Grip - Fall 2014 by Venture Publishing

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Grip magazine is currently seeking writers, journalists, illustrators

and photographers between the ages of 13 and 18. Join the conversation and help Grip cover issues that are important to you. Send questions and samples to creative@griponlife.ca. You will be paid. Really. Not a lot, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still money.

17 what’s inside

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS 4

The Survival Issue:

Welcome to Grip A message from a Grip contributor, plus an introduction to three of our writers

Sometimes it can feel like we’re just trying to get by. But survival means so much more than just living – it also means overcoming challenges and thriving in a tough world. In this issue of Grip we consider what it takes to survive.

How to Survive High School Cool Albertans dish out advice on getting through the highs and lows of school

In Case of Emergency Take our quiz to see how your outdoor survival skills shape up

Everything You Need to Know… About fnding a psychologist BY DARCY ROPCHAN

Survival of the Fittest Eating disorders live in all kinds of bodies BY JAY WALKER AND JASMINE BLACKETT

Away We Go How can you survive a really big move? BY LUNA YANG

Immunity Challenge Surviving a harrowing illness abroad helped one teenager grow stronger BY J.M.M. LEWIS

The Breakaway Plan a day trip at one of Alberta’s best hidden spots BY MITCHELL KAYE

Not Just Another Indie Flick We search the Netflix archives for the best movies and TV shows you (probably) don’t know about BY EVAN TRAN

Finding Your Tribe Five lessons I learned while searching for friends BY EVAN TRAN

18 20 21 22 25 29 32 35 42

News and views Tips for keeping your school year resolutions, what you need to know about boys and the HPV vaccine, tackling FOMO, and music, book and video game reviews

Off the Wall A really important collection of must-know trivia. Trust us

COVER ILLUSTRATION: STOCKWELL COLLINS

Fan Fare Despite challenges in Calgary’s all-ages music scene, Samsara rocks on BY BRETT MORRISON

This Is … Kaetlyn Osmond The Olympic silver medalist sits down to talk competition, body image and friendship BY ERIN EMILY ANN VANCE

Portfolio The creative spirit thrives in Alberta! Check out photography, art and words submitted by teens across the province

Dodge Sonny finds himself stuck in the wild

Last Word Emoji we wish existed When the Going Gets Tough The Community Helpers program sets out to help teenagers help themselves

BY JUSTIN TRIN

Debate: Do dress codes actually work? Two Grip writers debate the true meaning of school wardrobes

BY LOUISE FOURNIER AND J.M.M. LEWIS

Find Grip on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/GripMag facebook.com/gripmag

04 From a Grip Contributor

he pages of Grip are a place where young writers and artists get to show off their creative abilities. In the magazine, you’ll find everything from reviews on games, CDs and books, to full-scale articles and debates that give you new perspective on the teen experience. This issue in particular is all about survival. That can mean a lot of things – it can literally mean getting by, day by day, or it can mean surviving a rough time and moving on. It can mean heading out to the woods on your own, or it can mean heading out to a new city on your own. Sometimes it seems like one of the hardest things to survive is where we spend five days a week, 10 months a year: school. In this issue of Grip, we’ve brought together a number of amazing Canadians to give you a handy guide for surviving high school. I wish I’d had a guide like that when I started Grade 9 – it could have helped me prepare for the obstacles that lay ahead of me. One of the hardest things to face in high school is dealing with bullies and peer pressure. I have dealt with bullies throughout my three years of high school, and they have made me do some very regretful things, like being just as nasty to others as they were to me. I’ve also struggled with my self-image and confidence. A person’s self-worth is a very sensitive thing – in this issue of Grip Jay Walker will give us his take on overcoming self-image issues and surviving an eating disorder. This issue of Grip is really about showing us that everyone can survive just about anything. We hear from one teenager who became seriously ill while travelling abroad, and we also discuss the best way to pack our backpacks so that we’re always prepared. Some survival mechanisms may seem small, or even insignificant, compared to others but remember – surviving is still surviving. Find something that matters to you, that helps you keep going. And don’t listen to anyone that puts you down just to be hurtful. Listen to those who have your best interest at heart. Because how good is just surviving if you don’t have the people who love you by your side? Tiffany Diack

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Contributors Fall 2014 | Volume 8, No. 2 PUBLISHER

Ruth Kelly

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Beth Evans

MANAGING EDITOR

Lyndsie Bourgon | creative@griponlife.ca DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT

Mifi Purvis

EDITORIAL ADVISORS

Beth Evans, Tammy O’Quinn, Taryn Pawlivsky, Jody Walker ART DIRECTOR

Charles Burke

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Andrea deBoer

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Colin Spence

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Betty Feniak Smith

PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS

Brent Felzien, Brandon Hoover DISTRIBUTION

Karen Reilly | getgrip@griponlife.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Madeleine Beaulieu, Jasmine Blackett, Bonnie Burton, Louise Fournier, Megan Ganley, Christine Green, Jessica Highstead, Mitchell Kaye, J.M.M. Lewis, Catherine Lieu, Kallan Thate-McKendry, Sage Miller, Brett Morrison, Irtiza Oyon, Jessie Perin, Isabel Rodriguez, Darcy Ropchan, Evan Tran, Joanna Tran, Erin Emily Ann Vance, Jay Walker, Luna Yang CONTRIBUTING CONTENT EXPERTS

Katherine Jarrell, Eden McCaffrey, Richard Musto, Lindsay Hope-Ross, Tammy Troute-Wood, Deborah Walchuk CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS

Stockwell Collins, Eric Gravel, James MacDonald, Irtiza Oyen, Skate Canada / Stephan Potopnyk, Evan Tran Grip is published by Venture Publishing Inc. for Alberta Health Services

The content of this magazine is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultations with your doctor or to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any personal medical and health questions that you may have. Printed in Canada by Transcontinental LGM Graphics Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40020055 Contents copyright 2014 by Alberta Health Services. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without written permission from Alberta Health Services.

Venture Publishing Inc. 10259-105 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 1E3 Tel: 780-990-0839 | Fax: 780-425-4921 | Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 circulation@venturepublishing.ca The views expressed in Grip are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Alberta Health Services or Venture Publishing

J.M.M. Lewis is a creator. She writes speculative fiction, creative non-fiction and essays about her personal experiences. She is currently working a boring job by day and adapting two authors’ works into illustrations and a graphic novel by night. She also manages and publishes a digital magazine with The Inkswell Collective, which she helped to found. She has a passion for linguistics and world religion, and hopes to go back to school in 2015. You can learn more about her by visiting jmmlewis.com. Louise Fournier enjoys exploring different ideas through her writing and cross-stitching. Currently, Louise is exploring the world of the blind, which has always interested her, by learning Braille and attempting to read children’s books in Braille (with her eyes closed). Once this new language is mastered, she looks forward to tackling sign language. She is extremely excited to be a part of Grip for her second time and is blessed to have such a great outlet to share her writing in. She also writes an inspirational blog, which can be found here: gostaystrongforever. wordpress.com.

Brett Morrison is an 18-year-old writer from Calgary. He just graduated from high school, and hopes to study film and history. Brett is an avid heavy metal fan, so we assigned him to profile Samsara in this issue. In addition to writing pieces for Grip, Brett is also working on a full-length novel that combines his passion for history with warfare drama. If you’re at a metal concert, you can meet him in the mosh pit. facebook.com/gripmag

it HAPPENS | News

News

#FOMO We’ve all been there: scrolling through our Instagram feeds after waking up in the morning, we flick past a photo. Wait a minute – is that everyone I know? And are they all hanging out at a party last night? Why am I not there? That pit you feel in your stomach is the phenomenon known as FOMO (which stands for “fear of missing out”) and it hits us all. The comedian Mindy Kaling even wrote a book about it, called Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? “Of course fear of missing out is hardly new, but in our current society, we get reminders about it at any moment,” says Eden McCaffrey, a clinical psychologist with Alberta Health Services. “The immediacy is very different, and motivates people in strange ways.” It’s hard to overcome this – you can’t prepare for tweets, group emails, texts and status updates that make you feel left out. “There is a high correlation between being overly connected and experiencing various negative social dynamics, like isolation and exclusion,” says McCaffrey. This is the catalyst for FOMO, she says, and it plays a role in negative feelings like insecurity and poor self-esteem. There’s also the misguided perception we have that, by being offline at all, we’re missing out. “There’s this false illusion that by being connected, you won’t be able to miss out and, in turn, you’ll have control,” she says. One way to get over this is to simply put down your phone or electronic device for a bit. By distancing yourself and connecting with something else – a book, a movie, some music or a walk in the park – you might find that your feelings are less hurt than when you’re stuck in a vortex of online voices and pictures.

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MY DUSTY BOOKSHELF Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance By Robert M. Pirsig

Reviewed by Evan Tran Following a 17-day motorcycle journey, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a first-person account of an introspective trip from Minnesota to Northern California. The title itself is misleading – author Robert M. Pirsig explains in his introduction that “It should be no way associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.” That particular preface of Pirsig’s novel sets the stage for a peculiar journey. Along with his son Chris, and close friends Jon and Sylvia Sutherland, Pirsig punctuates the novel with numerous philosophical debates and discussions, referred to as Chautauquas. Zen is the essence of a philosophical novel, and it is likely not going to sway those who are disinterested in philosophy to suddenly look up the works of Plato upon reading it. Though sometimes dry,

Pirsig’s exploration of the meaning of quality leads to some engaging thought. Particular examples of discussion revolve around the “romantic” and “classical” approaches to thoughts and life. Pirsig compares the Sutherlands’ romantic attitude towards the world to his own classical approach. The romantic views of Zen, and the classical representations of motorcycle maintenance, permeate the various pages of Pirsig’s sort-of memoir. In fact, “motorcycle maintenance” is more of an analogy for Pirsig’s views of the world, an expression of his rather abstract ideas in the form of how he repairs his motorcycle. Pirsig’s book is hard to get into, especially if you find philosophy to be a meandering topic. Slog through the slower parts, though, and you will find valuable lessons that are sometimes overlooked in this day and age. Grade: B- Though a book that has seemingly stood the test of time, readers will have to overcome the slow pacing and muddled theories that conceal some very touching truths that propel this otherwise long read.

Chicken Scratch By Irtiza Oyon

Every fall comes with a new surge of motivation: we think to ourselves, “This is my year!” and buy sticky notes in every colour of the rainbow. Yet with poor note-taking skills, it’s easy to become frustrated with your efforts in school. Consider incorporating some of our tips to smarter note-taking: Identify Your Learning Style Before you begin purchasing supplies, figure out your learning style through a quick quiz, like one from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (at www.educationplanner.org). Are you a visual learner? Consider investing in several coloured pens to colour-code your notes as you go. If you’re more of an auditory learner, consider buying a recorder for your class sessions. Stocking Supplies There are the supplies that are mandatory: a writing utensil, small scratchpad, planner and highlighter. For the rest, tailor them to fit your learning style and needs. Have a separate pocket in your backpack where these supplies always remain, so you don’t have an excuse during class to not take notes. High-Impact Note-Taking First, decide whether you want to take your notes on paper or on-screen. Be brutally honest with yourself: are you really going to be able to resist the lure of

the Internet? If your answer is a confident yes, consider downloading a note-taking program like Evernote. While taking notes, abbreviate! Common words that are tedious to write out can be shortened to make your notes less wordy to review. Summarize the textbook or lecture notes into keywords rather than full sentences. If rewriting notes helps you, consider reorganizing your information each time into different categories rather than writing the same notes repeatedly – this method forces you to think critically. Review, Review, Review This is the catch: it’s not enough to take wonderful notes once. To effectively store the information in your long-term memory, you need to review consistently. Set aside an hour at least once every three days to review your notes, and you’ll find your memory improving. facebook.com/gripmag

it HAPPENS | News

News

Picture Perfect

By Bonnie Burton

Make your selfies shine with these tips for improving your photography skills

Frametastic: Offering a combination of filters and collages, this app is a great way to beautify and organize photos at the same time.

Have a camera? Great. Have any type of cellphone that can take pictures? Also great. Get out your device and take a few minutes to create photographs that all your Instagram followers will be envious of.

with your camera’s features to figure this out. Start by holding the camera close to you for stability and keep your arms comfortable. Ideally, place your elbows on a sturdy platform to act like a tripod. Next, take a deep breath and hold it while you are taking the picture. The small movement throughout the upper body during a breath is enough to turn a photo fuzzy. One foolproof trick for snapping a good photo is to increase the file size or the resolution on your camera. This uses up more space on your computer or phone but reduces the chance of having pixilated images.

BEFORE TAKING THE PHOTO

AFTER TAKING THE PHOTO

If you’re using a PC program: PicMonkey: Its user-friendly design makes it easy to experiment with editing through text, filters, collages and more.

Unless it’s intentional, blurred photographs tend to look pretty awful. On every phone and camera, there are different ways to steady the picture, so spend a little time experimenting

If you’re editing on an iPhone, try: PixelWakker: Unique and fun, this one turns images into dot and line art, also known as Pointillism.

Pixlr: Choose from three different levels of photo editing and enjoy the use of many different tools and effects.

If you’re editing using an Android: Photo Editor Pro: Great for photo editing on your phone, featuring a little bit of everything including a one tap auto enhancer. Pixlr-o-matic: There’s no lack of filters here! Choose from over two million different editing combinations by downloading additional free packages.

BLAZING A TRAIL Tested by Jasmine Blackett

With warm weather stretching from summer into fall, now is the time to fit in as many of your outdoor activities as possible. But, hey, if you’re going to be doing things outdoors, then you’re going to want some food to help keep you going. If you’re going hiking, on a road trip or even just for a walk, it’s best to have something to snack on when you take a break or you’re simply craving a bite to eat.

For the tropical mix, just grab any bowl, plastic bag or container to throw the mix into, and begin with the ingredients. You can include anything you want, from your favourite nuts to dried fruit, but to make it tropical you’re going to need:

Tropical Trail Mix The great thing about trail mixes is they’re easy to carry around and you can add as much or as little of the ingredients to the mix as you would like.

cashews brazil nuts dried mangoes coconut flakes banana chips

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With that, you’re ready to go tropical with your mix!

Sticking Point

Starting this fall, boys in Grade 5 and Grade 9 will receive the HPV vaccine. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a virus linked to various health issues including genital warts and some cancers. The HPV vaccine is most effective in preventing HPV-related diseases when administered to youth. “The reason why the HPV vaccine is important for boys is because boys are also at risk for HPV-related diseases,” says Tammy Troute-Wood, a community health nurse and sexual and reproductive health specialist with Alberta Health Services. The HPV vaccine used to only be for girls, but the virus affects both men and women. If boys get the vaccine as well as girls, it will help close the loop on how HPV is passed around and hopefully decrease disease rates. The vaccine prevents HPV infections, which are often the cause of cancer in both men and women. It is part of a larger scheme of overall health and cancer prevention. In public schools, parents give consent for vaccines. A public health nurse will give the shot, which is administered three times over a year. “The vaccine is one piece of a much bigger puzzle when it comes to your health,” says Troute-Wood.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS By Joanna Tran

It’s the beginning of the school year, and you’ve got your shiny new binders, crisp sheets of paper and a hundred pens that will go missing within the month. New school year, new you. You’ve got plans to earn high marks, study every day instead of cramming for exams. You’ve resolved to keep a tidy locker. Sure, you’ve said this before and didn’t stick to the plan, but this year will be different, right? Here are a few tips from AHS clinical consultant Kathy Jarrell that will help you stick to your resolutions: 1. Seek the truth Be honest with yourself about habits that don’t serve you well. Do you let yourself off the hook with excuses? Act like a detective to discover what’s underneath a destructive habit. Seek out a friend or mentor who can help encourage you and know that you’re not alone. 2. Choose a new behaviour Instead of just quitting, replace an old behaviour with a new one. Think carefully about a new habit that would serve you well and that you could realistically continue to do. 3. Affirm your intention Pave the way for new behaviour by rehearsing it in your mind. Wayne Gretzky used to vividly imagine goals going into the back of the net. See yourself coming home from school, going to your designated study space, quickly reviewing your notes from the day and then filing them in their proper binders. 4. Start with a small change Starting with a change that is doable can spill over to other positive changes. An example is committing to being on time for the first class of the day. You may find that by doing this, it will be easier to be on time for the rest of your classes as well. 5. Plan your time In your agenda, write in times when you are going to work on the assignments and have mini-deadlines, such as writing down dates to have your research and rough draft completed. 6. Practise, practise, practise, without self-judgment It takes time and effort to change old habits. Be kind to yourself, and keep practising positive behaviours. If you are honest and compassionate with yourself, you can develop constructive habits that will serve you for a lifetime!

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it HAPPENS | Reviews

Rev

Fall into reading Inferno By Dan Brown REVIEWED BY JOANNA TRAN

Inferno, Dan Brown’s fourth novel featuring Robert Langdon, Harvard University’s professor of religious iconology and symbology, begins with a disoriented Langdon waking up in a hospital room with no recollection of the past few days. Before he is able to find out how he ended up in such a state, he is interrupted by various attempts on his life from a young spiky-haired woman. Widely sought after by an assassin, the World Health Organization (WHO), a mysterious group called The Consortium and the U.S. Consulate, Langdon goes on the wildest run of his life. This mystery thriller unfolds as Langdon attempts to retrace his steps and uncover the secrecy surrounding The Consortium, Dr. Sienna Brooks, the WHO and a dangerous bioweapon. As he begins to uncover the truth, he finds himself unravelling the complexity of Dante Alighieri’s “Inferno.” Dan Brown has never been a disappointment, and he’s not about to start now. Inferno captured me right from the beginning, and I was able to dive right into the professor’s intriguing adventure. The plot immediately captured my attention thanks to its suspenseful beginning with many surprises that left me eager to keep reading. Because Brown writes from a first-person perspective, the readers form a strong connection with Langdon as they are faced with the same heart-racing anticipation he feels. Grade: A Brown’s withholding of information can be frustrating and really pushes the limit of one’s patience, but the stunning ending is worth it all. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Robert Langdon series if you appreciate a good thriller.

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The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini REVIEWED BY ERIN EMILY ANN VANCE

This haunting story begins with a flashback to a singular moment in time. The narrator, Amir, recalls his childhood living peacefully in Afghanistan with his father and their two servants; Ali, and his son, Hassan. Hassan and Amir have a strong friendship, despite being from separate classes. Hassan is a Hazara (a racial minority in Afghanistan), and no matter his bond with Amir, will never be an equal. Hassan is Ali’s servant, first and foremost, a reality that becomes painfully true as the two boys mature in the shadow of Afghanistan’s crumbling government. Together, they compete in an annual kite-fighting competition. But their relationship deteriorates quickly. Amir is plagued by guilt, and Hassan by shame. Amir and his father move to America, where Amir goes to college and marries. But his dad falls ill, and Amir is called back to Afghanistan to fix what he let fall apart all those years ago. Khaled Hosseini has painted a visceral picture of friendship through the eyes of two young Afghani boys on the brink of revolution. This book forces readers to open their eyes to the injustices and prejudices inside of their own hearts. It is the kind of book that, after reading, you can never forget. Grade: A Some readers may find it difficult to read, given the harrowing descriptions of hardship. The novel takes place in Afghanistan and the United States, beginning over 50 years ago, but its themes transcend generational and cultural gaps. The Kite Runner should be on the top of your fall reading list.

eviews Grip reviewers tackle the best books to distract you from your homework

Touch By Kim Firmston REVIEWED BY LOUISE FOURNIER

As soon as you pick this book up, you might discover that you are unable to put it down. Kim Firmston’s novel Touch is as keenly crafted and addictive as her other publications, which include Schizo and Stupid. Firmston expertly weaves together the thoughts and actions of all of her characters to form a complex story that will move you to tears. The gut-wrenching pain experienced by teenagers and step-siblings Hayley and Ethan will capture your attention. She does an excellent job of showing more than one side of the conflict, which helps to illustrate the fact that no issue is ever black or white, but rather it is an artist’s paint palette of greys. Throughout the journey you realize that you sympathize with each of the different characters as their perspectives of the events

that have transpired are revealed to the audience. When you get down to it, you should read all of Firmston’s books because of the eye-opening experiences they offer while keeping you on edge as you watch the drama unfold before your eyes. Grade A+ For Firmston’s ability to address a difficult reality with tact and purpose. I found that it was impossible to put the book down, resulting in staying up until 1 a.m. to finish it, which is a mark of a great book!

Un Lun Dun By China Miéville REVIEWED BY MADELEINE BEAULIEU

Zanna is being watched by what appears to be a broken umbrella and all the dogs, cats, foxes and birds in her small neighbourhood. She was given a mysterious card by a strange woman in a coffee shop and saw her name spray-painted onto a warehouse wall. Her friend Deeba claims to have seen her face in the clouds. These are all signs leading to something, but the girls aren’t exactly sure what that something might be. When the broken umbrella’s trail leads the girls to an old warehouse, Zanna, stuck in a dream-like trance, opens a valve and turns off London, revealing instead Un Lun Dun, a strange wonderland of lost and broken creatures. When they encounter Hemi, a half-ghost boy, and Obaday, a man who uses his head as a pincushion, the two girls safely assume that they’re in a brand new world.

But Zanna and Deeba have arrived at a dangerous time. Un Lun Dun is at war with a greedy cloud called Smog who is determined to devour all of Un Lun Dun and its inhabitants. Here, in a world where words rebel against their creators, where carnivorous giraffes stalk the streets and the alive discriminate against the dead, is where the true threat lies. If Un Lun Dun is destroyed, London will surely follow. Grade: A Un Lun Dun is a story of the grotesque, the creepy and the beautiful. It is a tale of friendship and duty, of courage and loyalty, and it is an inspiring tale that is poised to become a classic. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially young writers in need of inspiration.

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Rev

it HAPPENS | Reviews

September’s new soundtrack Start the new school year off right with Grip-reviewed albums X Ed Sheeran REVIEWED BY JASMINE BLACKETT

Ed Sheeran has just released his second studio album, known simply as X but pronounced “multiply.” Throughout Ed Sheeran’s journey as a musician, we have come to know him for his heartfelt lyrics and tender songs. X was released worldwide in June, and his single “Sing” has since reached No. 1 in the U.K. Sheeran’s new album would most likely appeal to those who listen to alternative and indie music. In particular, the song, “Bloodstream” has that vibe. All of Sheeran’s songs have a new sound to them, adding yet another creative layer to his already eclectic music. Compared to his first album, Sheeran has developed yet another layer to his unique sound. Some of the songs stray from the more acoustic,

Don’t Kill the Magic MAGIC! REVIEWED BY CATHERINE LIEU

Almost everyone knows MAGIC!’s incredibly catchy debut song, “Rude,” but there hasn’t been much buzz around the band’s debut album, Don’t Kill the Magic, released on June 30. The title track has a pop-reggae feel to it, which also matches the rest of the songs on the album. The question remains, though, would an album full of pop-reggae songs get old too quickly? Definitely not! Every song has its own hook and is uniquely catchy and distinctive. Some are slower songs, some are great for dancing, but all of them have their own personality and all of them tell a story. The two title tracks from the album, “Rude” (as mentioned above) and “Don’t Kill the Magic” are great representations of the album, GRIPMagazine

and MAGIC!’s lead singer, Nasri Atweh, the lead writer on 10 out of the 11 songs of the album, outdid himself with his ability to tell a real story from the song lyrics. This album is something new on the charts. Reggae fans will appreciate Atweh’s writing skills as the music from the album is very much so a reggae album, but I would advise listeners of all different genres to give a listen to MAGIC!, which is full of happy, fun and incredibly catchy songs. Grade: A MAGIC! lives up to the hype of its debut single with catchy tunes that everyone can enjoy, no matter what genre you prefer.

piano-side of things into a more electronic sound, adding in some really cool beats that just send you a good vibe. Sheeran’s songs in this album are a little grittier than what was heard in his first album. The topics have evolved into something a little more rough, like “The Man,” where instead of pouring out his love he sings a song to someone he no longer loves. Clearly, this new album has worked its magic as critics have paid it plenty of positive reviews. Grade: A For making such a top-notch album with catchy and endearing songs, Ed Sheeran has most definitely earned X an A.

views True Believers Darius Rucker REVIEWED BY LOUISE FOURNIER

Have you been searching for one of those feel-good summer-throwback songs? Look no further than Darius Rucker’s song “Radio”! This song is bound to bring back all of those summertime memories with its upbeat but relaxed groove. In True Believers, Rucker manages to cover a broad spectrum of life experiences, from summer melodies like Radio to tracks that pull on your heartstrings like Miss You. Rucker achieved a unique sound by mixing up co-writers and stretching himself to write some breakup songs. Rucker still makes sure he gets his hands dirty when it comes to the writing process, and helped create most of the tracks on his third studio CD. Another aspect that makes this album stand out from his previous albums is his use of various talented featured artists, like Mallary Hope and Sheryl Crow. The single “True Believers” was a big hit, and

Ghost Stories Coldplay REVIEWED BY MEGAN GANLEY

Coldplay’s new album Ghost Stories is their sixth studio album. It’s full of songs about love, respect and relationships. The songs, like “True Love” and “Another’s Arms” are emotional pieces about love and sadness, and sound soft and gentle, like you could fall asleep to them. But a couple of songs, like “Ink,” are louder and funkier than the others. These are full of hope and the will to go on. They are touching yet fun, and get you in the mood to dance.

speaks to the difficulties faced in a relationship and about how a couple can overcome them if they believe in each other and stick together. No, love can’t be butterflies and roses 24/7, but that doesn’t mean it is not worth experiencing, and this song shows that it is always worth it. Grade: B For Darius Rucker’s willingness to try a different sound, and for his involvement in the writing process. I am impressed by how engaged Rucker is in the process of creating his songs but I do not personally enjoy all of the songs on this album.

The songs on this album have great lyrics, like in the poetic love song “A Sky Full of Stars,” when frontman Chris Martin sings “’Cause in a sky full of stars, I think I see you.” In the song “Another’s Arms,” he sings “When the pain just rips right through me, another’s arms, another’s arms, and that’s just torture to me,” stating that love can be torturous and heart breaking, as well as bring happiness. Grade: A- I liked the beats and lyrics of the songs. They were peaceful, although some made me sad. facebook.com/gripmag

it HAPPENS | Reviews

Game Time

Off th

Here are Grip’s game picks for summer

New s that ta tudies have can ac king a stud shown work wtually lead t y break it. So d hen we geto better eyes tuon’t read un back at take a rn dry! Get til your song o walk, listen up and study r take a nap to a sessio betwe ns. en

Title: Bravely Default Platform: Nintendo 3DS Rating: T for Teen

REVIEWED BY ISABEL RODRIGUEZ

Bravely Default immediately provides you with a reason to finish the game through to the end, or at least a good chunk of the way. When you begin, you’re instantly transported into a world seconds before chaos hits. It’s almost overwhelming, but the writers reassure the player that the game ahead won’t be as bleak as it seems. You follow the journey of four strangers brought together by disaster, each seeking answers to their own personal conflicts while uncovering the mysteries surrounding the mishap. Both the graphics and music are charming, and the 3D depth slider is used to its full potential. The backgrounds are traditionally drawn, while the characters are rendered in CGI, making the game look like a pop-up book. It’ll leave you in awe as you travel to different regions. The score fits whichever situation you find yourself in, and fortunately doesn’t become too annoying when you have to grind through dungeons. The combat system, which is turn-based, has been implemented with a “high risk, high reward” feature called “Brave” and “Default,” leaving the player to decide their strategy and timing. If you’ve played Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, released for the DS a few years back, Bravely Default is its successor. It’s not a sequel per se, though, as the two games share similar traits, but they do not share the same timeline. Grade: A Whether you’re a fan of the Final Fantasy series, or just looking for a new game to get your hands on, Bravely Default is one of the most solid games to be released for the 3DS in 2014.

Title: Legend of Zelda:A Link Between Worlds Platform: Nintendo 3DS Rating: E for Everyone REVIEWED BY BRETT MORRISON

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the most recent installment in the world-renowned Legend of Zelda franchise. In this action-packed return to Hyrule, a threat known as “Lorule” has popped up from an alternate universe, threatening the safety of the world. Link, our timeless hero dressed in green, must rise to the challenge and defend Hyrule from the beauty-obsessed villain, Yuga. Unlike previous Legend of Zelda games, A Link Between Worlds features a new variable that’s integral to both the storyline and the combat system: merging into walls. Thanks to Yuga and a magic bracelet, Link gains the ability to merge into and out of walls by transforming into a painting. This feature allows Link to avoid attacks and transport between Hyrule and Lorule. In addition to having an enjoyable and simple combat system, A Link Between Worlds contains a fairly significant amount of puzzle solving that challenges the player to think about advancing through the area while also dealing with enemies and/or obstacles that are present. If you’ve been craving more of the mythical Kingdom of Hyrule, want to travel to another realm and go on an adventure, or if you want to solve puzzles while fighting off the forces of evil, then A Link Between Worlds is the game for you. Grade: A- This game is very well done, especially within the Legend of Zelda franchise. However, there is no aftergame (a disappointment if you’re still craving more after the final boss fight), and certain combat mechanics and similar features require polishing. Overall, A Link Between Worlds is an excellent video game.

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What MyersBriggs Personality Type are you? Find out here: myersbriggs.org

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HELP wanTeD

Got a question that no one can answer, or that you’re too afraid to ask your parents, teacher or best friend? Send it to us at Grip. We guarantee anonymity, and we’re beyond embarrassment. We’ll find an expert to answer the most persistent question you have related to any topic: relationships, school, sexuality, puberty, drugs, love, life and the pursuit of happiness. So … what are you waiting for?

This month, AHS clinical therapist Eden McCaffrey takes on your questions:

“I’m feeling a lot of pressure when balancing my school work and extracurricular sports. How can I show that I’m serious about both?” Finding a balance is all about managing your time. You are your own “life manager,” and since you can’t fire yourself, you can only improve on the job you are doing. It’s a learned skill – managing your life is not an event; it is a process. Keys to success include prioritizing, managing expectations and selfcare. Step back and give your life manager a performance review. Are you showing people what you can do best? Taking care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally? Putting your life together in such a way that you are having fun and enjoying yourself? The next step is to define the balance you desire. How will this look in the real world? When you

know who you are and how you feel about the important parts of your life, you’ll make balanced and healthy choices that show others your success and priorities.

“My boyfriend broke up with me and I can’t get over it. Why am I finding it so hard to move on?” When you are hurt emotionally, the pain can last longer than the actual event. When someone or something hurts you, it is only natural to have a negative reaction. But you have a choice. Holding onto the pain can diminish your confidence, self-esteem and, in turn, prevent your heart from healing. All feelings are normal, but the power of negative feelings can push other more positive feelings to the background, creating an imbalance. Is it fair you were hurt? No. Is it easy to move on? No. It is worth it? Yep! Moving on is a decision. Name it, and then

claim it. Identify the least demanding thing you can do to achieve emotional closure (i.e., writing a closure letter you never send). Write down words you need to say to yourself to claim the freedom of moving on. Lastly, re-engage in life, even if you are just going through the motions at first. Practise the old cliché “out of sight, out of mind.” Delete that person from social media and don’t revisit the past (like listening to songs that remind you of them). Move forward and make new memories. Imagine the fantastic future ahead of you.

Help Wanted is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultations with your doctor or to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any personal medical and health questions that you may have. Email helpwanted@griponlife.ca or mail Help Wanted, c/o Grip Magazine 10259-105 St., Edmonton, AB T5J 1E3

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THE SURVIVAL ISSUE Sometimes it can feel like we’re just trying to get by. But survival means so much more than just living – it also means overcoming challenges and thriving in a tough world. In this issue of Grip we consider what it takes just to survive.

WE’RE ALL UNCOOL

PROMINENT ALBERTANS DISH OUT ADVICE ON HOW TO SURVIVE SCHOOL

HOW LONG COULD YOU LAST IN THE DEEP DARK WOODS?

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FINDING A PSYCHOLOGIST

TAKE OUR QUIZ BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT INTO THE WILD.

YOU CAN SURVIVE DEPRESSION.

AWAY WE GO

HOW TO HANDLE A BIG MOVE

HOW TO PACK YOUR BACKPACK

HEAD OUT FROM HOME KNOWING YOU’VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE

GET OUT THERE

WE EXPLORE ALBERTA’S HIDDEN SPOTS

25 27 32

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Cool Albertans dish out advice on getting through the highs and lows of school FILMED IN

STARRING

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Kris Demeanor

Clara Hughes

Naheed Nenshi

Mike Peterson

Don Iveson

Angel Berry

Spencer Beach

Marko Aleksic

Rod Peter Jr.

Kris Demeanor: Poet, hoola hooper There’s no getting around the emotional highs and lows. I remember being obsessed with the same girl for months just because she asked to borrow a pencil from me. I had a self-made T-shirt that said ‘Nothing Matters,’ which was just wishful thinking. Everything mattered. No, all you can do is cultivate your allies: Escape and Distraction. Escape through reading and writing: enter worlds of wonder and excitement in a book or create your own stories, poems, songs and rants. For distraction, work up a sweat – breathe hard, get tired. This doesn’t have to be organized sports, though that’s fine if it’s your thing. Ride a bike around the reservoir, hoola hoop, run through the forest with an aluminum foil sword pretending to be a Middle Earth ranger. It’s harder to remember your anxieties and marks and doomed romances when you’re chasing a ball. As far as school, think of your teachers as allies, even peers. Challenge them when you think it’s justified, ask them questions unrelated to the class or on a weird trajectory that makes them excited to answer you. Remember that they are probably only 15 to 20 years older than you, which is nothing. They are searching, uncertain creatures like you, and just want their jobs to be rewarding and for you to care just a little bit, so meet them half way. Clara Hughes: Olympic skater and cyclist, big talker I went to the school of sport, where I learned about kinesiology, psychology, business and much more. More than anything, sports taught me about the inner workings of the human spirit. If I could go back to my younger self and give a few tips to survive, or perhaps just get by a little better, this is what I’d say: Talk to someone. If you can just realize how important talking things out is, and not hold them inside, you’ll save yourself from years of self-torture. Even though it feels like the end of the world sometimes, know that it may not get easier but you will develop more skills to cope with these feelings. Naheed Nenshi: Mayor of the City of Calgary, happy nerd I loved junior high and high school. There, I said it. I wasn’t the most popular guy, and heaven knows I was lousy at sports. I didn’t drink or party or do drugs – still don’t. My dating life was pretty much non-existent, and I had, shall we say, my own sense of style. Yet I looked forward to going to school every day. Why is that? I think it was because I was focused on things that I found exciting: not just classes but also student council and yearbook and acting in school productions. I found friends who I loved for who they were and they supported me right back – still do. I didn’t really care what others thought or said about me, since I knew that

I would succeed on my own terms. My most practical advice, though? Join the debating team. Yes, it’s nerdy, but you’ll use those skills every day of your life. Mike Peterson: Director of Lloyd the Conqueror, fan mailer Read books. Find a mentor, a hero, someone who has done it: write them a letter and ask them for help. Also, the coolest dude in high school and the prettiest person often lose all of those things a few years after graduation. So try not to worry about the unimportant things and do what keeps you challenged and makes you happy. Don Iveson: Mayor of the City of Edmonton, not a worrier The key to surviving high school is not to worry too much about what others think of you. I was a super nerd in high school, but I didn’t spend much time worrying about what the “cool kids” thought. So I focused on my studies and on extracurricular activities – and that’s where I met the most interesting people. Angel Berry: Spoken word poet, picture taker In my school this year there will be 280 new kids in my grade! That’s crazy. Bring some pictures from your summer vacation that will make you smile and hang them on your school locker. Spencer Beach: Burn survivor and speaker, one of a kind Being unique does not come from the color or cut of your hair or from the clothes you wear or from the tattoos you have or the piercings on your body. To truly be unique all you need to do is know and be true to yourself. Marko Aleksic: Edmonton FC defender, true to self Staying true to your real character is sometimes harder than the academics itself. Accomplishing this difficult task sets you up to have a good time during high school and even after. Rod Peter Jr.: Fringe Festival star of Kitt & Jane, an Interactive Survival Guide to the Near PostApocalyptic Future, high school survivor Here’s the thing about school: once it’s gone, IT’S GONE. The good parts and the bad parts, all that pressure from teachers and parents, bullying. Gone! Just know that soon, you’ll be the one running world. No really, you could be prime minister or something if you really want to. Or an evil mastermind ...either or... facebook.com/gripmag

20 QUIZ In Case of Emergency... Sure, you can navigate your city’s public transit and know your school’s hallways like the back of your hand. But what happens if you find yourself lost in the outdoors with no survivor guide or GPS unit in sight? Take our quiz to see how your outdoor survival skills shape up

1. A B C

2. A B C

3. A B C

4. A B C

5. A B C

You’ve found yourself stranded in the woods. What’s your first concern? Uh-oh. What am I going to eat? Where’s my phone? Where can I find a spot to make a fire and build a shelter? You’ve gone one day without a home-cooked meal. What’s your mindset? Can’t think, too hungry. Not a big deal; I have an app that shows me what plants are OK to eat. Campfire meals are my favourite kind! How cold is it? As cold as my fridge! Here, let me check my phone. Good thing I packed lots of layers. How far do you stray from your original path? I won’t budge an inch. My search for reception has taken me far and wide. I mark a path behind me wherever I go, so I can find my way back. You can hear a bear in the brush beside you. What do you do? Wonder if it’s looking for berries, and if it might share. Try to Google “bear survival tactics.” Make some loud noises and back away slowly.

A plane circles overhead – a rescue! How do you make sure they find you? A Use the berries you found to spell out “HELP!” B Use your now-dead cellphone screen to signal a bright light. C Build a huge fire on the beach, as high as it can go.

7. A B C

They’ve missed you. Any chance you can you find your way out? I’ll start looking around for a breadcrumb trail. Is there a payphone near here somewhere? If I climb a tree, maybe I’ll find a landmark.

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You’ve been stranded for a week now. What are you absolutely dying to get your hands on? A A hamburger and fries. B A solar charger. C A lighter and knife would be great.

9. A B C

What’s the scariest book you’ve ever read? The Hunger Games trilogy The Road Hatchet

10. Does the term “wild potato” sound appealing to you? A B C

Tell me more. Is that a food? I’ve definitely read Into the Wild, so no.

If you answered mostly As: You sound really hungry. Maybe take this as a hint that you should read up in advance on yummy food you can forage for in the woods? If you answered mostly Bs: Technological advancements can help make our lives super easy, but there are some places we just can’t use them. Lift your head up from the screen and learn some fun skills so that you’re set when there’s no reception. If you answered mostly Cs: Looks like you’ve got a cool adventurer head on your shoulders. Are you sure you’re lost at all? The content of this quiz is for information and awareness purposes only, and is not intended to provide any sort of survival or wilderness advice. You should seek outdoors training from an accredited source before heading into the backwoods or any dangerous situation in the outdoors.

Everything You Need to Know About Seeing a Psychologist By Darcy Ropchan

Depression can make living each day feel like a struggle. When I was struggling through depression, I would wake up in the morning not knowing what my purpose in life was, and I avoided going outside to meet the world. Activities that used to bring me joy and excitement no longer held my interest and felt pointless. If you think that you might be depressed, it’s crucial to know that you’re not alone, and you are capable of finding help. I talked to Dr. Brent Macdonald, a registered psychologist in Calgary, who told me everything a kid needs to know about finding a psychologist.

Talk about the first session. This can be a bit scary, but that’s only because you haven’t done it before. The first session is usually a “meet and greet,” in which the psychologist will go over the limits of confidentiality and discuss what the teen can likely expect from their work together. Psychologists work in a lot of different environments and styles, but usually it’s a private office and you’ll sit with us and talk. They’ll ask you background questions and chat about what you want to get out of therapy. Our role is to help, and the best way to do that is to make sure that you’re relaxed and comfortable.

What’s the first step? Brent: It usually means talking with a trusted adult, if possible. Think about asking to see a psychologist as a positive step – most people will praise you and make you feel good about trying to get some help. If you can’t speak to an adult, the Kids Help Phone is also a good starting point. They can help hook you up with a psychologist in your community.

How long will you need to go? That depends. Sometimes one or two sessions can provide all the help you need. Other times it takes longer. Some psychologists prefer short-term counselling, in which the goal is to help you develop tools so that you can work through some of your difficulties independently.

Do you really keep it private? Yes. One of the first things a psychologist will do is clarify the limits of confidentiality. The rules are pretty straightforward: without your permission, we can’t share the things we talk about with anybody, parents included. There are exceptions. If you tell us something that makes us suspect that you, or someone else, is in danger of harm, or if we’re court ordered to release information, we may have to break that rule. In my experience, parents are respectful of the confidential relationship and don’t ask. If parents request information from sessions, we’ll ask you privately if you’re okay with us sharing, and only share what you allow us to.

Where To Look • Avoid seeking out help online – there are a lot of untrustworthy sources out there, and it can be hard to know what’s helpful. • If you’d rather not talk to your parents about this, seek out help from your doctor or an adult at your school. If you don’t know who to talk to about seeing a psychologist, try the Kid’s Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868. They will help connect you with some of the many local agencies that can help you arrange a meeting.

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Survival of

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the Fittest Eating disorders live in all kinds of bodies. Here’s how I managed to come to terms with body image

By Jay Walker

hen I was 18, my alarm was set for 5:30 a.m. and it left me in a state of depression, which was followed by a constant Most teenagers opt to hit the snooze button for that extra battle with anxiety. Focusing on fitness functioned as a stress-reducing few minutes of calm, but I forced myself to be up and moving technique for a short period but soon transitioned from interest to obsession, within 60 seconds. Even if I had wanted to continue to rest, there was and my knowledge of nutrition quickly transformed my love of food to a conalways a demanding voice in my head that reminded me I was not tinuous mental battle about what was “right” and “wrong” to eat. What had allowed to do so. Before my classes began at eight, I was convinced started off as an exercise regime to increase my fitness level slowly grew that I had to be at the gym for at least 90 minutes. I would show up and over several months into a set of obsessive habits that did far more harm to make sure that I measured, calculated and logged all exercises done, my body than good. all energy spent and most importantly, all the food I consumed. These were the demands I placed upon myself, for every moment of every day. My situation, like every person’s with an eating disorder, was unique. When I compared myself to several online diagnoses of various disorders, This was my life with an eating disorder. only certain categories My tedious and exhaustmatched up. I was able to ing compulsions did not blend in with the other guys begin suddenly, nor did they at the gym – on the surface start from a negative place. we were all fit, healthy and Throughout my teenage happy. The problem with years, while I had never held the surface is that it is only a particularly positive body able to reveal so much image, I was not ashamed information. While many of who I was on the inside. I did well in school, always held down a job and was a proactive person of the other men were exercising for purposes like improving sportwho had many friends. My relationship with my family was great and I related skills, maintaining optimal health or increasing a certain part of their fitness, what drove me was always something extreme. My mind had a strong support system. As a young boy I had a positive relationship with exercise, and even engaged in competitive swimming. While was only ever focused on the calorie burn and what that meant for how much, or little, I would later allow myself to eat. I had so much going well in my life, there were also parts of me that I I believe that one of the many barriers that I had towards felt did not measure up, though at the time I did not know exactly what understanding that I had an eating disorder was the fact that, until they were. All I knew was that I felt different from other people. I never recently, eating disorders have often been viewed only as a girl’s felt masculine enough, even though I was not ashamed of the parts issue. The media often says it results from a simple combination of me that some people may consider to be more feminine. Over the of low self-esteem and a desire to conform to a thin body type. In years this slowly tore down my self-esteem and with it all the positive reality, eating and body image disorders affect everyone, regardless feelings I had about my body. In my teen years I constantly dieted, unbeknownst to my parents, as of age or gender. While there are common behaviours associated with eating disorders, namely some form of restriction or a binge I did my best to hide it from them. I knew, though, that dieting rarely and purge relationship, these occur differently for each and every benefits anyone’s health or weight in the long run, and I decided that individual. What all people with eating disorders have in common is exploring exercise and nutrition would be a more appropriate and that their actual problems are not simply about food and the body, health-oriented path. but are most often something deeper and more personal. During this time, my father died after a long battle with cancer,

What had started off as an exercise regime to increase my fitness level slowly grew over several months into a set of obsessive habits that did far more harm to my body than good.

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24 For an extended period of time, I did not want to admit to having a problem that I could not handle on my own. I did not fit the stereotype, nor did I understand how I had let myself get to what I thought was such a pathetic existence. Eventually, my constant exercise compulsions and obsession over food restrictions were no longer attainable, and I began to binge and purge. This behaviour began weekly, then daily and eventually every few hours. My energy dwindled to the point where I could exercise only every few days, once a week, once every few weeks and then almost never. Through my disorder I lost my passion, the quality of my friendships, my health and a good portion of my income. I could no longer put energy towards anything enjoyable in life because I simply had none to give. At that point, I finally knew I had to admit that what I was doing was not at all healthy. Asking for help was not easy, but by doing so I opened doors that were invaluable to getting my life back on track. Through meeting with a counsellor, engaging in group therapy and talking about my experiences, I was able to begin to move away from destructive behaviour, and towards creating new, positive ones. While I wish for my story to inspire hope, I would also be lying if I said that recovery was a quick or easy process. My most extreme behaviours dissipated in a matter of weeks, but the thoughts about those behaviours left my mind at a much slower rate. Fully regaining my selfesteem and rebuilding a healthy relationship with food as well as exercise, took years. That’s not to say that I spent those years in a stressful or unhappy state. Each day, week and month became easier, but it was work. I now work in health and fitness as a personal trainer, and I pride myself on creating an environment where my clients do not feel pressure to conform to any body type, regardless of their gender. I share my experiences, and together we work towards finding them the best relationship that they can have with their body. For me, exercise is no longer something that I feel I must do but something that I choose to do, when I have the energy, in order to live an active and healthy life. Food is no longer an enemy, a punishment or even a reward. It is one of many things in my life for me to enjoy. I don’t live my life as a “former anorexic” but think of myself as someone who had some troubling experiences, and through them, learned how to get better, and help others who are struggling. Chances are that you have met one or more persons that have some type of negative relationship with their body. There is no one face of an eating disorder, and you can never simply assume that a person has one. They occur in all kinds of people, span all ages and live in all types of bodies. If you’re concerned about your own relationship with your body, talk to someone about it. If you are concerned for a loved one, let them know how you feel. Come at these issues from a caring place, and understand that you may not always get a positive response. The sole piece of advice I fully stand behind is just to talk. That is step one in both the prevention of, and recovery from, eating disorders. HELP AT HAND If you or a friend is struggling with an eating disorder, you can find help through the AHS Eating Disorder Services programs available across the province. For more information, call 403-955-7700 in Calgary or 780-407-6114 in Edmonton. GRIPMagazine

BARBIE By Jasmine Blackett Her mother always called me a Barbie doll and she never understood why I got offended Did not understand why such a simple thing meant so much to me So much to me that I knew what it meant to want to be that Barbie, to wish you were that Barbie, to make yourself that Barbie Her mother always said that I had the perfect body: skinny, long legs, model material A Barbie Not understanding that the concept of being porcelain blonde, tall with “ocean blue” eyes, pink lips, long legs, tiny waist It was unattainable I am not porcelain, I do not have golden locks of hair, my eyes are not “robin’s egg” blue, my waist is not tiny And do you think that Barbie has acne? No She has been airbrushed to magazine cover perfection, eyelashes long and voluminous, lipstick in just the right shade, eyeliner perfectly winged I am not airbrushed for magazines and I don’t wear foundation and if my eyeliner is on point it’s only a bonus Her mother always called me a Barbie doll and she never understood why I got offended Did not understand why I didn’t accept it as a compliment with open arms But how would you like to be compared to a Barbie doll? I do not like my body, I do not like my skin, I do not like the splotches of mixed colour on my back,my torso is too short, my eyes are not light I do not enjoy the image in the mirror I am not a Barbie doll, I am far from a Barbie doll. I enjoy my baggy T-shirts because tight clothes make me uncomfortable Her mother always called me a Barbie doll and she never understood why I got offended Did not understand why such a simple thing meant so much to me Because being called a Barbie is not a compliment Notice how her skin is not an attainable tan, the toes of her feet and the fingers on her hands remain stitched together, her hair the consistency of straw And that is not the way I want to be I am uncomfortable with my body and I am learning to embrace the things on my mirror outside and uncensored inside, I am learning I am me.

Away We Go How can you survive a really big move? By Luna Yang

’ve moved to 10 schools and six cities in the past eight years, and I’m still not entirely sure how I survive it each time. Moving is so personal and affects us in so many different ways. Adapting to a new place is never easy, and it shouldn’t be. Don’t let me scare you, though. Moving has its benefits – it keeps life fresh, and encourages you to explore new places and meet new people. Any change that you might be facing, like the possibility of living in a new town, is not something you should fear, but something you should prepare for.

Since immigrating to Canada in 2006, my mother and I have been moving nonstop. That’s mostly due to the fact that she had to find work, but as the years passed, family issues and health concerns also arose, and moving became a constant – the only constant – in my life. To this day, the longest that I have ever stayed at a single school is two-and-ahalf years. Even when moving wasn’t necessary anymore, my mother moved because it had become part of our routine. We were constantly running towards something new in hopes of something better, and that expectation is something I still struggle with. facebook.com/gripmag

26 It’s aggravating to me when people dismiss the challenges of moving as a “First World problem.” While it might seem like no big deal, being uprooted does take a serious emotional toll, and it’s painful to be told to just “deal with it.” Loneliness is a suffocating thing for people of all ages. And it is, unfortunately, also part of moving, at least initially. It can prove to be damaging to a person’s psyche, and it’s not something to brush off. For me, moving has influenced my personality, and not always in a good way. There are problems that constant change has caused me that I will never be able to fully recover from, like insecurity and an unwillingness to become attached to people or places. But that’s only my story, and I’ve come to terms with it. Whatever situation you’re in right now, I hope that you’re able to surmount the instability. Know that it’s normal to feel lonely or sad about moving, and the only way to get over that is to be optimistic. Now, you would think that somebody like me, who’s moved so much, would have a magical solution for The Big Move. But there isn’t one. However, there are some ways to make it easier on yourself:

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Know thyself: Do the things you love, no matter where you are. Practise yoga, sign up for a dance class or join the basketball team. You’re not a new person just because you’ve moved. Be prepared: Get ready for your new school, neighbourhood or city by doing some research. What is your new town known for? The more prepared you are, the less lost you’ll feel. Be nice to yourself and your family: For the first little while, these are the only people you’ll know really well. Let it suck: You’re allowed to not like stuff! If you’re feeling low, don’t push your feelings aside. But know that soon enough, with a bit of effort, those feelings will be gone. Write it out: For me, something that really helped was writing. By allowing myself to be vulnerable on paper, I could express myself emotionally in a way that I never could in person, and certainly in a way that I would never allow myself to otherwise. It’s therapy to be able to put yourself out there. Maintain a positive attitude: I know that it’s one of those things that’s really easy to say but nearly impossible to accomplish, but the only thing that you or anybody else can expect of you is to try.

The Weight of the

WORLD By Jessica Highstead

It’s a portable survival pack, classroom and lunchbox all at once. We look at what supplies you absolutely need, and how to go about packing your bag

t’s a new school year, and with it comes backpacks, lockers and materials, oh my! Making sure you have everything you need is stressful, and carting it all around on your back is bad for your health. With this handy guide, you’ll be avoiding stress on your wallet, time and shoulders. First thing first: the backpack. There are tons of styles out there, ranging from the old school two-strap, to the one-side shoulder strap to styles that include purses, suitcases and really large binders. At the end of the day, it’s all about comfort and durability. Two straps are easier on your back and shoulders. The backpack should also be made out of a strong material that can handle the weight and space of all your books and pens. Look for options that zip shut, not snap, because snaps are likely to open spontaneously with really heavy loads.

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When it comes to your supplies, having the right binder is super important. And whether you keep yourself stocked with notebooks, Duo-Tangs or one single large binder, it’s organization that’s key. The bottom of your bag could easily become a black pit of single sheets of loose leaf and pencils – don’t let this happen to you! Don’t get caught up carrying several classes’ worth of notes – keep what you need on hand and leave everything else in your locker. If you plan on bringing a laptop to school, make sure it’s in protective casing and really consider if it’s actually replacing your heavy notebooks. Otherwise, you’re just adding to the weight on your back. A simple way to relieve stress once your schedule really gets packed is to make sure you have a paper day planner, not just your phone. Make sure to use all the side pockets on your backpack. They can be great places for house keys, your wallet and things like Kleenex, a watch or lozenges. This is also a great secret storage place for snacks – you never know when you’ll be stranded and hungry. What to ditch? Anything that you don’t actually use,

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regardless of your best intentions, like the book you’ve been trying to get through for years. Some items that aren’t necessities keep you calm, like your journal, iPod or stress ball. Keep these. Once you have all the essentials – from toiletries to notebooks to schedules, it’s time to start packing. Start at the bottom (or the back) with the largest and heaviest things. This ensures you have room for everything else and also that you don’t hurt your back with awkwardly shaped items hitting it with every step. From there, move on to the next largest item and continue until everything’s packed, with the smallest items in the tiny pockets on the front.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Most backpacks come with a card for your name and contact information. This is an invaluable tool if you lose your backpack, but only include your name, email address and phone number, not your home address, in case your house keys are inside.

Immunity

CHALLENGE Surviving a harrowing illness abroad helped one teenager grow stronger

is By J.M.M. Lew

month and one week after my 18th birthday, I moved to China. For four months in 2013, I taught English to first- and second-grade students, and travelled around China on the weekends and holidays. It was the best thing I have done in my life so far. I lived in a city called Weihai, on the eastern tip of the province of Shandong. It is a gorgeous, lively seaside town with a rich history and incredibly kind people. My memories of it are so vivid: I can smell the sea, see the painfully bright lights of downtown and feel the sticky humidity that followed me everywhere. I heard my studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voices in my dreams for months after I came home, like they were still standing in front of me. facebook.com/gripmag

30 About halfway through my time there, some friends and I planned a trip across the country. We’d stop in the city of Xı’an, visit the famous Terracotta Warriors and the Lóngshèng (“dragon’s backbone”) Rice Terraces, and head to Yángshuò. You know those Dr. Seuss-style mountains you see in ink paintings of China? That’s Yángshuò. While visiting the Warriors, I had an incredibly delicious egg, tomato and noodle dish at a restaurant just outside the museum. Being a vegetarian in China means eating a lot of eggs, and trusting that whoever cooks them knows what they’re doing. The chickens had just laid the eggs in a courtyard behind the restaurant – we could see them from where we were sitting.

KNOW THE RISKS The Government of Canada’s warning about avian influenza, otherwise known as H5N1 or the “bird flu,” remains the same today as it was in 2013. If you are travelling to an area where avian influenza is a concern: • avoid high-risk areas such as poultry farms and live animal markets, including areas where poultry may be slaughtered • avoid contact with birds (alive or dead), including chickens, ducks and wild birds • avoid surfaces that may have bird droppings or secretions on them • ensure that all poultry dishes, including eggs, are well cooked

I started to cough shortly after my meal at the museum, but there is no way to prove the food made me sick. I’m asthmatic, and the cough quickly turned into a lung infection. I knew I was sick, but I also knew that going to the doctor while on the road would be difficult, so I decided to suck it up. I could get antibiotics back in Weihai if I needed to. Things took a turn for the worse a few days later, at our hostel in Yángshuò. I woke up freezing cold, knowing that something was very wrong. My teeth were chattering together too hard for me to get a single word out. I was coughing so hard that I would vomit, my throat was incredibly sore, I had full body aches and pains and I was disoriented. I have an amazing friend named Melanie. Melanie was a pre-medical student at this point, and is the daughter of an ER doctor in the United States. I went to her with my concerns, and she called her father. He thought I might have pneumonia, and recommended that I go straight to the hospital. Melanie, our friend Samuel and I left right away. A nurse took us into a consultation room where we waited for a doctor who spoke English. She arrived, but she used a translation app on her phone for most of the conversation. We all agreed that I had a lung infection, and I was taken for tests. I was suddenly starving, and asked my friends to go get me pizza (yes,

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it’s different there). Melanie left me her cellphone, despite the fact that calls would cost a lot of money. I broke down after my friends left; I felt like I was living a nightmare. I kept trying to call my family, but no one was awake. When they did answer, talking didn’t help much. Explaining it all made it even scarier, somehow. Our group was due to head home on a 27-hour train ride the next day, but the hospital wanted to conduct more tests. I had to get on that train, or risk being stranded in southern China for an indefinite amount of time. I asked the doctor if I had the bird flu, and she said she couldn’t confirm that. I asked her if I would infect other people if I got on the train, and she couldn’t confirm that either. I asked if I would be held in the hospital against my will: she told me I would not be.

“I had been ill for almost 19 days by this point. I had spent a lot of time trying to accept that I might die, that I was going to go because I had eaten a poorly-cooked egg.” So I paid my bill, was given a bevy of antibiotics and face masks and went back to the hostel. I remember falling asleep that night wondering if I was going to die in China. I genuinely considered the thought of never seeing my family, again. I couldn’t stop crying. Of that 27-hour ride, I remember only two hours. In the end, we got off in Weihai, hopped into a taxi and went back to our school. For a brief moment, I felt a little bit better, and I wondered if the antibiotics had started to work. They hadn’t. Soon, the infection spread to my stomach. I found myself in another hospital after an entire night spent running between the bed and the toilet. This hospital was more frightening than the last, even though I had a translator with me this time. It was certainly modern medicine, but it didn’t look anything like what I was used to back in Canada.

They did an MRI, took more blood and prescribed me new antibiotics. We went back to the school we worked at, but that didn’t last long. The principal of the school wanted me removed from the premises right away – he would not allow me on its grounds if there was even a chance of me having avian influenza. I couldn’t stop shaking. I wasn’t allowed to get my belongings, to use a phone, or to say goodbye to any of my friends. I ended up in yet another hospital, where they performed more tests. I sat with an IV in my arm for hours. Then, something amazing happened: I was told that my illness was passing. As long as I stayed on the road to health, I wouldn’t be quarantined. I had been ill for almost 19 days by this point. I had spent a lot of time trying to accept that I might die, that I was going to go because I had eaten a poorly-cooked egg. And then there was this saint of a doctor, writing in a notebook and telling me that my infection was clearing. The next two weeks were hard. I didn’t recover as quickly as I hoped and sometimes I wondered if I would ever really recover at all. I couldn’t seem to shake this idea that I was going to die, even though I could see myself improving. Clearly, I didn’t die, but my perspective on life underwent a huge shift. I can’t forget any of what I saw or felt, and I can’t undo the lasting damage to my lungs. What I can say is that going to China changed me as a person, in every way. Being sick made me more careful when it comes to my health but also far less fearful of the world. If I survived that illness, I can survive anything. I’m not scared, anymore – just excited for new adventures.

BE PREPARED Falling ill abroad can be a very serious issue. Dr. Richard Musto at AHS Travel Services has some tips for staying fit and healthy while you travel: • Research where you’re going by checking the AHS and Public Health Agency of Canada listings for advisories in the region. Make sure you’ve obtained all the vaccines you need to travel in that region • Visit IAMAT.org for listings of English-speaking doctors in the region you’re travelling • Make sure the food you eat is well-cooked, that fruit and vegetables are peeled and that you open bottled water yourself • Be aware that it could be shocking to visit hospitals in other parts of the world

CULTURE SHOCK

The emotional upheaval that comes with travelling is common and often ignored. Plan in advance not just for physical health problems, but psychological ones as well – have a friend or family member on speed dial who you can call when you’re feeling low.

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Breaka THE

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kaway

Try something new. Plan a day trip at one of Alberta’s best hidden spots

By Mitchell Kaye

here is nothing that a little adventure can’t cure. But when we can’t make a quick escape, because of school or money or parents, it can feel like we’re stuck being bored at home, twiddling our thumbs. Good thing we live in Alberta, then. Our backyard is full of undiscovered treasures, a place of great natural beauty (with the Rocky Mountains on our doorstep and badlands in the south) and bustling cities with hidden corners to boot. So next time you’re bored, plan a day trip to anywhere. This can mean getting on the new bus line in your neighbourhood and seeing where it takes you, or planning a full-on road trip to tackle the trails in Jasper. You might find that when you leave your comfort zone, great things happen. PLAN YOUR WAY OUT The best way to have a spontaneous adventure is actually to make sure you’re completely prepared for it. Before you set off, pack your bag and decide on where you’d like to go. Here’s what you’ll need in your survival kit: • A sweater and shell jacket. Remember: there is no bad weather, only bad clothes! • A snack and water bottle that you can refill as the day goes on • Enough cash for transit fare to get home, plus your wallet in case you need to buy a meal • A charged cell phone. Keep it turned off and only turn it on if you find yourself lost or late • A map or guidebook, if you like, especially if you’re not using your phone to get around • Your student I.D. for possible discounts on admission and travel • Tell your parents or another adult where you’ll be going and when you plan to be back MAKE YOUR BREAK 1. Ice Caves in Fish Creek Park: In the winter, Fish Creek Provincial Park in Calgary’s suburbs freezes up, creating new landscapes that you won’t see the rest of the year. You’ll have to search for a bit to find the “caves” that spring up from the river’s edge.

2. East Coulee Springfest: Every spring, the small town of East Coulee holds a folk music festival that attracts some of the best names in music. Never heard of it? You’re not alone. This is a true music lover’s festival, and you’re guaranteed to see master singer-songwriters on a prairie coal town backdrop. Worth it for the sunsets alone. 3. Leseur Ridge: You can make this ambling hill walk as long or as short as you like. Drive about an hour or so northeast of Calgary, park your car near the entrance for this hike and walk along the foothills ridge that overlooks the mountains. If you want to camp overnight, you can pitch a tent along the route. It’s welltravelled in the summer, and you’re sure to meet lots of interesting people. You might also catch a glimpse of the province’s wild horse population. 4. The End of the World: Well, not really. But this secluded outlook over the river in Edmonton’s Belgravia neighbourhood certainly has that feel to it. Be careful when you’re reaching the edge and also be aware that you’re probably not technically allowed to be there. 5. Hidden C-train station in Calgary: Below Calgary’s city hall there’s an old, abandoned facebook.com/gripmag

C-train station that’s basically an eerie, dark hallway. You can see videos of it on YouTube! There are a bunch of tours and organizations in Calgary that can show you a bit of the underground tunnel system, if you’re interested in the city’s darker side.

unearthed by palaeontologists not very long ago. You can visit them and some of the other finds from Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in this Warner museum.

6. Abraham Lake: Have you ever seen that photo of a turquoise lake frozen over, its ice full of suspended bubbles? In the winter, that’s Abraham Lake. It’s near Nordegg, an easy day trip from many places in the province. The lake is beautiful in the summer, but a jaunt there in the winter will reward you with a fascinating science lesson – it’s methane gas caught in the frozen water that makes all those billowing bubbles.

8. Art Galleries: Almost every city, and even some towns, have a pretty cool art space, and you’re almost guaranteed to learn something new there. Be sure to check out the university or college art space where you live (like FAB in Edmonton, or CASA in Lethbridge.) This is where young artists get to show off their goods, and sometimes they’re even there to answer questions. Some art galleries are hidden, so keep your eyes peeled when walking down busy streets.

7. Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur Museum: This tiny, kinda-creepy museum is worth the drive to small town southern Alberta. In the nearby badlands, some of the first dinosaur eggs were

COMMON SENSE STUFF Part of being old enough to undertake an adventure without an adult is being able to keep yourself safe.

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• Stay out of abandoned buildings, and don’t knowingly break the law. (This means no trespassing!) Your adventure can quickly be soured by a hefty fine for things like “forgetting” to pay for transit fare. • If you’re not an experienced outdoorsperson, avoid backcountry hikes and winter climbing. Make sure you read the weather report before you go on any hikes, and make sure you have enough daylight to get back safely. • Don’t follow strangers to their home. Or anywhere, really. • Be friendly to everyone. This is also a good rule in life, and the best way to avoid confrontations and trouble. • Use the bathroom when you have a chance, because you never know. • Keep bus schedules in your backpack and plan to take the second last trip home to give you some wiggle room to prevent you from becoming stranded.

Not Just Another Indie Flick

By Evan Tran

We dive deep into Netflix archives to find the best movies and TV shows you (probably) don’t know about So you’ve finished binge-watching the newest season of your favourite show, have exhausted the James Bond movies more than twice and cried your eyes out for the 50th time over Titanic. You might think that you’ve seen your entire queue, but if you’ve ever jumped into the deep end of Netflix content, you know there’s a vast collection out there, just hiding beneath the curated surface. I’ve journeyed into the depths of Netflix to find its hidden treasures. Some are funny, some are just weird and others are moving, but all of them are worth watching after a long day at school. So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the shows and movies listed below. Blue Planet: A Natural History of the Oceans (2001) A gripping documentary reminiscent of the popular Planet Earth series, Blue Planet is a look into the vast underworld of the ocean, its inhabitants and the intricacies of the largest classical element on Earth. Narrated excellently by David Attenborough, this collection of episodes is something to check out if you’ve ever been interested in marine life.

Fairy Tail: Season 1 (2009) If you’re an avid fan of anime, then you’ll likely have heard of this show produced by Funimation, but those unfamiliar with the Netflix anime section might have missed the premiere of this stellar series. Continually airing new episodes in Japan, the first season of Fairy Tail introduces you to mystical powers, magical guilds and a lot of laughs.

Zoom (2006) A guilty pleasure of mine that I watched as a kid, Zoom features Tim Allen as an out-of-practice superhero who gets back into shape by recruiting a motley crew of super-powered teens. It’s a little cliché and doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it’s a coming of age story that still leaves a warm feeling for me to this day.

The History of Future Folk (2012) An expertly crafted independent film, The History of Future Folk centres around two aliens (who look peculiarly human) from the planet of Hondo, who decide to take over Earth but become distracted by music and form a band. The premise is a little crazy, but no one can resist a banjo rendition of the Super Mario Brothers theme song, an example of the fantastic music this indie film showcases.

RV (2006) In light of the news surrounding comedy star Robin Williams’ death, there’s been a predictable resurgence in popularity of movies he’s starred. RV is a lesserknown one among his many hits. A comedy about a family’s mammoth road trip to the Rockies, the Munros prepare for an adventure to rant about. Released eight years ago, this is a comedic gem worth watching.

Bonus Gem: Example Short 23.976 Burned in Timecode (2010) This is an example of how ridiculous some movies on Netflix can be – you’ll have to have a glimpse at this short to believe it. When you’ve really felt as though you’ve seen it all, think again! Seemingly without rhyme or reason, this 11-minute short will give you something to talk about.

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Roofck Ages

Despite challenges in Calgaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-ages music scene, Samsara rocks on

By Brett Morrison

ake a step back from the world of pop music and super-produced musicians, and place yourself all the way back in 1982. Heavy metal is on the rise, and some of the biggest names in music are Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden, all of them part of the British Heavy Metal movement. Now,

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a Calgarian hard rock/heavy metal band is attempting to revive the British Heavy Metal sound by combining elements from the hard rock of the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80s with their own modern twist. Samsara was originally formed in 2009 with four members, and later recruited its current vocalist Reed Alton through an online ad. The band soon suffered through the departure of one of its original guitarists, bringing the number of members back down to four. But as with almost all rock and metal musicians, a love for the genre and

a passion for making music drew them back together with a new guitarist, culminating in today’s Samsara. The name comes from the band’s bassist, Brandon Sittler, who had listened to a song with the same name by Australian metalcore band Parkway Drive. Intrigued, Sittler looked further into the meaning of the name and learned that Samsara is a flow cycle of reincarnation within certain religions. When it comes to influences, the members of Samsara have been influenced by everything from Green Day and electronic dance music to Howard Jones and the melodic death metal band Wintersun. Drummer Brayden Tario says that indie and alternative rock bands heavily influenced his drumming before he joined and was introduced to metal. Guitarist Brandon Haddow, on the other hand, has been influenced by progressive metal as well as various rock bands. In September 2013, Samsara released its EP Into Oblivion on iTunes and in physical copy.

After having the EP out for a year, the album is still an important release for the band, but they have begun to move on from that sound and only play its songs every now and then. Samsara’s new music retains much of the older style, and continues to sound like a hybrid of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. The band has also begun toying with acoustic music, playing several acoustic gigs with plans to release an acoustic EP as well as a new single before 2015. In addition to playing its new music live, Samsara enjoys covering songs by bands it loves (Alice in Chains and Black Sabbath are both favourites), most of which are quite well received by the crowd. Calgary remains a tough city for an underage band, despite its roaring crowds and eager fans. One of the most important all-ages venues in the city, the New Black Centre for Music and Art, closed down in September 2013, devastating the tightknit community that depended on the New Black

for local all-ages shows. Since then, hardly any new all-ages venues have risen to the level of popularity and reliability that the New Black had, a tough situation for bands that can’t play 18+ shows yet. Reed says that the local music scene was a great place to hang out with your friends and watch small bands perform. “I miss the scene. The closure of the New Black has taken away the underground, basement venue feel we all loved,” he says. At the 18+ shows, in addition to housing fewer fans that know of them, the audience generally pays less attention. Despite all of this, Reed and the rest of Samsara have high hopes for the future. “Calgary’s a growing city,” he says. “People want to live here, and as long as people keep coming here, they’ll keep demanding a local music scene.” None of this has stopped Samsara from rocking out wherever they can play. The band continues to play small local venues, and there have even been talks of going on tour, though nothing is set in stone yet. Until then, Samsara will continue to unleash its arsenal of heavy metal and spread its music throughout Calgary and the rest of Alberta.

METAL DETECTING Heavy metal is one of the most diverse genres of music. Here’s a glossary to help you through: New Wave of British Heavy Metal: The first subgenre to emerge after the initial wave of metal, spawned by bands like Iron Maiden and Def Leppard. It features fast tempos, tough sounds and a lack of the blues element that was evident in the early metal music. Progressive Metal: Includes bands like Tool and Dream Theatre, who are influenced by rock bands like Rush, as well as classical and jazz. Extreme Metal: This subgenre is heavier, louder and angrier, and includes “thrash” metal bands like Slayer and Metallica. Death Metal: Take it one step further, with bands like Obituary and Deicide that include more screaming and growling than the others.

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Thisis The Olympic silver medalist sits down to talk competition, body image and friendship By Erin Emily Ann Vance

hether she’s entertaining her 14,000 followers on Instagram, or retweeting one of her 24,000 Twitter followers, Kaetlyn Osmond’s life is not much different than that of any other 18-year-old – with a bit of extra glamour and excitement thrown in. While most teenagers are applying filters to their party snapshots, Kaetlyn is posing in front of a rink named after her, and while some teens tweet about their summer jobs, Kaetlyn is sharing her training schedule. Kaetlyn is an 18-year-old figure skater extraordinaire based in Sherwood Park. Or at least that’s where she trains – she spends the rest of her time travelling across Canada and around the world for competitions, and visiting her hometown in Newfoundland. Kaetlyn won a silver medal in the team event at the Sochi Olympics, and is Canada’s reigning women’s national champion.

Kaetlyn knows that in the fight against gravity, sometimes gravity wins. Even after participating in the 2014 Olympic Games and a tour with Stars on Ice, Kaetlyn is still astonished that she has come so far: “It is still mind-blowing, but knowing I can inspire other people to pursue a sport or reach a goal is really important to me. I still think about it every day! I’m always thinking about the most positive side of things,” she says. Although Kaetlyn considers having competed in the Olympics one of her greatest accomplishments, she is extremely proud of having overcome a serious injury to win nationals last season. “It was unbelievable!” she says.

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Kaetlyn performs at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia, this past winter.

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40 Thisis

During the Winter Olympics, Kaetlyn competed in two events: team figure skating and ladies’ singles.

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With fun, flashy skating costumes, Kaetlyn infuses her programs on the ice with a rock star attitude and Audrey Hepburn-esque grace. “Kaetlyn loves to perform and loves having the attention of an audience,” says Ravi Walia, her coach at Edmonton’s Ice Palace Figure Skating Club. “She gets really excited when it’s time to compete but during training, she is quite calm and focused. The daily training can be intense but she’s always able to keep things positive and enjoyable.” Both Ravi and Kaetlyn agree that the Sochi experience was amazing. “It was special to be there with an athlete I have coached for eight years,” Ravi says. “I was honoured to be a part of such a supportive Canadian team.” Beyond that, Sochi was inspiring for both. “Kaetlyn has a very bright future ahead of her,” Ravi says. “Our focus is to improve each year, both technically and in her program components, as we work towards the 2018 Olympic Games.” Being a young figure skater means extreme commitment both on the rink and in the classroom. But Kaetlyn has somehow managed to find a balance between the high-profile lifestyle of a figure skater and that of a regular teen. She recently graduated high school, and has chosen to take some time off studies before pursuing post-secondary education. “I went through regular high school, but I never really got to experience high school parties. At my school everyone always seemed so dedicated, and I was so tired from training every morning,” she says. “Everything I do is focused towards skating, or towards relaxing from skating. Because I train five or six hours a day, I’m not quite ready to jump into university, so I’m going to take some online courses to gauge my interests.” She says that skating has given her the focus, independence and dedication to know that she can take her time and wait. Being a teenage professional athlete can make developing friendships and balancing school tricky, but Kaetlyn has found that the negatives outweigh the positives, and being an athlete has helped her navigate adolescence. “My biggest challenge as a skater is to constantly be recovering from injury, but my biggest challenge as a teen is to find friends outside skating. I like to hang out with friends just like everyone else,” she says. She’s also not

shy at all, answering a question about dating by stifling a small giggle and replying, “Yeah! It gives me a break from skating. Who doesn’t need someone to confide in? But they know that skating comes first.” Kaetlyn’s social media accounts are full of her and her friends laughing, and in several she pokes fun at herself – she recently posted a photo of a botched jump in practice with the caption: “In the fight against gravity…. gravity won.” It’s encouraging to see a young woman in the spotlight remain so down-to-earth. She even uses her social media presence and influence for more than just candid photos with clever captions: Kaetlyn recently retweeted an anti-bullying campaign, and posted on her Facebook page: “I will be participating today in the Maier Centre for Autism Celebrity Golf Tournament at The Links in Spruce Grove. Great event for a great cause. I visited the Maier Centre for Autism last night in Edmonton and what a great facility!” Kaetlyn’s support of the autism community and engagement with Stand for the Silent (@SFTSorg) on social media has the potential to raise awareness of important issues to her fans, many of whom are young. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t experience challenges. Sports like figure skating, gymnastics and competitive dance are famous for placing heavy pressure on top female athletes when it comes to their body image. “You hear about it in skating,” she says of eating disorders. “You are constantly being judged. You must be perfectly thin, fit and strive for perfection – it doesn’t work. You need to fuel yourself to do your best. A lot of skaters have fatigue.” Coach Ravi agrees. “There is a lot of pressure on the top skaters so it’s really important that they have a good support system around them. I try to make sure Kaetlyn keeps things in perspective and doesn’t get overwhelmed by the expectations. It’s also important that she keeps a balanced lifestyle where she has some time to be a normal teenager.” Aside from her life in skating, school and as a teen, Kaetlyn is very invested in family, and has a lot of pride for her hometown of Marystown, N.L. Initially, Kaetlyn began skating in the shadow of her older sister, but the two always remained amicable. “I wanted to be like my older sister,

Kaetlyn performs to the song “Hey Big Spender” at the 2013 Skate Canada International competition.

“My biggest challenge as a teen is to find friends outside skating” Kaetlyn says. “I like to hang out with friends just like everyone else.” so I did the same things as her,” she says. The sisters fostered an even deeper friendship after they stopped competing, and Kaetlyn recently helped welcome a nephew into the world. Her hometown also recently renamed the skating arena she grew up skating in after her. “It was pretty outstanding,” she says. “I didn’t believe

the rumours! It was where I first stepped onto the ice.” Kaetlyn recalls that moment clearly and fondly: “When I was two, my parents dragged me in my boots on the ice, but when I saw my sister skating, I demanded skates. They found a pair and I skated with my parents for two laps, and then went on my own.” facebook.com/gripmag

FIND YOUR

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Five lessons I learned while searching for friends By Evan Tran

aircut? Check. New clothes? Check. Hopeful attitude? Yep, check. It was the summer before Grade 10, and I had gotten rid of the mop of long hair that took all of Grade 9 to grow out. (It was a phase, I swear.) I figured this was the year I was going to become part of the popular group, go to every social gathering and make up for all the time I lost in junior high. As the youngest of three siblings, I was protected by my parents and mothered by my eldest sister. It’s not as glorious as it sounds – that meant my sister had full rights to ground me whenever I did something that she thought was wrong, and my parents were too busy with work. Gradually, I limited talking to my family about my daily life, in fear of being grounded for something I didn’t know was wrong. All the more reason to do what many teenagers do: seek out my peers in a quest to find a tight knit group of friends, a second family, where I could rant about anything on my mind and not be slapped on the wrist for it. So I walked in with a new hoodie, brand name jeans, brooding hair with combed over bangs and a zealous smile glued to my face as I embraced my first day of high school. This was the popular style in junior high, and I was sure that just dressing this way would give me a leg up on all the competition. All I needed to work on was talking to people and look awesome doing it. Long story short, that didn’t turn out so well. Ultimately, I fell into the wrong crowd, the complete opposite of the people I aspired to become close with. I tried again, searching through every school to find the one that felt “right” for my Grade 11 year. It was a gamble, I admit, but a gamble that I had to take. When I finally did switch schools, I never did find the tight-knit set of friends that you see in movies. Since I exhausted what seemed to be all the possible options, plenty of self-reflection followed: Why didn’t I have any friends? What about me was alienating others? A lack of social connection really took its toll on me. Instead of searching outward for answers to my predicament, I slowly diverted my attention inwards. Without my own tribe, I found some valuable lessons in a busy process of self-growth – lessons that I didn’t realize were preparing me for the day when finding my own tribe was a possibility.

1. To gain true friendships with others, it’s important to become friends with yourself. I’ll admit it sounds sappy, but forming a friendship is about putting yourself on the line and opening up to a stranger. If you don’t like yourself for who you are, how do you expect others to? 2. You’re not going to be friends with everyone, and that’s a good thing. Naturally, not everyone wanted to be my friend. That became an asset, because otherwise I’d have no time for myself or time to learn new subjects. 3. Use the time you have to learn new skills and become a more interesting person. Speaking of which, when it wasn’t possible to find the excitement of life in relationships, I learned to work on myself as a person. That meant reading up on how to make new friends, or learning a new skill, like cooking or photography. 4. Appreciate the other important things in your life. Human beings might be social animals, but at times there are responsibilities that need to be prioritized ahead of a social life. Aiming for balance is great, but during social sobriety a lot of extra time can go into school, and for me, that extra effort paid off in marks and scholarships. 5. Eventually, you’ll find your own style of making friends. Everyone has their own friendship style. After having an abundance of time on my own I found that I prefer to see people infrequently, having more to talk about in between the lulls of studying or reading. I might not see someone for a few weeks, but I knew there was a lot to chat about when I did. And my lessons to myself about making friends have paid off. As I write this, I have just indulged in dinner at a new restaurant for a friend’s birthday – a girl that I got to know this past year. Though most of the people at the table were her friends, and strangers to me, I was able to get to know them and become familiar with a new tribe. It took a while, but slowly I’ve begun finding my own tribe too.

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REASON TO SMILE: Brendan Chalifour has used his Community Helpers training to ease mental health stigma at his school.

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When the Going Gets

TOUGH

The Community Helpers program sets out to help teenagers help themselves By Mitchell Kaye

hink about a friend that helps you through hard times. What qualities do they possess that make you turn to them? Good helpers are often reliable listeners and nonjudgemental, open-minded and trustworthy. It is their understanding and empathy that makes us turn to them, time and again, for help when we need it most. Community Helpers, a program that takes place in schools across Alberta, sets out to find those around us who are good helpers, and trains them to help them hone their special helping skills. The point of the program is to help teenagers help themselves, by preparing those teens that are good at listening with knowledge on how best to help their peers in trouble. Brendan Chalifour, a grade 12 student at Victoria School of the Arts in Edmonton, always knew he was a good listener. He’s been actively involved in student government at his high school, and when the survey was spread among the entire student population last year, he didn’t think much about it. But a few weeks after the survey, he was notified that his peers had singled him out as a good listener and understanding friend. “Because of student government, I was already pretty comfortable talking to people,” he says. “But there was a lot I didn’t know about mental health.” Brendan went through the Community Helpers training program at the school, and says they discussed everything from talking about suicide to stress management, and he walked

away with a strong knowledge of the many services that are available in the province. Since he took the training last year, Brendan says he’s noticed a difference in how he’s able to talk with his peers about tough subjects. “I know that many of us don’t always want to turn to teachers or other adults with our problems,” he says, “and now I know more about where to go to get information and help.” Melinda McNie is a Community Helpers program co-ordinator, who has given the training at many schools in the province. “It’s not meant to turn teens into counsellors,” she says, “but it helps give them the right tools for helping their peers, which only they know how to do.” The Community Helpers training process begins with a school surveying a group of students – this can be the entire school or just a particular grade or group. The survey is only a few questions long and asks students to name two students and two adults who they often talk to in hard times. If the same student is named by many of their peers, they are then alerted (via email or in person) that they’ve been identified as a good helper and are encouraged to come to a meeting to learn more about the Community Helpers program. It’s not mandatory for them to attend, but Elise Kruithof, a provincial injury prevention co-ordinator at AHS, says most of the students are honoured that they’ve been noticed, and show up. “When youth are struggling, they turn to their own groups before reaching out to adults

or professionals,” says Kruithof. “We want to provide helpers with additional skills, training and knowledge so that when they are being approached by their friends and classmates, they are better supports for those friends.” Meetings are either stretched over a few weeks or held over a few days, but they cover the same topics – like addressing labels, understanding the language of mental health and knowing when people need adult help. Kruithof calls this “the helping skill,” and says that, at the meetings, students work to understand how their peers best deal with tough situations. They also talk about the “ethics of helping,” and discuss when they should break promises or seek outside help for a friend. The group also spends time thinking about how to take care of themselves. Brendan says that he’s never felt stressed out or like he’s a counsellor. His friends would come to him with their problems anyway. Now he knows more about his own limits. “Hopefully, this information will lead to an increase in people talking about mental health,” says Kruithof. In Brendan’s case, it’s led to him becoming more involved in mental health awareness around his school. With another Community Helper program participant, he attended the Unleash the Noise summit, a student-led mental health conference. He wants to bring back what he learned to Edmonton, inspiring the peers around him to talk more openly. facebook.com/gripmag

She Said Two Grip writers debate the true meaning of school wardrobes. By J.M.M. Lewis HER OPINION: “YES.” It’s important to bring all students together under one common banner. In this way, dress codes are extremely beneficial for many students. When a school implements dress codes, it is greatly decreasing the visible economic divide between students, diminishing the difference between those who “have” and those who “have not” in the school. The school is preventing students from expressing aggression or negative influences through messages on their clothing, and it is avoiding the over-sexualization of youth. On top of that, students don’t have to worry about what to wear on any given day – imagine how much time that would cut off of a nervous teenager’s daily routine.

Different clothing spreads different messages, some of which are distracting and not necessary in a learning environment. Every student wants to look good, but there is so much that goes along with how we dress. Clothing brands often turn into status symbols, separating students into different cliques. As teenagers, clothes are an important aspect of how we broadcast who we are and who we hang out with. Of course, if that’s how you want to express yourself, there’s nothing wrong with that – but it should happen on your own time.

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Different clothing spreads different messages, some of which are distracting and not necessary in a learning environment. We’re just too young to “self-govern” our dress code rules. It’s crucial that people are not excluded because of their financial status, or lack of affiliation with a specific group. There are plenty of mature, forward-thinking students who see school as an opportunity to meet new people, study hard and learn important life skills. But it’s hard for some students to separate it from a social opportunity. Of course, it’s very important to express oneself in society and to find people you love spending time with – but school should be a place to explore that and expand your horizons, not to be indefinitely placed in one group or another. Dress codes are one of the most important tools in making that change a reality.

She Said “Do dress codes actually work?” By Louise Fournier HER OPINION: “NO.” Across the different school boards, there’s one common element: the dreaded dress code. Whether the school has uniforms and is public or Catholic, there’s always going to be some sort of standard when it comes to what the students wear. At some schools there’s a three-finger-wide strap standard, or the no-rolling-up-kilts rule or the famous fingertip-dress-length rule. But, really, what’s the point? Especially considering that the rules are subjective to how long a student’s arms are or how wide their fingers happen to be. Dress codes are flawed in their double standards and lack of realistic enforcement.

Dress codes are flawed in their double standards and lack of realistic enforcement. Schools are quick to make up rules for students to follow but then have little to no consequences for those pupils who don’t follow them. We can’t be expected to blindly follow rules if there is no justification for those rules being in place. Listing off principles for teens to adhere to, without expecting and knowing how to deal with the group who will openly rebel and continue wearing whatever they choose, is like a king expecting his subjects to follow whatever he says without question. It’s simply ridiculous

for the administration to presume that a poorlycrafted plan will take flight when tested on unenthusiastic students. School dress codes also lack consistency between genders. For some reason school administrators often focus on girls when it comes to dress codes, ignoring boys who wear low-riding pants. while insisting that girls should not wear clothing that shows their bra straps because it’s far too suggestive. Girls can’t wear short shorts, but I’ve seen boys wearing a T-shirt with a bikini-clad model on it. How does this make sense? Why are these double standards allowed to exist? If you’re going to dictate how students should dress, then it should be equal between both genders. In order to create a dress code that will stand up to youth and the test of time, there must be set penalties laid out and practised by staff with uniformity between genders on all matters. No one will respect, or follow, an ill-conceived plan because teens will soon learn that there’s nothing backing up those words. At the root of dress code ineffectiveness is the fact that they are so poorly constructed. All that’s required to form an effective dress code is co-operation between staff members, agreement on what the punishments or consequences will be for different violations and reasonable expectations of what is inappropriate. The concept of dress codes is not a bad one; it’s simply the construction of them that makes them unsuccessful.

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Portfolio In each issue of Grip, we feature creative works from our readers – poetry, personal essays, short stories, illustrations, comic strips and photography.

Ten Things To Remember When Trying To Be Okay BY KALLAN THATE-MCKENDRY

1. When there is a storm inside of you, Let it grow. Let it turn into everything it is capable of being. Let it become an avalanche, A cyclone, A tornado, A hurricane. Let every ounce of your drought Be flooded with everything you’ve held inside of you for so long.

2. When there are words, And prayers, And screams Hiding under your tongue And scratching at the back door of your teeth, Let them out.

3. When you look in the mirror And don’t like what you see, Remember that you are not what is reflected When you stand in front of a stupid piece of glass.

4. You are in no way defined By the night you convinced yourself Your veins were the strings of a balloon Meant to be cut free.

5. You are not weak

6. When your body is too much to hold, When you’re shaking like a prayer To a God who betrayed you, Lie down. You do not need to handle everything all at once.

You are under no obligation To suffer quietly. If your trembling winter bones Need to kick, And punch, And scream, Let them. Let them break down walls. Let them grow. Let them out.

8. When you feel like you are standing on a cliff over an ocean, And realize that it’s really just the floor On the side of your bed. Remember that not all waves Are created by the sea. I know that the current is strong But so are you. You will learn How to inhale the ocean Without getting salt in all of your wounds.

9. When loneliness Is pressing it’s fingertips into your spine, Brush it off. Let it know That you can feel whole Without someone else.

Just because it is sometimes hard for you To carry your heavy heart. I have never seen a heavy heart That wasn’t filled with strength. 10. Remember, That didn’t house more than what most It’s okay to not be okay. people are capable of holding. It’s okay to not be the calm before the storm. It’s okay to be a hurricane.

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Winning submissions are awarded $50 and are featured here. Send in your submissions to creative@griponlife.ca

Clay Sculpture JAMES MACDONALD

Athabasca Falls IRTIZA OYON

Last Summer’s Cake EVAN TRAN

Halos BY MADELEINE BEAULIEU

Halo-wearers; Only the ones not twisted by stereotyped sin After years of de— composition of the way the fiddler tunes his violin My Halo-wearers walk among men Human nature follows in their wake Like studio silhouettes despised Little mermaids Who walk among broken glass and shattered swords to save the ones they love Or themselves

Close Up JAMES MACDONALD

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Portfolio

Portfolio Raining Colours (Bangladesh) IRTIZA OYEN

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o Hesitation BY CHRISTINE GREEN

Adrift in the unknown waiting wandering wondering Desperate for certainty constancy clarity Of something besides fibs fables and fears.

Fortunate BY CHRISTINE GREEN

Columbia Icefields IRTIZA OYEN

The rain echoes the cries of the once vibrant ones. Now empty, they are deemed the Unfortunates. But in the eyes of Love, their worth is immeasurable. As they weep, Love calls to them. An exclamation of truth, Love declares that even the Unfortunates can be filled again. That Love can surpass the most powerful pain the most horrific hurt the most festering failure That they must not always be confined to the blackness, for Love will redeem Love will restore Love will renew. Unfortunates, you are chained no longer. Extend your hand and Love will never let go.

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Portfolio

The Sandwich AN EXCERPT FROM A SHORT STORY BY SAGE MILLER

Jeffery woke up one morning with a desire unlike any he’d felt before. He wanted a sandwich. Not just any sandwich, The Sandwich, the perfect sandwich, the sandwich that would trump all other sandwiches, the almighty delicious sandwich. This was the kind of sandwich that Jeffery wanted, and so he set out on his quest. Jeffery flew from his bed, swiftly got dressed, sped down the stairs, threw on a pair of shoes and ran out the door. The air was warm, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful Saturday morning, but Jeffery had no time for air or sunlight or any of those things, he needed his sandwich. He boarded a crowded, smelly bus that would lead him downtown to his city’s local sandwich shop. His foot tapped anxiously as the glowing neon sign of the sandwich shop came into view. The bus halted its journey and Jeffery shoved past construction workers and wrinkly old ladies as he leaped from the bus and dashed towards the shop’s glass doors. He threw them open and ran towards the counter clutching his debit card. In a confident tone Jeffery yelled, “One sandwich, my good man.” The acne-ridden teen behind the counter stared blankly, his eyes hidden behind thick lenses. “Yeah... okay.” he said. Jeffery grinned wildly and slid down the counter, picking out the exact ingredients to form his blessed God-wich. Upon reaching the end of the counter, the youth smashed a second slab of bread on top of the mass of ingredients and then wrapped the sandwich up in a small paper bag. Then, to Jeffery’s surprise, the pimply cashier leaned in close over the counter, his warm breath uncomfortably close to Jeffery’s ear. “If that isn’t to your satisfaction...” he said, his voice

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trembling in a way that made Jeffery cringe. “Meet me in front of the store after close. I can tell you are quite the sandwich enthusiast...” The teen then leaned back behind the counter and went to the store’s back room. That evening, Jeffery sat on his couch, replaying the cashier’s words over and over in his head. Finally, he grabbed his jacket and ran to the bus stop. In the evening light, the shops’ neon sign was prominent, glowing green and yellow and red. Jeffery hopped from the bus and dashed to the front of the store. It was closed, and he couldn’t see the teenager anywhere. After waiting a few more minutes, Jeffery sighed and turned to leave when a smooth voice called out to him: “Hey, Jeffery!” Jeffery spun around. The teenager was silhouetted in the conical spotlight from a nearby street lamp, his voice had changed dramatically and instead of the greasy white sandwich shop uniform, he wore a red tuxedo. “Come on over here, buddy.” the teen called out. As he approached, Jeffery stuttered out a cautious question: “How do you know my name?” The boy smiled. “We like to keep tabs on all potential members.” he said, putting a hand on Jeffery’s shoulder and leading him to the sandwich shop. “I’m Tom, by the way. Tom Ato.”

Jeffery blinked several times as the boy unlocked the shop’s door. “Is that your real name or are you messing with me?” Tom laughed. “Real name. My parents were sandwich makers, very talented too I might add, renowned throughout Germany for their craft.” The back room of the sandwich shop was small. One wall held an oven, and the others were lined with shelves holding sandwich ingredients. “You know,” Jeffery said, glancing at the ingredients, “It’s not smart to keep these things so close to the oven, it dries them out and they lose their flavour.” Tom laughed and patted Jeffery on the back. “I think you’re going to fit right in here,” he said, pressing a small button on the bottom of the oven. As he did, the entire wall began to shift. The oven’s top opened up to reveal two red leather chairs inside, and a long tunnel appeared behind it, leading downwards. “Step right in,” Tom said as he opened the oven and sat down in one of the seats. Jeffery nervously followed his instructions. Things had quickly gotten out of hand. Tom threw a lever beside the cart and the oven began to trundle forward slowly. As they moved down the tunnel, Jeffery turned around in time to see another oven rise from the floor and the wall reseal behind them…

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Last Word Humour

Emoji We Wish Existed How have we gone this long without a

By Jessie Perin

Starbucks coffee cup

Side-eye smiley

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Katy Perryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sunglasses

Harry Styles

A magic wand

A plateful of sandwiches

Cheese

Be up to your neck in information! FASHION FORWARD Show the world that you’re a leader in the land of fashion and techology with Smooth Operator’s new iTie™!

Forget about Apple’s watch, you’ll be the envy of all your friends with the latest in technological wearables!

Here are just a few of the exciting features: Patented “spin” notifications!

Updated weather info

Date and time Email and instant messages

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