The average American sends about 4.4 lbs of garbage to the landfill every day.[1] Our society has normalized the use of single-use products and we continue to increase the amount of trash sent to landfills. However, not all trash reaches the landfills;[2] garbage is often littered onto the sides of roads and urban areas or
Soup Inside the dark grey concrete building, when the sun was just setting behind the glass-encased skyscrapers, the poor scared boy was ushered into the strange machine. It was large, circular and grey; it was nearly the size of the room. It consisted of a large metal door, which was closed after the boy, bolted
I go to rural school where life is all about growing crops, harvesting hay, and showing who killed the biggest deer or caught the longest bass. Before I go into how removing animal products from your diets is beneficial, I would like to state that I do occasionally eat meat or fish that I have
Having recently entered high school, I feel like I have some authority to talk about what I have heard, and what I have experienced so far. For context, I am currently in grade 10 in Calgary, Alberta taking the Full IB Diploma program. First of all, it’s awful. But somehow it’s also not? Although I
My entire life, I have felt young. I have always looked forward to getting older, growing up, getting out into the world, but only now, do those things, those experiences, seem real. Being a 15 year old girl, big opportunities are coming my way rapid fire all of a sudden. I am now getting ready
Distancing oneself from social media is very important at times. People are so often caught up in something online that it takes away from experiences in nature. During a trip in the summer of 2017, I learned that being present with others and with nature is a big part of one’s happiness. My dad,
Between extracurricular activities and managing school work, finding time to volunteer can be difficult. In many communities, small non-profit organizations exist in the crevices of buildings. In my community, Ben’s Bells is the small shop on the top of a hill, tucked away in the rear of a commercial complex. Ben’s Bells mission is to
Traveling abroad is an amazing experience to have, especially getting to volunteer abroad as a teenager. Traveling is an amazing way to open up your perspective and get out of your safety bubble. Volunteering abroad is the perfect way to be immersed in a different country’s culture and traditions. Traveling as a teenager is a
Often times, when I am talking about my volunteer work, people state “Oh, I wish I could do that, but I’m too busy” or “That would be a great group to be apart of, but I don’t think I have time.” The definition of community service is: voluntary work intended to help people in a
Hidden in the dense jungles of Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi, the regency of Tana Toraja is a snapshot of culture from long ago. The area is home to the Toraja ethnic group, who follow the Aluk Toldo belief system. According to the Aluk Toldo religion, death does not separate families from their loved
