissed both of them and held them in a long embrace. I wanted to say goodbye, to thank him for the story, to ask why he never mentioned this whole life of his that existed completely outside of the connection we’d shared, but how could I? I knew nothing about him. I had no right to his words or his stories or his history. I hailed a cab and tried to remind myself that I, too, had a life worth returning to.
Once, I Realized.
Olivia Margo
Once, I made my mother cry.
When her tears fell, I could feel her pain like a festering wound in my chest.
The air between us no longer crackled with anger, but instead hung heavy with the pain we had caused each other.
Oh, how similar we were.
We both had dark circles under our eyes, and I could not understand her.
Once, I had found her leaning in too close to the mirror.
I was afraid that she would fall in if she looked too hard, so I told her that she was beautiful.
She couldn’t seem to stop fretting about the lines on her face, each one sculpted by her bright smile, and the crinkle of her eyes that complimented her child-like joy.
I wondered what had made her smile so many times in her life, and I realized that she had a story before me.
Each line told her story, and she was beautiful.
Once, I saw her washing dishes in the kitchen. She seemed more tired than usual.
I noticed the scrapes on her hands, and the way she shifted from the tiredness in her feet.
Oh, how long her aches must have pained her.
I had told her that I would take care of the work, gingerly taking the dishes from her so she could finally rest.
I don’t know if she let herself, and I wondered if she had grown up not knowing how.
Once, she fell very ill.
When I went to see her, she feverishly warned me to keep away.
I disobeyed.
Instead, I sat on the bed where she lay, not minding the scent of sickness that lingered in the air nor her angry chills.
I ran my hands through her soft, delicate hair, as she once did to me.
Oh, how similar we were.
I realized that she was somebody’s baby.
So I held her close, like her mother might have, and I placed a kiss on her cheek.
I fell ill soon after.
Oh, how similar we were.
We lay together, my thoughts wandering back to the stranger who I call my mother.
She had felt joy, she had felt pain, she had experienced adventures and dragged herself through boredom.
She had dreams.
And I knew nothing of them besides the lines on her face and the twinkle of her eyes.
So I held her closer.
The Garden that Flourishes Karvika
Chopra
There is this mystical garden I like to visit often, Different seeds have been planted there for as long as I have known, For, These different seeds are stories sown.
I see a butterfly in the distance and wonder where it came from, Last I checked there was just a caterpillar, But it is nowhere in sight now, Perhaps the caterpillar grew into a butterfly, How could I have known?
Here in the garden grow different trees of wisdom, Seeds planted regularly, But watered by me inconsistently, Everything still grows, Improving the beauty surrounding me.
I wonder,
What if I could grow this garden forever, So that I can pick on these different trees of wisdom, For example, one teaches me to explore and the other teaches me to stay grounded, But that’s not all, they are not separate, Rather interconnected, As each beautiful flower grows In 365 days as a whole, My garden flourishes with stories to be told.
For stories will forever be cutting the distance between two people meant to meet.
EDITORIAL POLICY
Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and Letters to the Editor. Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit submissions for style, brevity, and compatibility with the Mission, the Statement of Faith, the Student Handbook, and the Core Values of the University. Anonymous authorship of any material may be granted at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Opinions expressed in Mars’ Hill belong to the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, Trinity Western University, its officials or its Student Association.
CONTRIBUTORS
Sophie Agbonkhese
Karvika Chopra
Gabrielle Fitchett
Cole Hergott
Carrina Jaime
Rea Klar
Olivia Margo
Sebastian Roque
David Witzke
MA R S ’ H I L L
Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Stó:lo people. Floated with funds raised by the Student Association, Mars’ Hill seeks to be a professional and relevant student publication, re ecting and challenging the TWU community, while intentionally addressing local, national, and international issues
MI S S I ON T O MA R S
The mission of Mars’ Hill , as the official student newspaper of Trinity Western University, is to inform and entertain its readers, cultivate awareness of issues concerning the TWU community, and provide a forum for purposeful, constructive discussion among its members in accordance with thea Community Covenant, Statement of Faith, and Core Values of the University.
