Month: February 2025

History is an important part of our culture and background in Canada. It shows us the life-changing inventions we created, the ways we helped our neighbouring countries, and how our ancestors evolved our own country into the booming economy it is today. But, it also shows us all of the mistakes and horrifying injustices we made along the way. And in this project, we dive deeper into the wrongdoings of Canada.

At the beginning of this project, we learned about the injustices minorities face in Canada. From Japanese Canadians to Punjabi immigrants, to Jewish people. We studied them and their hardships living in a new country and being treated like outsiders. Through our research, we discovered the systemic discrimination and barriers that these communities endured, often resulting in profound psychological and economic impacts. It became evident that acknowledging these injustices is crucial not only for healing but also for fostering a more inclusive society. As we move forward, we aim to amplify these voices and promote understanding, ensuring that the lessons of the past guide us toward a more equitable future.

The main part of the project is focusing on a specific wrongdoing and memorializing it. We were put in groups of 3 and picked an event to commemorate. My group picked the Komagata Maru, the ill-fated ship that became a symbol of racial discrimination in Canada. In 1914, the Komagata Maru, carrying 376 Sikh immigrants seeking refuge in Canada, was denied entry due to restrictive immigration laws and ultimately forced to return to India, where many faced violent reprisals. The incident stands as a reminder of the injustices faced by immigrants and the systemic barriers present in Canadian society at the time, prompting us to engage in a memorial process that honours the victims and educates future generations about the importance of inclusivity and justice.

 

The memorial process had many components. We first wrote a pitch, which was composed of things we would have in and around our memorial, as well as the symbolism behind it. It took some time to come to the finished pitch, and a lot of failed designs and ideas, but I’d like to say that we created a pitch that portrayed exactly what we wanted to show in our memorial, and it made the creation process so much easier.

 

Building the memorial was the hardest part of the project. Finding the materials, gathering supplies, and jumping right into the creation was difficult. Using clay as your foundation is not very easy, to use and to make look the way you want. We split the tasks up, so when one group member took the creation of the boat, one on the base and me on the flowers, it made the whole thing simpler in a way. Once everything was put together, the last step was to show our creation to the world.

The other half of the class came and saw all of our memorials, asking questions, and listening intently as we explained the history of these awful events. It was good to shed light on the injustices of our past, and by spreading awareness, made them less likely to repeat themselves in this generation. As well as educating the other half, we displayed our finalized memorials in the hallway, to show the whole school our understanding, as well as remind us what we came from, and how to avoid making the same mistakes. Through collaboration and perseverance, we were ultimately able to craft a meaningful tribute that reflects the resilience of those who suffered and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding in our society.

Apologies are kept alive by educating future generations, memorializing past injustices, and spreading awareness to ensure history is not forgotten or repeated. Learning about events like the Komagata Maru incident helps acknowledge past discrimination and fosters a more inclusive society. Memorials serve as lasting reminders of these wrongs, allowing people to reflect on their impact. By sharing stories, engaging in discussions, and actively recognizing historical injustices, we ensure that the lessons of the past guide us toward a more just and equitable future.

What do you want to be when you grow up? That question, one tiny, insignificant question is 95% guaranteed to give any grade 10 student immense stress. I had a hard time deciding what I was going to wear this morning, and you expect me to pick the career I will be stuck with my entire life? When my teachers asked my whole class one October morning, telling us that we were going to do a project around the idea of our future careers, I almost had a heart attack.

This specific project is unlike any other I’ve done in my 11 years of school, and it has helped solidify my confidence in pursuing journalism. Back in October, though, I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me this would be a fun project—let alone my favourite of the term. Yet, as I progressed through each step, I found myself more engaged and invested in the process.

The first step was creating a résumé, but not just any résumé—one that visually represented me and my brand. Unlike the standard black-and-white résumés I had made before, this one required thoughtful design elements, colours, and formatting that made it stand out. I went through multiple rounds of revisions, tweaking everything from the layout to the wording to ensure it was polished and professional. When I was finished, it was something that became a representation of myself on a professional front and something I could see myself using in the future. Though it was a challenge, I was incredibly proud of the final product.

At the same time, I was also designing a business card, which turned out to be ten times more difficult. Every time I submitted a version, my teachers sent it back with feedback, telling me it didn’t truly capture who I was. After eight different attempts—each one refining my brand further—I finally created a design that felt like me. It had elements of writing, and newspapers, and brought my journalism aspirations together to create a card completely different from anything I’ve seen before. Once it was approved, I incorporated some of those same elements into my résumé to ensure consistency and cohesion. With those pieces complete, I moved on to the next big task: my booth design.

The booth design required us to include interactive elements and personal objects that reflected our interests and hobbies. I carefully planned mine out, sketching a layout that included my favourite books as conversation starters, a poster board made of news articles to highlight my passion for journalism, and candy canes as a snack component to make my table more inviting. Once my plan was approved, I was ready for the final and most exciting step: the Winter Exhibition.

 

The exhibition this year was like no other I’ve experienced. I had people come up to me, interested in my booth and career aspirations, and listened as I shared the things I was passionate about. At the last moment, I grabbed some of my records and cd’s from home, to bring more of my personality into the booth, and they were a big hit. I met so many new people who helped guide me through parts of journalism I didn’t even know existed, solidifying my passion even more. I got to talk about one of my favourite things to new people and learn new things that can help benefit me and my future, and I was very grateful for this opportunity. 

Throughout this project, I discovered many ways to present my passions, strengths, and learning to the world. My résumé was the first step—not just a list of experiences, but a visually engaging reflection of who I am. After multiple revisions, I created something I was truly proud of. Designing my business card was even more challenging, as my teachers pushed me to refine it until it truly represented me. After eight attempts, I finally got it right and even incorporated its design elements into my résumé to create a cohesive personal brand. My booth design allowed me to showcase my interests in a creative, interactive way, featuring my favourite books as conversation starters, a journalism-themed poster board, and candy canes to make my space inviting. Seeing everything come together made me realize that presenting myself to the world is more than just words on a page—it’s about creativity, refinement, and finding the best way to showcase who I am.