Senioritis: It’s Here

By: Myra K.

Senioritis n. a crippling disease that strikes high school seniors. Symptoms include: laziness, an over-excessive donning of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts. This condition also features a lack of academic motivation, manifested in a low drive to study, repeated absences from school, and a generally dismissive attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as the following: Graduation.

We are just a short time away from this miraculous remedy. Senioritis has definitely struck Calgary's Western Canada High School. Myself included.

When your high school career is drawing to a close, and you begin to catch a glimpse of the light at the back of the thirteen year-long tunnel (I promise, it’s there!), many high school students begin to fall behind in school. The thought of leaving this institution, patron of fifteen-page essays, multiple biology labs, and two page math formulas, it is quite exciting, to say the least.

Once you receive your first university acceptance, you’re ready. The grades you have worked so hard for have finally paid off. You’re set up for a bright and prosperous future (unless you’re pursuing an Arts degree, like I am; perhaps you science people are on to something) ...or so you think.

But, unfortunately, you still have to go to school. Now, Sparknotes suddenly becomes your best buddy, and with it, last-minute studying (at this point, glancing at some helpful reading guide a full six-hour night before, and not five minutes prior, to class can be called true effort) and Tim Hortons or Starbucks in the morning have become a complete necessity, the lack of which would cause certain death. Sure, you might not be that tired from yesterday’s workload, because, who are we kidding? You stayed up late catching up on the third season of The Walking Dead and New Girl. But even so, the taste of chocolate-diluted caffeine just sounds so... appealing. You might be five minutes late to class... but skipping the morning announcements (who listens to them anyway?) all seems soo worth it when you could have a warm and delicious coffee in your hand.

So, how can we cure this crippling disease that has become a pandemic among twelfth-grade students? According to Urban Dictionary, the phenomenon of graduation is the only known remedy.

My advice? Plan beforehand. Visit the websites of those universities in which you’re interested and figure out the minimum average requirement needed to retain your offer of admission. Aim to maintain an average that’s at least five percent above your favourite institution’s cutoff. This will remind you that keeping this average is allowing you to achieve your own future goals. This way, you can focus just enough on school so that you maintain your admission offers while still enjoying your time left at Western. After all, who are we kidding? Sometimes you just need to close that book, turn on the TV, and enjoy some good, late-night zombie killing. Hold on, because there are only a few more days of high school left, Class of 2013!

Will Your Career Choice Still Exist In The Future?

By Ankita K.

Are you looking for a job career? Well, be careful because in just two decades your job probably won’t exist anymore. According to Forbes, we will be seeing some very drastic changes in the job market.

If you were going to build a career in banking, then you should reconsider, because in twenty years there won’t be a need to deal with paper money, as people will rely solely on credit and on digital money. A career in the Post Office is also not a very good option, for most people will be using email in the future. Other jobs that will most likely disappear in the future are: a grocery store cashier, a film processor, a union organizer, a miner, and a fighter pilot.

The question is, what careers will still exist in two decades? It is certain to say that some jobs will always be in demand. For example, working in a barber shop can be a long-lasting career, and tax collecting is a very sustainable choice. Some more suitable jobs are: a mortician, a politician, an artist, and a religious leader.

But, in two decades there are also going to be new jobs created. As computer technology develops and more alternative energy sources are being explored, people will have more career choices and opportunities. A gene screener might come in handy in the Gattaca future. Maybe scanning genes will become a daily routine for job interviews or in increasing work productivity. However, there are more plausible jobs that can be created in the future, such as a hydrogen fuel station manager. Hydrogen can be cost-competitive to gasoline if refueling stations are mass-produced, according to a study conducted by the Ford Motot Company. Employees of those stations would need different skills than workers at current gasoline stations. Other possible jobs are: a quarantine enforcer, a drowned city specialist, a teleport specialist (yes, there might be teleporters in the future!), a robot mechanic, an animal guardian, a dirigible pilot, and a space tour guide. Just keep in mind that these are all predictions and it’s not guaranteed that people will take tours to space! So, don’t waste time preparing yourself for a space program.

In the future, a lot of new jobs will be created, while some will disappear, but it doesn’t mean that current jobs won’t exist anymore. On the contrary, a lot of today’s jobs will still exist in the future; they just won’t be in the same form. Educators will always be in demand for shaping new minds with knowledge and experience, but teaching may be different in the future from how it is now. In twenty years, we may wake up and not recognize our fast changing world!

For full job lists click here.

The Importance of Extra-Curricular Activities and Volunteering

By: Romany N.

The time has come where many juniors are exploring the endless options for post- secondary schools. Often, students do not limit their search to Canada and research international colleges across the world, which can offer more diverse programs that appeal to various academic or athletic abilities. However, the requirements for international students vary greatly from those that are here in Canada.

For example, many universities in Canada have a sole focus on academics and the rigorous course load and demands of the classes that you have chosen, whereas, many universities and colleges in American do not restrict their requirements to academics. American colleges concentrate on the activities that you partake in outside of school and how much you give back to your community through volunteering and work experience. The most crucial factors that American schools consider are your academic GPA, your character/personal qualities, your class rank, your extra-curricular activities, your personal recommendations, your rigor of secondary school record, your volunteer work, and your application essay. In addition, there are secondary factors that these universities take into consideration; these factors can vary from your alumni relation to your geographical residency.

If you have not made an effort to enjoy the endless possibilities of activities or volunteering, then do not worry. There is still ample time to join clubs and sports teams that will set you apart from other college applicants. Many students elect to apply for internships during the summer to gain the experience necessary and ensure that they have an interest in their possible major. These internships can be discussed with your designated guidance counselor or by appointment at the career center.

Lastly, I would like to enforce that the most important factors that American schools take into consideration can be outlined at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org according to the designated school.

A Tricky Treat to Master: CROISSANTS

By: Laurie L-G.

The idea of flavoured croissants first occurred to me after hearing about the blue cheese kimchi croissant at Momofuku, in New York. Their approach was simple and rather clever: to mix the flavourings into the butter that is then folded into the dough.

In my own experimentation, based off their method, I found that due to the additions in a couple of the croissant types (ex. the chestnut and pistachio croissants), the dough was actually a lot easier to roll and handle, as the butter was softened. The coconut croissant was the most difficult, as it was hard to break up the coconut, and when chilled, held together in hard pieces that were difficult to roll out and often broke through the thin skin of dough between layers. As a result, most of them turned out quite deformed due to the difficulty I had in stretching the dough. Additions to the orange-lavender croissant were minor, so this croissant turned out the best, whereas, possibly due to the quantity of water in the chestnut paste, the chestnut croissant collapsed after baking.

In the future, I would try using additions with little water content, or perhaps simply sticking with filling (in replacement of the scrap of dough used to plump the middle) as an adaptation less detrimental to the structure.

Croissants

Loosely based off Baking with Julia edited by Dorie Greenspan

Dough:

• 3 tsp active dry yeast
• ¼ cup warm water
• 3 ¾ cup flour
• 2 tsp salt
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 cup milk

Butter:

1. 1 stick butter + 1 tbsp + 1/3 cup chestnut puree + 3 tbsp flour + 3 tbsp sugar
2. 1 stick butter + 1 tbsp + zest of 1 (large) orange + 1 ½ tsp dried lavender + 1 tbsp flour + 3 tbsp sugar
3. 1 stick butter + 1/4 cup softened coconut + 2 tbsp flour + 3 tbsp sugar
4. 1 stick butter + 1 tbsp 1/3 cup ground salted pistachio + 1 tbsp flour + 3 tbsp sugar

Let butter warm at room temperature, cut into pieces, until just soft enough to cream with additions. Mold butter mixtures into a 3” by 3” square—this will be messy and difficult if they are too warm. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1-2 hours.

Divide dough into four; each piece should weigh a bit over 200 g. Roll dough into a 6” by 6“ circle, with thinner edges than the middle. Centre butter, stretch and fold over dough to make a square packet, sealing the edges well. Hit dough with rolling pin to evenly distribute butter in packet. Proceed with first fold unless dough and butter are too warm.

First fold: Roll dough so that it is 7” by 12”. Fold the dough into thirds in order to end up with a packet around 7” by 4”. Return dough to fridge for at least one hour.

Second fold: Repeat process of first fold.

Final fold: Instead of folding into three, fold each edge into the middle and then fold the two sides together, folding the dough into quarters. It will be around 7” by 3”.

Preparation:

Roll out into a 15” x 10” rectangle. Fold in half so that it is around 7.5” x 10”. Trim off the uneven edges and divide the rectangle into two, widthwise. Divide each half in two along the diagonal, unfold each pair of triangles, and cut apart; you should have 8. Stack and well cover the dough so that it does not form a skin.

To form the croissants:

Moisten your hands. Stretch the base, and then gently stretch to double the length of each piece of dough, or as far as you can go without tearing it. Lay on the counter, placing a small piece of scrap dough on the base to plump the middle. Fold some dough over, pressing the ends down to seal. Roll the croissant, starting from the base, towards the point. Work fairly quickly so that none of the unrolled triangles forms a skin.

Arrange on parchment covered sheet pans—you’ll likely need three. Brush croissants with 1 egg beaten with a bit of water. Let rise, uncovered, in an oven to avoid drafts and prevent them from forming too much of a skin. You can put a pan of very warm water in the bottom so that the steam will prevent a skin from forming; however, you have to be sure that it will not pre-melt the butter in the croissants. Allow them to proof until well risen (around 1-2 hours).

Baking:

Divide oven racks into thirds, preheat to 350 degrees. Lightly brush once more with egg wash, and bake for 12 minutes. Rotate, and bake for another 5 minutes or until cooked through and well browned.

The Kite Runner Flies Into Theatre Calgary

By: Sarena D.

*First appeared on www.youthareawesome.com

“There is a way to be good again” and so begins Theatre Calgary’s adaptation of The Kite Runner. I read Khaled Hosseini’s masterpiece a few years ago, and I was overjoyed to be given a chance to see playwright Mathew Spangler’s adaptation. Having been a while since I had read the novel, the details were a little fuzzy in my mind, but I remembered the book as being both heart-wrenching and poignant and I was very curious to see if a two hour stage-play could match the depth of emotion I had felt when reading the novel.

The story itself is steeped in Afghanistan’s rich history. It begins with Hassan, a Hazara boy, and his father who live as servants to a wealthy Pashtun man and his young son, Amir, in Kabul. It is important to note that the Pashtuns and the Hazaras are two of the largest Afghan ethnic groups and are also the most divided. The Pashtuns are mainly Sunni Muslims and dominate Afghan culture and politics, while the Hazaras are discriminated against in society and are a Shi’a Muslim minority. Amir initially grows up oblivious to this cultural divide, as he and Hassan begin as fast friends, while “Baba”, Amir’s father, considers Hassan to be just as much a son to him as to Amir. As time goes on, the boys begin to feel the disconnect between their cultures, for they are both publically humiliated by the cruel boys in the neighbourhood for associating with each other. Kite fighting is one of the only things that truly keeps Amir and Hassan together. Kite fighting was of the most fun, but competitive sports in Afghan history, before the Taliban banned it. Together, Hassan and Amir form a fierce team and go on to participate in the largest kite tournament in twenty-five years. It is after this that the boys’ lives change forever, as the unspeakable happens. Soon after, Hassan and his father resign as Baba’s servants and Amir and his father make the long trek together to San Francisco, to escape the mounting political turmoil in Afghanistan. Amir has lost his devoted friend who had always pledged, “For you, a thousand times over,” despite the abuses he receives from Amir and the community. In his heart, Amir knows that this is the last he will see of Hassan and he is wracked with guilt for a secret that blackens his heart from the day of the tournament onward.

I have deliberately kept the details here very vague so as not to spoil the book for those of you who have not yet read it. Long story short, although Amir makes a life for himself in America as a writer and eventually finds a wife, his past continues to haunt him. One day, due to a surprising phone call from a family friend still in Kabul, Amir finds that he must visit the now war-torn Afghanistan, ruled by the Taliban, which resembles nothing of the country of his childhood. And indeed, there is a way for him to be good again, to right the wrongs of his past and to finally honour Hassan’s loyalty. Throughout the play, the kite remains a symbol of Hassan’s guilt, his path to redemption, and at the finale, soars as an emblem of new beginnings.

I was definitely blown away on February twenty-third at the skill exhibited when transferring this globally renowned work to the stage. During the performance, the older Amir narrates his story from the beginning, in the midst of the action going on with his younger self and with the young Hassan. The transition from the Afghanistan of his childhood to America, and back again to his home country, is seamless, accompanied by a beautiful set and gorgeous lighting. The director even found a way to make the kites “fly” on stage, and this, combined with the presence of a tabla player for a live soundtrack, made the experience all the more culturally rich. In addition, the plot twists in the book were cleverly portrayed on stage, as I heard some audience members gasp more than once when key details of the story were revealed. This heartbreaking and touching play was met with a well-deserved standing ovation at the end.

Alberta Government Gives Technology an A+

Clare T.

Bobby, a Journalism 25 student at
Western Canada High School,
 listens intently as Minister Johnson
fields questions from students
around Alberta.

CALGARY – Revealing plans for the future direction of the education system, the Government of Alberta demonstrates that it fully embraces the technological age.

On May 7th, 2013 the Government of Alberta hosted a teleconference call with over 100 middle and high schools across the province. The conference provided students studying Journalism the opportunity to question Premier Alison Redford and Minister of Education Jeff Johnson, about changes coming to the Alberta education system.

Throughout the conference, Premier Redford emphasized the importance of developing an education system which gives students every opportunity to succeed. The project of transferring diploma exams to a virtual format, which starts this coming fall and is expected to be completed come the year 2017, will personalize learning and allow students the flexibility to achieve success in school.

One of the benefits of online diplomas, advertised by Minister Johnson, is the ability to accommodate all kinds of learners. As of next year, diploma exams will be offered more frequently and eventually on command, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Additionally, because diploma exams taken online will be transferred directly from students to teacher, Minister Johnson claims that the speed of the mark turnaround will increase, resulting in a more effective examination system that that which currently exists.

Though neither Minster Johnson nor Premier Redford gave a solid explanation of how the security of online diploma exams will be monitored, they shared that numerous technological experts are involved in the project of transforming the diploma exams and promised to “invest great time, effort, and money to ensure the integrity of the system.”

With the goal of personalized learning in mind, Minister Johnson ensured that students will still have the ability to write hard-copy diploma exams, and that rewrites will still be available to students at a potentially lower cost.

Recent budget cuts to Alberta’s education system were mentioned briefly during the press conference. Minister Johnson expressed regret over the budget cuts but explained that the government is working hard to maintain the sustainability of the education system despite these financial setbacks. He expressed that the cuts are being focused on unnecessary areas of funding, not directly connected to the instruction system, to make sure that students continue to receive high quality learning. Despite the recent budget cuts, Minister Johnson stressed that Alberta places one of the highest values on education in North America.

Premier Redford and Minister Johnson stressed that technology is the key to achieving the government of Alberta’s vision of a personalized learning system.

“The way we use technology is going to be critical for our education system moving forward,” Minister Johnson shared. “There is a big push to not just use technology as a tool for teaching, but to integrate it into day-to-day learning so that it becomes second nature.”

The Alberta government asserts that their motivation behind all coming changes, including converting diploma exams into an online format, is to build an education system that reflects the way Alberta students live their lives, and to therefore educate in a way which is technologically-oriented and hands-on.