Over the course of my 21 years of life, I’ve lived in nine different houses/apartments; three countries; five cities. But until recently, I couldn’t tell you if I’ve ever lived somewhere I’d call home. By Merriam-Webster’s definition, “home” refers to one’s place of residence, and also as “the social unit[Read More…]
Off the Board
I’ve had enough of yearning
When I open X, Instagram, or Substack looking for something to read, I am often confronted with a series of textbites: it’s yearning hours what’re y’all yearning for tn big year for yearning, longing, pining, and obsessing my playlist for yearning and sighing this month I don’t know about you,[Read More…]
The case for comprehensive education
When I applied to McGill’s Interfaculty of Arts and Science, I didn’t know what I wanted to major in, but I did know one thing: I was in search of an interdisciplinary education. I didn’t want to stay in the STEM box I had streamlined myself into during my final[Read More…]
Choosing not to be political is inherently taking a political stance
“I’m not political.” Hearing these words spread around campus frustrates me. How can you “not be political” when politics inherently concerns humanity? It doesn’t make sense. During nightly family dinners growing up, conversations would start with “How was your day?” but quickly turn into political discussions about current events. My[Read More…]
Nurturing action through collective care
Five days a week for the past four years, my classmates and I have sat in lecture halls and listened to how humans are destroying the Earth. We’ve learned about global leaders who keep failing to meet their stated climate commitments or how others choose to deny climate change entirely,[Read More…]
Through love, we can protect the heart of democracy
The first time I saw democracy in action, it was not through a cast vote, but a love letter to the future. Before I was old enough to vote, my mom and dad would bring me to the polling stations in my hometown of Barrie, Ontario to watch the events[Read More…]
The quest for perfection is unrealistic and harmful
After leaving high school sports behind and starting my post-secondary studies, school became a central part of my life. I quickly internalized that grades defined my worth and success. Good grades would lead to a good life—or so I thought—driving me to put relentless pressure on myself to excel. Anytime[Read More…]
Cross-section pollination enriches our writers and our paper
My first article for The Tribune was not for News, the section for which I’m now an editor, but for the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) section. This is not an uncommon story. A&E is one of our most popular sections, and it attracts writers eager to share their takes on[Read More…]
Activism must be shaped beyond spectacle
A few weeks ago, my professor began our history seminar on Black Internationalism by asking if we had ever imagined ourselves or our families enslaved. Given the subject matter of the class, the question wasn’t necessarily surprising, but I found it unnecessary. As upper-year history students, hadn’t we learned that[Read More…]
The pill, the personal, and why we need better birth control
The rash was not improving. I was crying, laughing, shaking, and not sleeping; I didn’t want to go outside; I developed joint pain. I felt like I was losing my mind. I had been taking the birth control pill for four months. Side effects were to be expected. I felt[Read More…]