My favourite feminist icon
Priya Ghuman
My favourite feminist icon is Malala Yousafzai. In 2014, at the age of 17, she became the Nobel Peace Prize’s youngest (shared) receiver. The Pakistani activist was well-known for promoting girls’ education and for blogging on BBC’s Urdu language site about Taliban control in her hometown. In 2012, she was shot in the head by the Taliban but survived, continuing her fight for women’s education. Yousafzai was named on Time‘s list of the world’s most important personalities in 2009. I Am Malala, her debut novel, was launched in 2013 after she delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations. I admire her so much because I have never seen someone so brave before, and because of how she stands up for herself. As an education activist, Yousafzai gave a speech at the age of 11 entitled “How Dare the Taliban Take Away My Basic Right to Education?” She has set an example for all the women out there by being such a fearless woman at such a young age.
An ode to Joe
Teryn Midzain
As a connoisseur of the exquisite and finer tastes in life, I have always searched and tested where the focal points of functionality, intellect, and emotion meet, arriving at the conclusion that it is simply in food. More specifically, in comfort foods. Warm soup on a chilly day, a big bowl of ice cream with sprinkles, pie; the list of great comforting foods can go on and on. As a civilized and learned young man-child, I have come to the conclusion that the meatball sandwich is the epitome of comfort foods. There isn’t an emotion that a good meatball sandwich, with its beautiful simplicity, cannot complement or cure. The sandwich fits any reason to eat food and is the perfect choice on days where the only agenda is to chill. In my years of research and on-the-ground experience, the best meatball sandwich comes from Joe’s Italian Deli.
The key to Joe’s sandwich is ordering it with mozzarella cheese. An obvious yes, as cheese makes everything better, the mozzarella on the meatball doesn’t divert or steal any glory or praise from the sandwich. Instead, it complements the decadent ensemble like a good cast member to complete the taste, satiation, and mouthfeel that Joe’s sandwich already knocks out of the park. While there are other options to order at Joe’s Italian Deli that are undoubtedly excellent in their own way, there isn’t another that does the job that a comfort food needs to do quite like Joe’s meatball sandwich, which can be summarized in a simple word and phrase similar to Henry Cavill’s biceps. Perfection.
Sometimes you just have to quit
Sydney Marchand
I’ve worked at the same restaurant for the last eight years. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least, and I’ve met many wonderful people along the way. This week, though, I made the decision to put my mental health first, and quit.
Consciously taking the steps to take some serious life changes is freakin’ scary. And trust me, I’ve cried more than once trying to convince myself that it was “okay” to take the risk and make such a life-altering decision. I have sat comfortably in the lifestyle that I’ve built by working this job — I am not one that likes change in general — and so, actively choosing to step out of my comfort zone and risk not knowing what the future has in store for me has me shitting my pants.
I’ve learned, though, that it takes a lot of willpower and courage to decide to put your own mental health over pleasing others. Don’t stay in a job because it is convenient or because you fear letting your boss down. Don’t stay in a job because you’ve been convinced that the money is worth more than your sanity. Trust me, it isn’t. You can’t experience new things, embrace opportunities, or meet new people if you don’t open yourself up to change. And sometimes taking a break to breathe and focus on yourself is the only way to move forward. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
Fifth Olympic gold to women’s hockey
Steve Hartwig
As a hockey parent, I was very interested in watching the women’s ice hockey gold medal game. The rivalry between Team Canada and the U.S. is incredible and has created so many unbelievable moments at both the Olympics and the World Championships. But my main interest in watching was to share the game with my daughter — a developing hockey player — and support her through the roller coaster that these high-level games offer.
My daughter and her hockey teammates were eager and excited for the Canadians to win the game. Canada came out strong and led all the way to the final whistle. When they did win, I think my daughter screamed so loud that she didn’t need her phone to communicate with her friends — half of Chilliwack must have heard her cheering.
I was thrilled by the game but even more impressed by my daughter’s reaction. Her support of the Canadian women’s hockey team grew. The example that they provide for young female players is building a foundation for generations to come. My daughter and I spoke about how these women, in the face of considerable adversity and gender inequality, sacrifice so much to train, play, and succeed in a sport dwarfed by their counterparts in men’s leagues around the world.
I believe it is so valuable for a young woman to have role models like the Canadian women’s hockey team.
Images: Iryna Presley / The Cascade
I am Priya Ghuman and I am a staff writer at The Cascade. I have a great interest in reading and sports, and I am a pianist as well. Lastly, I am an animal lover and I am always ready to volunteer and help anyone who is in need.
Teryn Midzain is an English Major with ambitious goals to write movies and a full-time nerd, whose personality and eccentrics run on high-octane like the cars he loves. More importantly, Teryn loves sports [Formula One], and doesn’t care who knows. When not creating and running deadly schemes in his D&D sessions, Teryn tries to reach the core of what makes the romantic and dramatic World of Sports, the characters and people that make the events so spectacular.
Sydney is a BA English major, creative writing student, who has been a content contributor for The Cascade and is now the Opinion editor. In 7th grade, she won $100 in a writing contest but hasn’t made an earning from writing since. In the meantime, she is hoping that her half-written novels will write themselves, be published, and help pay the bills.
Steve is a third-year BFA creative writing/visual arts student who’s been a contributing writer, staff writer and now an editor at The Cascade. He's always found stories and adventures but now has the joy of capturing and reporting them.
