“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/

The Merit Award Bursary Program provides bursaries to senior high school students as an incentive to stay in school, recognizing those who demonstrate a commitment to their school work, extra curricular activities and communities.

The Merit Award Bursary Program was started in 1996 by a group of Toronto residents. They felt it was important to support and encourage high school students to stay in school. The late Mr. Justice John Sopinka of the Supreme Court of Canada was the first Honourary Chair of the Program, which is administered entirely by volunteers.

The first bursaries were awarded to 20 high school students in the former City of York in the Fall of 1996. The Program was expanded to include the former Borough of East York in 1997. In the most recent round of awards [Spring, 2012], the Merit Award Bursary Program awarded 150 bursaries to students at 45 specified secondary schools across Toronto.

I was honoured to be one of the recipients of the $2,000 bursary as well as being the keynote speaker, speaking on behalf of all the students who won something that night. This is the second time that I’ve been awarded this bursary and still cannot get over how AWESOME it is, literally helping over thousands of students with their education.

In one of the photos is a myself with the other recipient from my school, Amir as well as a photo of myself and my mom!

I am also apparently a poster child for the Merit Awards..

http://meritaward.ca/about-us

55 Division CPLC Youth Scholarship Program

The 55 Division CPLC Youth Scholarship Program are presented to young people, between 15 and 18, who have combined academic excellence with outstanding volunteer service with the 55 Division community.

Featured in their article:

Camille Natale Award

Each year the District Human Rights and Political Action Committees from the Toronto District School Board solicit nominations of students by their members. Student winners are celebrated for excellence in activism in the areas of human rights, social justice and/or political action at a dinner event held in their honour.

This is the following criteria:

• worked directly to address issues of peace, social justice, human rights or
• equity in the school, local community or beyond
• advocated for the human rights or equity of an individual or group
• worked to bring groups in conflict together for resolution
• inspired others toward involvement in human rights & social justice

I was honoured to be awarded the Camille Natale Award for my work in human rights and social justice. I had the honour of being able to speak to everyone at the awards ceremony. 

Toronto Rotary Youth Civic Leadership Award

I was awarded the Toronto Rotary Youth Civic Leadership Award by the Toronto Rotary Clubfor sustained leadership, initiative, involvement, engagement and voluntary contributions aimed at creating positive change within the GTA community, and dedicating service above self.

Pictured are the other winners, left to right, Aaron, myself, Patricia and Zumer. In the other photos is (at the time), Minister of Children and Youth Services, MP Eric Hoskins and the other photo is myself with (at the time) Chief Bill Blair.

Future Aces Citizenship Award

Founded in 1987, Future Aces awards scholarships and citizenship awards to young people across Canada. Awards are given to students who exhibit exemplary citizenship qualities as represented in the Future ACES Philosophy: Attitude, Ability, Action, Achievement, Co-operation, Courage, Confidence, Education Empathy, Example, Service, Sportsmanship; extensive community service, volunteerism and commitment to humanitarian causes; provide evidence of the potential for success.

I've personally been a volunteer with Future Aces since 2011 through their ACES leadership conference. I believe in the empowerment of young people and turning our next generation into leaders. In May of 2011 I was awarded the Future Aces Citizenship Award.