“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead

What a crazy, crazy day. I started it off at 5am! It was out of Toronto for me and off to Ottawa for the Amnesty International Youth Stop Torture Conference. We were all getting together to rally to push the government to sign the Optional Protocol Against Torture as well as to learn and receive training. I got on the first streetcar and it led me out down to a subway station.. however, with my luck, there were signal problems and the TTC announced that there would be a delay of "up to 15 minutes." I stood there in emotional turmoil as I battled it out in my brain, would I rather run or take a chance and run down to the train station? 

I ran. 

Wrong choice. As I was running down Yonge, I heard the sound of the first subway train through the sewer grate and ... actually, my internal monologue wasn't appropriate then and it isn't appropriate now. Long story short, I MADE THE TRAIN! And I saw a few of the Youth Organizers from Toronto, but since we were all scattered around, it was a bit difficult to talk to each other. So I took out my computer, read the news, napped a bit and worked on the speech I was going to give later that night to Members of Parliament and Senators. 

When we finally arrived in Ottawa, I got to say hi to all the Youth Organizers and may I just say, what a super cool, motivated and passionate bunch. I know it makes me old to say this, but I'm glad our future's in good hands. We ended up taking a taxi to the office and there we had some delicious lunch, sat down, introduced ourselves and started our first section, which was listening to Osiris and Nora Lopez-Chavez, daughter and wife of tortured and disappeared Honduran journalist Jose Eduardo Lopez. Roy Samanthanam, Canadian Tamil refugee who experienced torture and ill-treatment when returning to Sri Lanka for his wedding, and Naser Al Raas, a survivor of Torture in Bahrain when he went to visit during the Arab Spring.

After the very solemn and eye opening experience of listening and asking question to these survivors of torture, it was time for all of Youth at Amnesty to head over to Parliament for a reception with Members of Parliament and Senators! Unfortunately, no matter how hard we plan, sometimes, things just don't work out as expected. The bus was almost 20 minutes late and at around 3:50, the traffic in Ottawa was bad (especially with all the construction!). In the time that we went 3 blocks, I could have probably walked faster. Yeah. Traffic was that bad. It was so bad that we were afraid that myself and Odelie would miss the opening speeches. So ... we hopped out of the bus ...

... and we ran to the reception. 

✓ Run through downtown Ottawa, through Rideau Centre and through a university campus in heels, check.

My God was I out of shape. By the time we got to the reception... the bus filled with all the students was actually right behind us. And I was drenched in sweat (perfect time to talk to dignitaries right).

I went through the medal detector and ran downstairs where I was greeted by this very lovely room with delicious looking treats (they had these delicious chocolate covered fruits but I didn't get any because I had to go to the front [I was sad]) and a bunch of dignitaries, assistants, senators and others. 

I insisted we take a selfie. He obliged.

I was drenched and struggling to take off my blazer to try to stop sweating. It was not successful. It was also then that I was introduced to Alex Neve, the Secretary General of Amnesty International. I made a joke, saying we ran all the way there because we cared so damn much about the issue of torture and didn't want to miss it and he gave me a hug. A HUG!!! He was laughing and was just an all-around general happy, nice guy. I liked him. Great guy to lead Amnesty. Persistent too.

Stephane Dion, Minister of Global Affairs

And then it was time to start and do speeches. Alex kicked us off and introduced everything. It was really wonderful, he is a well-spoken man. He introduced Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion to the crowd. And what he said blew us all away. 

"As of today, the Optional Protocol will 
no longer be Optional." - Dion

How... How insane is that. My speech, and I'm sure most of the other dignitaries and torture survivor's speeches, were all centered around Canada signing OPCAT. That was what the conference was for. That was what us youth came to Ottawa for. That was why we signed petitions.

And through this advocacy, we did it. 

Chalk one up to for the good guys.

First Post!

Less than a week away and I'll be heading over to New York City to start my Internship with the Office of the Special Coordinator on Improving the UN Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse! I've gotten so much insane amounts of support from everyone and I feel so humbled to have so many people really believe in me and the work I will be doing. I got a stupid amount of likes for posting this. It's been awesome. I can't believe how much encouragement I've received. Over 350 likes!

I'm sitting on a chair on my computer and I'm so super stoked right now. I've gotten a lot of things done so far, things that needed to be done before I left (and for anyone who ever does apply and get an internship)

- TB test - which was free at my local doctor's but if you get it at a public health place, it's about $25, check around

- B1 Visa - even though I am a Canadian citizen, if I am doing anything that is not short-term visit for pleasure or REALLY short meeting, I had to get it. Apparently you can get it for free at the border if you show all your documents, but I went to the Embassy in Canada (Protip: Do not bring a bag of any sort at all. They will turn you away and tell you to put your page somewhere else) and to get the Visa. Make sure that before you do anything, call the Embassy or consulate in your country.

- Transcript

And those are pretty much the only things you I really needed (I mean other than hard work and sheer will power)! And of course, because it is unpaid.. I needed some money too. So with the suggestion and help of a professor and my mentor, I e-mailed a bunch of organizations, people I knew, people I know and everyone in my network asking for a donation. I even started my own fundraising page!

Already, I've raised over $4000 with the generous support of friends, organizations such as Soroptimist International Toronto, and the generous help of friends I've yet to meet. It's been a really awesome experience. I've even gotten my link shared over 300 times! I feel humbled by this investment into my future. As an added bonus, I'll also get the chance to take this course as academic credit. 

Any who, this was meant to be a very short first post to give everyone a bit of an insight into how happy and excited I am to embark on this trip! I can't believe this is happening. In less than a week, I'll not only be flying to New York, but I'll also be starting an internship at the UN! I'm very excited.

Stay tuned for more.

Horatio Alger Award

In April of 2012, I was awarded the prestigious Horatio Alger Award (Unfortunately there was no official awards ceremony, back then the organization was mostly based in the States). The endowment comes from the Horatio Alger Association of Canada, a non-profit organization that gives out scholarships to high-achieving students. Supporters include hockey player Wayne Gretzky, astronaut Chris Hadfield, Toronto Mayor John Tory and former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

There have been many wonderful events I have been able to go to because of the Horatio Alger Awards. The first was a concert with Horatio Alger International Ambassador George Perris (October 2012), a very talented singer, who sings in French, English and Greek. I was the guest of honour and spoke to the audience beforehand. It was an amazing time and I was so happy I was able to attend! The concert was by Perris who was doing a fundraiser for the Horatio Alger Scholarships throughout Canada. 

When I met George, he was so kind. He not only gave me a signed copy of his DVD, but he also dedicated a song to me. He left me with this advice when I went to see him back stage. Whenever I run into a door, “do not open it, KICK it open!” Those words stay with me today.

After my speech, Member of Parliament Stephane Dion came up behind me and said he “Really admired me.” It was definitely a night to to remember.

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” ― Audrey Hepburn

Us at the start of the night!

The performing team

On February 7, 2013, I had the honour of preforming with the Carleton Improv Association against the uOttawa Improv team (MI6) at Cracking up the Capital, Ottawa’s first comedy festival! (Located at Algonquin College) http://www.crackingupthecapital.com/index.php?artid=event0207 Where all the proceeds went towards Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre and the Youth Services Bureau.

It was a pretty amazing night. My team and I arrived at Algonquin and got brought to the back room where the green room was so that we could hang out and relax. We got to Meet Colin Mochrie there! The show went amazing. I had quite a few friends in the audience who were super supportive and laughed at all my jokes.

Arguing with Colin

I even got to do a few scenes with Colin! 

Unfortunately OttawaU won the game this time around... they got to take home the beaver that was carved by one of our own!

Colin is such a fun guy. During this after party, he stayed for about

Afterparty!

half an hour to give our team advice, answer questions and just all around be an amazing human being. I’m glad that heroes are sometimes really heroes.

We had a limo to the afterparty!

I asked Colin to do an impressed photo with me so I could show the internet later, he said okay. I didn’t realize that was the face he made until after I saw the camera. What a joker.

All in all, an amazing experience, the first time I ever performed Improv in front of such a gigantic crowd! 

I asked him to be impressed.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

Created in 2012 to mark the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was a tangible way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, this commemorative medal served to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. During the year of celebrations, 60 000 deserving Canadians were recognized.

We had a bit of trouble getting it on

On February 2, 2013, I was honoured to be one of the youngest and last Canadians to receive this medal from my Member of Parliament, Craig Scott.

The ceremony took place in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, pictured are the other medal winners.

Booklets were given with the short descriptions of each recipient. 

My description stated:

“For her service to seniors, youth and children, at home and abroad, and for demonstrating to other youth that the future of a compassionate society starts with them.”

I was even in the Chinese Newspaper! (Don't ask me what it says)

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ― Barack Obama

I started volunteering for Parliament Hill early in January. I volunteered for Libby Davis, the National Critic for Healthcare, Deputy Leader of the NDP and the MP for Vancouver East. It’s a pretty fun job, I get to walk through the front doors of Parliament every week without going through security like a peasant (kidding, kidding). Her office is actually right down the hall from Stephane Dion’s and Olivia Chow’s! It’s really fun volunteering on the Hill, I love walking up the steps and thinking in my head “I am a part of the political process.” Even if it is just a desk job where I enter stuff into the database. I also read some letters that make me very upset (funds getting cut, though I do get to sit in Libby Davis’ seat!) And of course, I’ve gotten a visit from my page friend Andres, and been able to sit in the members gallery!

Access to Parliament Hill: I am the 1%.

Toronto East Rotary Club Scholarship

Toronto East Rotary Club Community Service Scholarship.

On July 12, 2012, I was awarded the Toronto East Rotary Club Scholarship for my volunteer work, my dedication to my community, keeping high marks and overcoming obstacles. These scholarships, given out by the Toronto East Rotary Club were wonderful. They really helped encourage me and 4 other recipients to go to post-secondary school.

http://www.torontoeastrotary.com/