Farewell + Finances
4 editor’s note ashia lennon
5 presidential farewell ivah lumalang
6 i sur vived
freshmen year shante lacroix
7 my year in review kaylie copeland
8 photo memories submissions
14 dear fear
jef f bradbur n
The opinions, belief and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and interview participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Burman University or its official policies or any affiliates. Each author sites his or her own words.
15 never a failure,
always a lesson debbie masela
16 art attack
zahara mcgann
19 changes
lil y ramirez
18 fist bumps with jesus angelica cor nejo
20 hello from the other side: post-g rad debt management jacqui mccarty
22 the scoop on
scholarships rechelle-lee smith
24 budgeting while in university ambra g reaves
25 the mind
-fulness wave codrina baston
26 comics
ron marshall deic y alcudia
layout design by jacqui mccarty
s ’ r o t Edi e t o N
After 3 years, 25 extra pounds and a severely impaired eye sight later, I am finally done Burman University. It’s weird reminding myself to walk slower, linger longer in Lakeview lobby and stay awake in class as this is my final lap. When I look back on my experiences, I want to know that I did everything I wanted. Sometimes, I think I took that a little too literal, at times I was doing EVERYTHING for real. I got involved, I was a part of, I loved hard and at times I cried even harder. I gave everything I had to everything I did. I had to unlearn habits and ways of thinking that didn’t serve me anymore. Burman for me was a journey of unlearning and exploring. My relationship and understand of God has changed. In some regard my childish tantrums every time I didn’t get my way are somewhat over and a new understanding for peace and contentment is starting to settle in. University has indeed been my breaking point on numerous occasions, I have had people walk in and some have left. The most beautiful thing I get to take away are my memories and the strength gained.
Being the editor and producing a whapping twelve issues has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling experiences of my life. I loved listening to stories those published and even those that came as a result
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of the many issues produced. Being editor has had me in tears a lot, almost every other issue was a tear jerker and I can honestly say I presented each issue as a beaming mother with pride. The paper has given me the ability to be vulnerable and strong. It’s given me the platform to be creative, artistic and expressive. It was beautiful to see so many others like me who garnered their strength and created amazing articles, poetry and submissions. Maya Angelo quotes that “you can’t use up creativity, the more you use the more you have.” So I challenge you as I challenge myself to create. To write, paint, draw, sketch, compete, dance, sing and live. My sanity this year would not have made it beyond the beautiful people who have held space for me, taken me on numerous drives, coffee dates, hold you so tight all the broken pieces are put back together hugs, danced in the living room, had impromptu slumber parties and just fiercely loved me through. I’m so humbled by these experiences of support and love which is literally the motivation I’ve had to be creative. Do it scared. Find your tribe, those people who feed your soul, find your niche and take on adventures that fill your soul up you feel there is a God. Always be seeking and learning. And no matter how many times love and life fail you, get back up and try again…
E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
BY ASHIA LENNON
P residen
“What are you going to miss about this place?” Four years at Burman University. “Where do I even begin?” From the quiet smiles we share as we cross paths around campus, those late night study sessions at the science building atrium, surviving the -40 °C winters together, watching those undeniably beautiful Alberta sunrises and sunsets, experiencing breathtaking meteor showers or northern lights together, knocking on each others’ dorm doors just to borrow that much needed rice cooker to cook your bacon (don’t worry, I’m pretty sure they were stripples :P) or blow dryer to get rid of that buildup of ice on our windows, those games nights that went on for hours on end, going to those events together and waiting until the end because that was (let’s be real) when it got “lit”, seeing you “kill it” on the court, field, or the gym, seeing your incredible artwork on that easel, watching you do what you love on that stage, listening to your beautiful speeches, hearing your angelic voices or instruments being played with such grace, sharing your wisdom through those inspirational sermons, spoken word (or unspoken testimonies), or simply answering those questions and keeping me company during those three hour long classes, experiencing spiritual highs together, and just being a part of this family ... this list could go on. I guess the answer to the question is simply “I begin with you”. My most cherished moments are the ones spent with you. Everything that I have been through here at Burman and everyone that I have even encountered by chance helped mold me into the woman I am today. Each and every one of you has impacted my life in one way or another and for that, I am forever grateful. The opportunity to be surrounded by greatness which I see in all of you is what I am going to miss. Because of all that YOU have done and continue to do, I wanted to give back and hopefully be just as big of a blessing as you were, and are, to me. I hope I have accomplished that as your SA president this year. I strive daily to be focused on my favourite verse in the Bible which is found in Matthew 20:26, “But whosoever wants to be a leader among you, must be your servant.” I pray that I and my team of the 2016-2017 Student Association have served you well and, more importantly, brought glory and honor to our Father.
B Y I VA H L U M A L A N G
tial
Farewell
If there is one lesson that I have learned this year, it is that you should never be afraid to try new things. This year, we have witnessed the emergence of many new activities, events, and clubs. Your creative ideas have been heard and some have been instituted. You trailblazers, never lose the passion and fire in you, and that ALL of you do not lose sight of the vision that has been handed down by previous leaders. My hope is that you build upon each previous foundation so that our campus can grow better and stronger. As I reminisce on everything that we have experienced together, I leave here with pride knowing that you are the future of our school and, for those such as myself, who are graduating and moving forward, that you are diving into the “real world”, and blessing others with your unique greatness. Throughout the years, I have witnessed eminence in all of you. Utilize these gifts and share them with others. Continue to voice your concerns and fight for your convictions. Celebrate each other’s differences and let your stories join in compassion, with love and with acceptance. Let your stories interconnect so that you become more understanding of each other, develop a sense of who you are, and decide your future goals. This may sound borderline cliché, but be the change you want to see at Burman. The outcome of your experience here is dependent on what you choose to experience. Create a culture on this campus TOGETHER of which you can all be proud. I am incredibly proud of you and your individual contributions. I am proud to be graduating from this abode of excellence--this place that I call home. Finally, I’d like to conclude by saying thank you. THANK YOU for four years of wonderful memories. When your time here has come to an end and you are asked what you would miss most about this place, I hope that you too will respond with “Where do I even begin?”
P R E S I D E N T IA L FA R E W E L L
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I survived freshmen year My first year of university can somewhat be summed up as “Eventful”. It has been a time in life I will never forget. It has been a time in my life where I need God the most and he was there with me step by step even if at times I couldn’t sense Him. I remember searching for every list or tips or tricks on how to survive the first year of college. I read them all… yet I still felt unprepared. Something was missing, there had to be. How could get rid of the knot in my stomach. I had gone over my list 100 times over but I still couldn’t place my finger on it. At the last moment before leaving my Island paradise home in Bahamas it finally clicked—my Bible. “Yes Shante… your Bible.” How could I forget something that had gotten me through so much. I recalled racing back to my room to retrieve this precious jewel, it was then my emotions had begun erupting. I had felt a steady grip of panic, “Am I really ready for this big step, Am I sure I’m ready to leave the luxury and comfort of my home, my parents, my family… Am I even prepared to have to share my room... my space with a stranger.” I can do this! I kept repeating it to myself all the way to school but once I arrived at Burman, I realized I really knew no one. The realization sucker punched me that there is no turning back. I already gave them my money and I was pretty sure my mama has no interest in taking me back home. I remember managing to talk down my fears but that first night my mom left me, I felt like a little kid being left at daycare for the first time. I cried and cried… and cried… and cried. I want you to know I cried until my body was drained, my eyes bloodshot and my ears hot. My brain was the first to give in telling me, Hunny child I have no more tears to give. Go to sleep. So I did just that.
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School started and it was nothing I expected yet still so amazing so many new experiences. Then tragedy struck. One of my closest friends was killed in a car accident and died on impact. The most unnerving aspect was that we were talking when the accident took place. After this tragedy my life was a blur and seemed to have no purpose. I felt as though God had let me down. I felt abandoned, alone and the pain of losing my friend was unbearable. I remember crying out “Lord you have me in this strange place I hardly know anyone here, now my friend is dead!? What are you doing God?!” The first semester dragged on each day passed as an eternity. After the well needed break I returned with this new mindset. For spring semester, it has helped me a lot. I have a new outlook on life and for being here as a student in Burman University. The things I desire to accomplish here will take a whole new drive, a new dimension of determination and strength. Not only for school but life to not settle and to always be thankful, no matter the situation. It seemed as though school or the pain would never end but slowly it has. Words cannot express how thankful I am to be beyond that period of darkness. I am definitely not the same person I was when I started. I have grown through the pain, the questions, the loneliness and the doubts. These learnt a few things in this time: 1. Questioning God makes no sense because he can see the bigger picture and you cannot. 2. Time heals wounds. 3. God would never put you in a situation if he knew you could not handle it. 4. Every Test we go thorough in life is so that we can share your testimony.
I S U R V I V E D F R E S H M E N Y E A R
BY SHANTE LACROIX
my year in review Every September, for as long as I’ve been going to school, I’ve shown up with my new backpack, new outfit and a long list of aspirations I have every intention of keeping. Every September, for as long as I’ve been going to school, that new outfit usually has a stain on it by my noon and my long list of goals is soon forgotten as I am reminded that it’s not always possible to meet the unrealistic goals you have set for yourself. Juggling a full course load, two part-time jobs and mandatory volunteer hours while still trying to maintain any semblance of a social life and getting enough sleep has been draining, to say the least. The goals that I had set for myself were goals that in many ways, I didn’t even come close to achieving. I didn’t whip myself into the best shape of my life, I’m not a vegan, I didn’t make the Deans List and the bags under my eyes are a real life testament to the fact that I definitely am not sleeping enough. But throughout this draining third year of university, I have managed to learn a few things aside from what was described in all my syllabus’ at the beginning of this year.
Firstly, I learned how important it is to just let go. Once I let go of the preconceived notions I had about what I wanted this year to look like, I was free to fully experience this year for what it was. No, it wasn’t what I expected but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t the experience I was supposed to go through. I also stopped chasing people; I stopped chasing the friendships that I had long since outgrown and stopped investing my time and efforts in people that didn’t enhance my life. Instead, I grew to a better understanding of what true friendship meant and learned to appreciate the few people in my life who were there throughout the thick and thin, cliché as that may sound. I’m definitely not coming out with 4.0
The classes I took this year not only taught me so much about the world, but also challenged me to grow and understand what kind of a part I want to play in this world. So, despite not making the Dean’s list, the education I received this year goes far beyond making a certain grade point average. I will leave this school year behind me in April, probably still adorning something with food stains on it. But this time, I won’t look back at this year and shake my head at how much better I could have been. This year wasn’t about reaching my unrealistically high goals, it was about getting through this year in one piece and somehow making it to the other side a better version of myself. It was about survival. It was about growth. It was about learning to love myself and this struggle. It was about learning to love Burman and everyone who attends this school. This year wasn’t what I expected, nor what I wanted, but perhaps it was exactly what I needed. I hope that as next September rolls around, I come dressed to impress and can last longer than lunch time before my cute clothes have stains on them. But even more than that, I hope I can practice self-love and adequate self-care right from the very first day.
GPA, but I am coming out with a better understanding of what’s truly important in life.
B Y K A Y L I E C O P E L A N D
MY YEAR REVIEW
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American Thanksgiving 2016- A time of great food and even better memories. Back Row (Left to Right): Alex, James, Ben, Mitch, Johnny, Will Front Row (Left to Right): Chelsea, Kalmani, Ivah, Jennica, Candice -Kalmani
Unexpected friendships are the best ones. Here’s to food, laughter, and making fun of each other. -Alexa Tanul 8
MEMORIES IN PICTURES
This photo represents one of the best highlights of the school year for me. I got to spend an amazing weekend in Banff with three women who are the most beautiful, inside and outside. God putting Alex, Christine, and Dean Shannan in my life is a huge blessing. -Laura Domnke
The thing I value most in my friendships is reciprocity. Healthy friendships are difficult to maintain in University but are a hundred times easier to hold onto when the other person is holding back. I know that my girls have my back, side, front, shoulders, head, neck, arms...When I shine, there is no jealousy and when they shine, I’m their finest hype! And I can say with no doubt that the beautiful women in my circle are those best for me. I would not have made it to graduation had it not been for the support of the women in my life. Even though we’re from different walks of life, they identify with my struggles and always empathize with my pain. I value my friendships very highly because I know what it is like to have friends that do not want the best for you, and are not willing to fight to see you prosper. It’s worse than being alone. I praise God that I have never had to doubt that about my girls and I know this is only the beginning of our journey! -(Jodelene Sajous, Rea-Anna Walters, Sabrina Eugene) 9
It just shows their support and their willingness to come to and help at each and every one of my events and I appreciate them for it (Left to Right: Lulu, Ade, Melody and Zana)
If you only knew the incomprehendible madness that 2016-2017 has dragged us through... But we persevered. So we smile.đ&#x;˜ŠBoy am I ever proud of these Badass women. 10
MEMORIES IN PICTURES
Honestly one of my BEST moments this year was my 20th Birthday. My friends “surprised” me at 12:00am with ice cream cake, CHEESECAKE and lots of Balloons. If you know me, you know not only am I diabetic but I LOVE cheesecake. We went out to dinner later and had lots of laughs. I’m glad I decided to come to Burman where I am able to meet so many new people who become friends. I enjoy everything I do on this campus like step team, Drumline, being the hype girl or DJ Coco at games, Gospel choir, Ignite, F.R.E.E., and House of Praise. I’m able to network with people in these various groups and it’s what keeps me busy but sane. I now know why God sent me here to Burman and that’s to make a difference and to be a leader. BIG things are coming next year BU just wait on it. -Asia Watson 11
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MEMORIES IN PICTURES
Kaylie + Talia + Codrina
A beautiful Sabbath walk around Burman Lake! Happy faces indicate spring is coming! -Faniry Ram
The new Burman Bobsled team! We just finished sledding down the hill behind the cafeteria on cardboard boxes and garbage bags. Yep, we are a group of 4 crazy Canadians and 1 brave American. This is the best and most creative way to enjoy Alberta’s winter. (Left to right: Stephanie, Victoria, Morgan, Faniry, and me, Keaton). 13
Dear Fear, I’m breaking up with you. For a while now, I just haven’t been feeling it. I think it’s best if we go our separate ways. And it’s definitely you, not me.
You were the first person I met at university, and I must admit we were attracted to each other immediately. You were quite the flirt and you knew it. I remember you stood by my side, waving, as my parents left the parking lot. After that, we grew so close so fast. We did everything togethe—joined choir, went on road trips, and met new people. I can’t deny you made me feel safe, and I was comfortable in your presence. You had impeccable taste in clothes and taught me how to not stand out too much. You introduced me to new people; told me who I could talk to and who I should avoid, but in the end suggested it’d be best if I just hung out with your friends. For a time, life was good. We looked great together. But slowly the relationship turned needy. Your appetite for attention was blinding, like a facefull of snow when you leave Lakeview Hall. When we were apart, I felt the lurking need to check in with you, even though you would put me down. You would scoff at my poems and shrug at my artwork.
When I started a new worship group on campus, you said it sounded dumb. And remember that time I broke my toe trying to climb the sundial? You laughed at me! Who laughs at someone who has to be carried to the cafeteria? I’m still a little bitter about that. Anyways, when I decided I needed some distance and planned on taking a year off, you reluctantly agreed. Honestly, long distance was the best thing that could have happened to me. That year was the best and hardest year of my life. I had my nose broken by reality a few times, but it’s straightened out. I realized that it was a big world without you around. I realized that you were wrong. I made it on my own. I found other people who loved me. And I found that I had a voice. It looked like angst poems and a film camera. I took up rock climbing, did yoga, and joined an acrobatics team. And without knowing it, I realized I held my head a little higher, stared directly in the mirror and didn’t think about you as often. It was awesome. I’m graduating this year, and I’ve decided you can’t come where I’m going. We’ve had our time, grew up together and shared some life. But our futures would never work out. Please know this isn’t easy for me. I might see you around, but I hope not. This is no good way to end this but know I’ll be ok. Wishing you the best,
Jeff 14
D E A R F E A R
BY JEFF BRADBURN
Never a failure, always a lesson Mistakes. Everybody makes them, but we sometimes forget that it is part of life. Some people make more mistakes than others, and that’s okay. I happen to fall in the latter, and I’ve come to terms with it. I suppose it is because I am an incredibly stubborn person. This school year was all about hard lessons and forgiving myself in the aftermath. This year was the most challenging year yet, but I lived to tell the tale. It was a series of painful lessons, but I am grateful for them because, at the end of the day, it slowly moulded me into a more empathetic and humble individual.
The first week of school, I got myself into some trouble. It resulted in me into getting kicked out of the dorm I was previously living in and back to Lakeview. Not only that, but I was also mandated to see a therapist for this particular problem. In retrospect, this was a blessing in disguise. I was finally able to confront my demons head on instead of burying it six feet under in my subconscious. But at that time, I did not see the situation like so. Instead, I saw my new room in Lakeview as a prison cell instead of a room that I was put in for my personal safety from the deans. Rather than be thankful for the extra protection, I just resented the situation that I was in just a little bit more. I mean let’s be real, nobody wants to be on probation and have certain privileges be taken away because one made a dumb mistake. However, the deans saw my vulnerability and knew what was best for me, even if that meant being a resident in Lakeview Hall again. So for a while, I refused to step foot in my room except to sleep because it would just remind me of my mistake. Fast forward a couple of months in November. I had been sober since September and was doing well. In fact, I was looking forward to being off of probation in one month. I had plans of moving to Riverton with my buddies, something that we had scheduled for a while.
BY DEBBIE MASELA
I even became emotionally attached to my future room and made plans to build a fort under my bed where I would put lights so I could read my favourite books while drinking some tea. I even had imagined what types of pictures and posters I could hang on my wall. I was so sure of myself that I would finally earn back my freedom. But alas, that was not how it went. Life has a way of being unpredictable as cliché as that sounds. One month before my probation ended, I had a slip. In all of the places that it could have happened, I did it in the lobby. Feeling guilty, I turned myself in. I was already on probation for going back to my room extremely drunk in September. My worst fear was that I was going to be sent home. But thankfully I was not sent back in part to my mentors who fought to keep me here. But that did not eliminate the emotions that I felt in the aftermath. I felt like the worst of the worst for putting myself in a compromised position. Instead of walking away, I stayed. For a long time, I was riddled with guilt. I could not forgive myself. As a result, I stopped caring about school for the rest of the semester, so my GPA tanked. When Christmas break started, I had some time to get back in the game. I made some high goals for myself and me, intended to keep it. I was tired of letting myself down and the people I cared about most in the world. Once my head became more coherent, I became even more grateful for this second chance that I was gifted. With that mindset, the second semester was glorious. While I was not free from problems or challenges, I became better equipped to handle them because of my experiences from first the six months. Although this year was filled with challenges to the brim, it made me a better human being. I was able to be refined in more ways than one.
N E V E R A F A I L U R E , A L WA Y S A L E S S O N
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ART AT TACK You’d be surprised how talented the majority of Burman Students are once you give them a paintbrush or pencil. There are a ton of amazing artists on this campus and I had the opportunity to get to see their work alongside working with them during the school year. I loved to be able to watch others’ creative processess and observe their personal critiquing process. The uniqueness of eveyone’s work blended so harmoniously in the chaotic art studio that it was hard not to constantly be in a state of awe. Under the eye of Dr. Hoyt, there were a lot of amazing masterpieces created. Here are a few pieces that have become various creator favourites. P.S. For those of you contemplating whether an art course is right for you this coming semester, these creations will definitely make up your mind. And for those of you who had the opportunity to be a part of any art course on campus, make sure to “Keep Creating 2017.”
^ Sketches and Collage by Brittnee Cox
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Paintings by Zahara McGann
^ Painting and Collage by Elsy Cornejo
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A RT AT TAC K
^ Prints by Ivah Lumalang
^ Drawing by Zorisha Peters
^ Painting by Jessica Armstrong
^ Drawing by Victoria Soto
^ Paintings by Jane Joseph
BY ZAHARA MCGANN
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fist bumps with jesus Oh my goodness! Can you believe it?! The moment you’re reading this article means that you’ve just about made it! The finish line is in sight! Final exams are left and you’ll soon be done your FIRST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY ... or your last. Looking back on this year, what do you remember? Do you remember your first day when you drove into Lacombe for the very first time? Or do you remember how you felt knowing this was your last year here? On my first day back to the hilltop this year I remember feeling a mix of emotions: excited, sad, and nostalgic mostly. Excited for my very first teaching practicum and how that experience would go. Sad because the summer was basically over. Nostalgic because most of my close friends had recently graduated and I was still here. The first few days were almost surreal thinking about how things had changed from last year to this year but those feelings were chased away with the quickness of classes, assignments, and practicum. There were times when I felt I had no life because I was living and breathing university. I’m sure you can all relate. Ahhh how wonderful those sleepless nights were due to professional procrastination. Now that the year is pretty much over, what have you learned? Maybe how to calculate the electrostatic force in a moving particle? How to successfully deal with a misbehaving student? Or perhaps you were actually able to learn all those dreaded Greek terms? One thing I’ve learned this year is how to manage my time. Oh how fast time flies and when you waste it procrastinating, that’s time you’ll never get back.
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Finally, as we’re reflecting on this past year, how much have you grown? Maybe the increase in your gym gains was noticeable in your “before and after” pictures? Maybe you were able to read more books than you anticipated? Maybe your relationship with God is so much stronger. Personally for me, I’ve definitely been able to get through more of the Bible than I ever thought. Perhaps you can relate. Whatever your progress and growth has been, keep going. Keep walking, keep growing. Now that summer is almost here, maybe you have final projects or tests to complete. Like a runner in a marathon race, you may be tired, exhausted even. But keep pushing forward to finish strong. After having experienced such a spiritual campus, it is common to lose that spiritual high during the summer. I want to remind you that while we do run this race to finish this school year, we also run a race in life. Our goal: heaven. This summer you may not have your friends, vespers, or weekly worships but make sure to continue growing in Jesus. Don’t become discouraged and don’t lose sight of the end goal. Before we know it we will have made it to the end of the race and we will have achieved the goal. Philippians 3:14 See you in September!
F I S T B U M P S W I T H J E S U S
BY ANGELICA CORNEJO
changes So, the school year has come to an end. Freshmen
I couldn’t help but smile, you see to be content is to
survived the first year of college and some have
be present. Those moments that you didn’t think to
come to the end of college and a start of a new step
be precious but in reality they really were.
in life. I must say, that this semester had it challenges and I don’t know how to describe the roller
Why? Because there is togetherness, even in the
coaster that was placed in my life. I had a friend ask
small tiny moments where you just stop and have
me this past week about what is like to be content.
small talk. So, many people search for community,
I reflected on this word because if you’d ask me I’d
but the truth is community is here at Burman and
say that this semester was far from content, I’d say
although, it took me awhile to realize it and what it
it was a disaster. Anyways, I had to stop and real-
meant to be content. I understood something about
ly consider this semester and really have a serious
this semester, this campus is alive and beautiful. It’s
conversation with God. I truly wanted to answer
sad that the semester is over and it might not have
this individual in a honest and sincere way. So, I
been what I’ve expected. But there is one thing I
reflected this semester and saw so many challenges
learned that as the school year ends. Burman truly
that I wasn’t ready for. As, I looked at the moments
makes you grow, a friend once told me this at the
of sadness I realized that there was always some-
beginning of the year, I didn’t believe her. But she
one by my side. There was always something that
was right. This place does make you grow and I’d
reminded me about life, and how good it can be.
say that I am content to be here in a place where I can learn to be a better me. I hope you learned
I noticed so many people walking around campus
something this semester.
in their groups laughing, couples holding hands, siblings driving to grab lunch, students comparing notes, buying lunch for a friend in the cafeteria and classmates talking about how easy or hard an exam was.
B Y L I LY R A M I R E Z
CHANGES
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post-grad debt management It’s been almost exactly a year since I graduated from University, and a whirlwind of a year at that. It’s not surprising that such a huge shift in life is marked by new challenges, blessings, and learning curves. By the time we graduate from university, most of us have spent about 73% of our lives in school. Going from various levels of education to the “real world” can be quite a shock, and at first (for me at least), it can be very overwhelming. The way that I was describing it in the first few months of post-grad life was “just a different kind of stress”—which sounds kind of disheartening, but I’ll explain. The stress of university—balancing writing, reading, working, not sleeping, studying, sports, social time, self-care, other responsibilities, etc.—is very different from the stress of the full-time job life. One of the biggest stressors at first, for me, was the reality of paying back student loans while also having enough money to pay for rent, food, gas, and every other necessity. Getting a bi-weekly paycheque is amazing, but watching it quickly disappear to various payments/expenses is not so much. After a year of learning how to budget, plan for the future, and not constantly worry about paying off loans for the rest of my life and eventually passing them on to my children, the initial pressure of post-grad/“adult” responsibilities has significantly diminished. I’m going to share a few things that I’ve learned from my experience—a few things I wish I would’ve done differently while in school, a few things that have helped me now that I’m out of school, and maybe a few things that will surprise us both because I’m writing this as I go. First of all, I realized that loans add up all at once when you’re 6 months away from beginning payments. I was so surprised at how much 4 years of student aid can jump out at you. Granted, I used a lot of my loans to travel—from study tours to trips to Kenya to road trips to Vancouver to flights to Toronto—and I don’t regret that at all, because travelling is something that I think everyone should try to do as much as possible. What I do wish I had done differently is manage my money a bit better; I’ve even had some second thoughts about choosing to live on my own instead of with my parents. I wish I’d saved a lot more money, and/ or invested it in a better TFSA that would’ve gotten a higher return
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(if you want advice on getting this started, give my friend Elliot a call—he’s a Financial Consultant with Investors Group: 780-449-1487). I wish I would’ve bought groceries and cooked more instead of the quick and easy fast food option. It’s too late for me to change any of this now, but what I can do is make sure that I manage my money wisely from here on out. One of the things that saved my life this year was a personal budget excel template. I had been using Mint.com for a while, which is also a really useful site, but I like to manually enter my income/spending so that I can see it and keep track easily. I really recommend trying out a spreadsheet budget—if you want, I can send you the template and you can customize it for yourself (feel free to email me: jacquimccarty@gmail.com)! It’s super easy to use. I’ll tell you how I use it, but everyone is different so you can choose what works for you. The attached is an example of a monthly budget (I put in random numbers, this isn’t my actual life for y’all to see). 1. Start with Online Bank Account(s): I use online banking to see my account records and update the spreadsheet. If you use both a debit card and credit card, you can check both account summaries. Each purchase/payment will usually have the name of the store or place that you’ve spent the money, so you can know where to add what. An easy way to add up the sums automatically is to type =sum(#+#+#) into the cell. 2. Update the Spreadsheet: As often as possible, update the spreadsheet with the amounts that you’ve received, spent, and saved. The formulas will automatically show you how much you’ve made, how much you’ve spent, how much you’ve saved, and how much you have left over. You can customize the “flexible budget” cells to turn red when you overspend by selecting the cell where you’ll insert the amount --> “conditional formatting” --> “highlight cell rules” --> “greater than” --> insert the amount that you’ve chosen to budget (“30” for car service, for example) --> OK. 3. Rinse and Repeat: Every month I save a new file, clear all the amounts, and start again. It’s very helpful to be able to go back over the months and see what you’ve spent, where you can improve, and how much more you can save.
H E L L O F R O M T H E O T H E R S I D E : P O S T- G R A D UAT E D E B T M A NA G E M E N T
(Tips to stick to your budget and save) 1. If you’re addicted to iced capps like I am, something that might help manage the coffee budget is to buy a pre-paid Tim’s card (or McDonald’s or wherever) at the beginning of the month with the amount that you want to spend. Once that’s all spent, you gotta wait until the next month (the hard part is actually deciding you won’t spend anymore than that, though). 2. It’s always a good idea to have leftover money in your account every month, if possible. If you have automatic withdrawals coming from your account, it will help you to avoid overdraft charges and give you peace of mind. 3. If you have a credit card, it is really really important to only spend money that you have (if possible—I know that life throws unexpected expenses your way often). When you use your credit card, it’s good to get into the habit of immediately transferring the funds from your chequing account to your credit card. BY JACQUELINE MCCART Y
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the scoop on scholarships
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THE SCOOP ON SCHOLARSHIPS
When I was speaking to Debra Chenowith, who is the
The only awards that you have to apply for outside of
director of Student Financial Services, I asked if there
awards day are for students that are coming in from
were some scholarships that people don’t know about.
public institutions. For students who come in from Ad-
She seemed to almost find it ridiculous that there would
ventist school systems, the recruiters usually figure out
be any scholarships that people wouldn’t know about be-
which scholarships are applicable to you and help to ob-
cause all the information is online. If you go to the Bur-
tain them.
man website and type scholarships into the search bar, a plethora of information is presented to you. To make
The matching funds scholarship is one that must be ap-
it easy for you, I’ve included the link! http://www.bur-
plied for but awards and discounts such as the family
manu.ca/search/node/scholarships To make things even
discount, Summer Ministries, Summer Community Ser-
easier for students, the finance department has included
vice, and Student Missionary scholarships are automat-
the link on your spending plan (I know I didn’t remem-
ically factored into your student financial plan. (Shout
ber seeing it there either, but I checked. Its there.)
out to Toby Asante, who tracks all this information.) You loose these general scholarships when you drop below
Awards Day scholarships comes from donations made to
student status. Dropping below student status is when
the school. There are certain rules that apply to Awards
you aren’t taking enough credits. These scholarships
Day. Awards are not tailored to fit certain people. The
don’t have a year limit so students who are here past the
finance department goes through the applications in-
four-year period can still be eligible for these scholar-
stead of the Advancement Department to create an arms
ships.
length relationship between the people who bring in the money and those who hand it out. Donors are allowed to
You can also loose your scholarships if you aren’t par-
decide certain criteria for those who will win the awards
ticipating in the activity that got you the general schol-
but cannot be specific to a certain group (race, gender,
arship in the first place. For instance, if you got a music
religion etc)
scholarship for your participation in musical groups in high school, you must continue to participate in selected
Large amounts of people apply for Awards Day. Debra
music groups (Choral Union or Orchestra) for audit or
Chenowith reported that there is about a 28% response
credit. Most of these entrance scholarships only last four
rate for scholarships. That means that in a room with ten
years (but you probably knew that already) so students
people, three of them have applied for awards on awards
staying past the four-year period should watch out and
day. However, because of the size of the school, the only
be mindful of that.
guarantee that you have of not winning is if you don’t apply.
Debra Chenowith says that her team developed this system with transparency in mind. “I don’t want anyone to
When it comes Awards Day you must apply. However,
be able to say that. ‘I didn’t get an award because I don’t
when it comes to general scholarships, they are applied
know anyone in power.’ It’s a Christian institution, and
automatically to your account!
transparency is key. The Bible is clear. Christ was very transparent, which means that we should be as well, even in business.”
BY RECHELLE-LEE SMITH
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budgeting while in university So you are just about finish your first year of university… perhaps you’re going into your second or third year. You’re broke, you haven’t eaten since yesterday and you have 30000 in student loans. Let’s about budgeting while in university. Now I’m not a professional and I’m not even all that great with numbers, but I understand having enough money to eat food, so I will tell you a few tricks to get better at having a little pocket change. You can only afford what you prioritize. Occasionally this conversation can be heard campus wide “Aw man, they have a car, I can’t get a car because I don’t have the money” said the student with seven pairs of Jordans who was in no way a basket ball player. The student in question could not afford to have a car because they prioritized fancy shoes. The same goes for everything else. If you want to go to the movies every weekend, you won’t be able to buy decent food. If you need to buy the newest phone every time it comes out, don’t be surprised if you can’t afford your rent. Prioritize the necessities, like food, rent, and any other bills. Everything else comes later. Don’t worry there will be a time for the finer things in life, preferably when you aren’t generating tens of thousands of dollars in debt every year. Make a chart of your income and your expenses. If you’re like me, you probably live paycheque to paycheque. Perhaps you generate no income and you live off your summer work. (If your parents pay for everything though, you probably realized that this article might not be for you.) Something that you can do to figure out how much spending money you have is to chart out either the money you will make this month, or divide your savings into 8 equal parts to get you through the school year. There are three main categories you should separate your monthly income between: Fixed Bills, Food, Misc important items. First find the general amount your expenses cost you monthly. These are things like car insurance, cell phone bills, rent, tithe, the basic things not including food that are fixed every month.
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Put food in a separate category. If you live in LVH this may not be as much of a worry (Though it might be if you hate the food). In your food category estimate the general cost of your grocery bill, plus a little extra if you might eat out. Occasionally you may have bought a lot of dried foods that will last you a long time, so sometimes this number will change. The third important items category should include anything outside of your food or bills that you need to live. This includes medication, tampons, ect. These main things are what you need to cover to live. If you have anything left over, save it for emergencies or buy yourself something you would like. Name-Brand is not all that. YOU. ARE. NOT. RICH. And that is okay. We are all in the same boat. But this also means you will probably have to sacrifice having the fanciest thing just because you want to look cool. Start doing your research. Sometimes you might find a cool item that won’t break the bank because someone printed fancy words on it. Shop at thrift stores, and if you’re embarrassed, just don’t tell anyone. It’s better to be able to afford your life than it is to have a dorm room or apartment full of fancy stuff but your phone is about to get cut off, and your landlord is kicking you out because you’re three months behind on rent. Your trendy status can wait.
B U D G E T I N G W H I L E I N U N I V E R S I T Y
B Y A M B R A G R E AV E S
the mindfulness wave Maybe you guys aren’t too keen at the idea of learning more things with exam week coming up, but summer is a great time to learn and reflect about issues you might not have time for during the year. I find documentaries to be a great way to discover more about certain topics in an exciting way. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but expanding your mind to new ideas and understanding human impacts on the planet is vital in this generation, so I thought I’d recommend a few of my favourites (all on Netflix btw!). Maybe take a little break from Riverdale and 13 Reasons Why this summer and stimulate your brain in a new way! P.S. If anyone has any recommendations, don’t hesitate to tell me. :)
#2
#1
BY CODRINA BASTON
#3
T H E M I N D F U L N E S S WAV E
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BY RON MARSHALL
BY DEICY ALCUDIA
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