Do you think you have an inspiring story to share? Have you done something exceptional with your artistic talent? Share your story and you could be featured on this page!
Kayla Peckham
My name is Kayla Peckham and I am an aspiring musician from Ottawa, Ontario. I started violin at the age of 10 and have never looked back, when I started it felt like an extension of my arm. I am also a full-time student at Canterbury High School, as a music major.
Starting violin late made everything harder than it should have been. I have been denied a solo, and leadership positions because of the length. Not only that but the aspects that every kid picked up naturally from a musical childhood I did not have. However, the one thing that I had and they didn’t was an unbelievable love for music. Yes, I have had setbacks but that just meant that I’d practice more. I do not want to, and will not give up on my passion. In five years of endless practicing in rehearsals, I am very proud to say that I have completed my grade 10 exam and am working award the ARCT diploma.
My message to all of the youth in Canada is to give it a shot. If you really love it, you will do it. Times will be tough, but perseverance will get you through it. Hard work and dedication is what makes the difference, talent is not as important as everybody thinks it is.
Emmanuelle Tassy-Bunyan
Since childhood, I was always described as constantly lost in her thoughts, someone who likes to daydream and who has a lot of imagination. I started writing short stories as early as 7 years old. At least once a month, there was an “art show”, where I would read stories out loud, enact plays, dragging my little sister into my art projects in front of our parents, whether they liked it or not. As a natural introvert, writing stories was a way for me to express myself. At the age of 10, I wrote a short fictional story about two young loves going to all kinds of adventures, and had it read to all my classmates. At the age of 11, I started writing my very first novel about a slave girl, turned warrior during the Roman Empire, and at the age of 14, I wrote a second novel about a love story in modern Quebec. However, as I grew older, I became more and more anxious about the reactions to my books. I became shy about it and for many many years, I wrote for myself and nobody except my immediate family and very very close friends knew about it. At the age of 22, I decided to get out of my shell and share my stories to the outside world with my third novel.
I got the inspiration for this book at the age of 15 during a family trip in New York and Washington DC. I started writing after the trip, and seven eight years later, I contacted Bouquinbec, a self-publishing company, and one year later, it was published. The title of the book is “Medium” which refers to those able to see and communicate with the dead. It is a very controversial, dark and dismal book set in an apocalyptic futuristic world. This world is dominated by social classes, with the Angels and the Demons at the top, and the Mediums and Humans at the bottom. The main character is Genevieve, a Medium girl with a bounty on her head who hides daily from the repressive regime, until she decides to make a change in her life. She will then meet a Demon with a tortuous past, and a desire for revenge, and together, they will try to build a better life and a better world.
I am very proud of this book because it is the result of eight years of hard work. Furthermore, the published version symbolizes my wish to face my fear, which was sharing my stories to the outside world. I started writing by myself without any help because I loved to write, but it took awhile for me to build enough self confidence, to stop hiding in the dark, and write for others as well. Working with Bouquinbec was a very nerve wracking, fulfilling, and learning experience, and when I finally held my printed book in my hands, after years of thinking that it will never happen, it gave me such a euphoric feeling that I began to think that if this is possible, then everything else is.
In a not so distant future, I plan to publish the other two novels that I wrote before, and even publish the short story that I wrote at the age of 10 as a children's book. For a while, I have wanted to leave a mark into this world, leave something behind for my children and grandchildren and now, after years of hiding it is finally happening.
Everything is possible. Everybody can achieve something. But it is up to you to put the hard work and believe in yourself. Of course, there are still a lot of challenges and experiences on my journey. I published my book, I now need to work extra hard to promote it. I recently created a facebook page called ETBbooks (you are very welcomed to like and share my page). In addition, I booked two days at the Salon du Livre de Montreal for promotion, and I have other projects in my mind.
I give a big thank you to Youth of Canada who is giving me the opportunity to promote my book and share my story to the world.
Afyz Mohamedali
Never one to shy away from an argument- or as I would call it, a verbal joust- and much to my mother’s discontent, my passion for the art of debate was fostered from quite a young age. Be it the unspeakable injustice of cleaning my room, or the ennui that resulted from a mere mention of the words “bed-time”, my young brain thirsted for opportunity: to engage in arguments is understandably a perplexing pastime to most, yet to me, it was antithetically addictive. The tantalizing skirmish that is debate became an aperture in the usual means of discourse; frustration could always be framed in such a way as to present logical conclusions. Similar to a mathematical equation of sorts, specific vernacular functioned as the input, and provided the impetus for others to see my point of view. As I matured, I realized that this skill I had developed fundamentally served as a barometer.
Rhetorical analysis allowed me to stand up for what I believed in. Naturally, the next extension of this passion was taking it to the structured level: competitive debate. Over the years, I was lucky enough to be extremely successful at the competitive level; some of my highlights include being a four-time national debater, a member of the Canadian National debate team, and the captain of my school’s own club. Four years, and many incredible experiences later, I am extremely fortunate to be able to own some of the aforementioned achievements listed above; however, these achievements would not have been possible without the immense amount of support I received throughout the journey. Specifically, my debate coaches Neil Bryant, and Rachel MacInnis played an insurmountable role in my development, not only as a debater, but also as a student. These incredible individuals have had my back for many years, and have continually motivated me to be the best version of myself, both in academia and externally. I truly have no way of expressing how sincerely gracious I am for their oversight, and friendship. To this day, I value their rich feedback, strive to emulate their actions, and cherish many of the moments we shared together.
My success in debate has ironically enough yielded yet another crucial conclusion; I feel as if its overwhelmingly important to value the art of expressing oneself judiciously. Most of us know not the horror of autocratic rule or divisive governments, however, it is important that we are always thinking rationally and with a global perspective. Debate has truly taught me that certain topics will always seek to exist behind a veil, unless challenged by young minds. Often the highly political world in which we exist acts as a façade, shielding us from important ethical issues. Remember, no issue is a single sided matter: they are open for discourse, and we as youth must be the champions of this dialogue.
Mac Shepherd
Hailing from Georgina Ontario, I began taking piano lessons at the tender age of 5, followed by guitar at age 8. Since then, haven't looked back. Vocal lessons soon followed as did my passion for songwriting. By 13, I approached my local music store asking for a job, and shortly after was teaching my own students. I continues today, teaching: vocal, guitar, piano, drums, and ukulele. I have enjoyed performing at many venues, including the York Region Celebration of the Arts where he performed with his sister and won Best Duo or Group 2013, the Magna Hoedown Showdown, winning 1st prize in 2016, Tin Pan North, Music in the Streets and most recently at Stars and Thunder in Timmins Ontario. I love performing live and is most relaxed on stage, for someone who has been told many times that he is an old soul.
When not performing, writing or recording in my basement , I am a member of the "Free the Children" club at my High School, along with being a co-chairman of the "Me To We" Club. I even traveled to Tanzania, Africa in July 2017 with Me to We to help build a children's school! Even in Africa, I somehow found a guitar and performed not only for the school children but for the Masai tribe that I lived with. I relate my experience in Africa with my music and I convey a message of creating opportunity for young kids living in poverty.
I site many influences for my music, such performers and songwriters as John Mayer, Chet Baker, Amy Winehouse James Bay, Amy Lee, Kendrick Lamar, and Stevie Wonder just to name a few. Songwriting is something I take seriously, and spend so much time on. I was given the opportunity last year, to record original songs I wrote with Beverley Mahood and Jamie Warren. Looking ahead to later on in 2018, I am hoping to get back into the studio to record more of my original songs. I am a hard working young man, and at 16, I am willing to work even harder to attain my dream of working in the music industry and sharing my passion with others. I can't imagine doing anything else. A quote I can relate to and pass on to the youth of Canada undoubtedly, comes from Irish Playwright, George Bernard Shaw - " Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself".