Publisher Note
Our Staff
Simmy Cheema
Marketing team Sunny (Manager) Chris Anna Editor Harvinder Sandhu
“We cannot be there for everyone, but everyone can be there for someone” … This very thought is what inspired me to organize a youth talent show, Close Look’s Got Talent, in Surrey, British Columbia. I strongly believe that, “If Close Look’s Got Talent is able to inspire, motivate or support even one life, it’s worth it”.
I remember when I was about eight years old, my father heard me singing away, and instead of encouragement, I received a slap across my face. He wanted me to pursue academics, be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, anything but the creative arts. I just wanted to sing! My spark of passion for singing completely diminished after his strict warning and the fear of another punishment. I am sure there are very many children who are fulfilling their parents’ expectations, but, are these children really happy? Is it not important for parents to help their child figure out what’s their passion? What they really want to do in life? And then support them? If children do not get the proper attention and support from their parents, or other significant adult family members, they will likely lose the feeling of close connection to their family which inevitably causes communication to break down. And then in time, children begin hanging around those who are like-minded, who will actually listen to their desires, and who may even lead them down the wrong path.
Art director Jasneet Samra Photographers Aziz Photography Preet Sanghera
I thought that this kind of initiative will provide our youth with a positive and productive direction. Give our youth who are interested in the arts a platform to focus on. I believe there are so many talented children and youth who do not have the chance or opportunity to showcase themselves and here is where I hope Close Look’s Got Talent can help them.
Contributing writers Gurleen Virk Ira Saini Jodi Samra Mai Le Melissa Eisler
Our Previous Issue
I firmly believe there is a great amount of hidden talent in our community just waiting to be noticed. In fact, it was quite overwhelming to see our young poets, painters, singers, dancers and many others perform on stage at Close Look’s Got Talent. We thank our volunteers, supporters, and sponsors, who all believed in us, and made the show happen. I am especially grateful to God, my team, family, and friends for being a part of my life and journey with Close Look. We were truly able to make a great difference in the lives of many.
“ Thank you Close Look for a very positive cover page showcasing beautiful young ladies with no makeup! These young ladies and others all need to know their confidence is their natural beauty. ”
CLOSE LOOK
4
- John K.
“Great cover with great articles” - Kelly. FALL 2017
TALENT
SECTION
Raman Cheema Alexia Dickson Destination Unkown Bukola Balogun Mariah Lynne Dear
10 12 14 16 18
INSPIRATIONAL STORIES Is Hiding Your Addiction Really Worth It?
20
MONEY MATTERS Financial Advice For Youth 22
FEATURE STORY Close Look Got Talent
US IN ACTION
Close Look Got Talent
25
26
I SUPPORT Students For Humanity
30
CIRCLE OF KINDNESS By Ira Saini
33
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT Ways to Create Your Own Opportunity
39
CAREER/EMPLOYMENT Why Sales Is The Best First Job 43
WORDS OF WISDOM Staying Spiritual On A Daily Basis
45
MAKEOVER Nail Beauty Tips
46
SPEAK UP 49 CLOSE LOOK
6
FALL 2017
“I would like to congratulate CloseLook on their efforts to showcase youth voices in our community. Providing a platform for youth to share their stories is powerful not only because of the positive experience and skills that the participants gain, but also because their stories can inspire others to make a positive difference in their community and lives. All the best to the CloseLook Team!� - Ken Hardie
CLOSE LOOK
8
FALL 2017
Dental Emergencies Dental Restorations Cosmetic Dentistry Teeth Whitening Dental Implants Invisalign Family Dentistry Periodontics Endodontics Sedation Dentistry Oral Hygiene/Cleaning Wisdom Teeth Extraction Guards, Bite Appliances Den Dentures
www.avenuedental.ca
Avenue Dental is a family practice located in Surrey, B.C. that oers a wide range of dental and cosmetic services to help you and your family maintain optimal dental health. We are proud to oer the latest cosmetic techniques and the most advanced services in tooth replacement and restoration, teeth whitening, Invisalign, endodontics mo and much more.
www.clearbrookdentalgroup.com
TALENT
Raman Cheema
Raman Cheema is currently in her fourth year at Emily Carr University studying Visual Arts with a focus on painting and will be graduating this spring with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts. Generally, Raman works in a space around identity politics with her practice stemming from a personal space in issues pertaining to her own identity. Some examples of these themes can be situated within pluralities of feminisms, internalized racial identities, and body image and so on. Most of her inspiration in working through these issues comes from various artists, writers, and cultural producers such as, Edward Said, Trinh T. Min-ha, and more; work that tends to focus on the cultures of those deemed to be Other. CLOSE LOOK
10
FALL 2017
Currently she is working on a couple of exhibition proposals that deal with the intersectional spaces between feminisms, and this can include perspectives from subaltern subjects as theorized by Spivak, working through the media norms of today’s society as a contributor to internalized racial rhetoric and how some of these effects play out. Overall, her work displays the personal as the political within these discourses. CLOSE LOOK
11
FALL 2017
•
July 2017, Alexia was a contestant in the Miss Jr BC, she unfortunately did not win, but loved the whole experience.
•
September 2017, Alexia was casted in 2 scenes of the Royal City Youth Ballet’s Annual Nutcracker production running all thru December 2017.
Outside of the dance studio, and along with a few friends, Alexia started up a Dance Club at her school where she gets to teach moves and routines to other kids. She spends the day in school, roughly between 18-20 hours a week at the studio (after school) and in her spare time she can be found playing video games with her brother, crafting with her mom and having sleepovers with her closest friends. On Saturdays, Alexia is in Greek School for 3 hours learning to read and write Greek, and dance to Greek music.
Alexia Dickson
Dancing is her passion, everything she does has a rhythm to it, from dancing while walking down the street, or tapping her feet while in line for waiting for something.
Alexia is a 12 year old, straight A student at Yorkson Creek Middle School. She’s been cheerleading since she was 5, and dancing since she was 6, and loves absolutely every minute of doing both.
“Events like Close Look Got Talent are useful because it helps kids like Alexia get out and do things that they love to do. It encourages confidence in participants as they get to perform at a higher level, thus exposing participants like Alexia to a larger audience and the act of being judged also helps as the participants also obtain valuable feedback while also being appreciated.” Alexia’s Mom, Katina
She’s been dancing various dance disciplines, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Stage (Theatrical) & Acro. She recently earned Ballet Pointe Shoes. In gymnastics and cheerleading, she’s mastered cartwheels, aerial’s, front walk-overs and back handsprings. She’s now working hard to achieve the back tuck! Here’s a list of Alexia’s achievements so far: •
July 2016 Alexia traveled to Montreal where she competed and won the “National Dancer of the Year ages 12 & Under” award. It was one of her proudest moments. She came home with a 21-pound crystal trophy and $1000 cheque which she put right back toward her dance.
•
June 2017, Alexia won first place for her Jazz routine at her school’s talent show.
•
May 2017, Alexia was selected to be a part of Canadian National Show Dance Team to compete in Germany. This opportunity unfortunately had to be turned down due to cost, Alexia is hoping to be able to participate next year.
•
July 2017, Alexia was featured in a music video by Natalia Pardalis, “Secret Garden”.
CLOSE LOOK
“I am thankful that Close Look United Foundation exists and allows for us to show off our talent,” says a grateful Alexia, continuing, “my goal now is to work harder to come back next year and win again.”
12
FALL 2017
Ashley Pater &
Destination Unknown
My name is Ashley Pater and I am a 14 year old singer songwriter. I have been performing as a solo act since the age of 9 and have a growing career. This year CBCMusic named me one of the 10 young Canadian musicians you must hear. The next step for me was to form a band, thus “Destination Unknown” was born. We are a 3 piece band with 14 year old May Wilsdon on bass guitar and 14 year old Cassidy Cooke on the drums. We love to perform a mix of my originals and covers. “Close Look Got Talent” was a good forum to showcase the band and we are pleased to have been part of the first, of what is sure to become an annual event. We appreciate organizations like the Close Look United Foundation as they support the young artists and truly want to be a part of helping young people succeed in following their passions. It is events like “Close Look Got Talent” that provide a venue of young people to perform, for perhaps the very first time, in a safe and supportive environment. Thank you Close Look United Foundation and the Close Look Got Talent team.
CLOSE LOOK
14
FALL 2017
Bukola Balogun Bukola Balogun is a 15 year old self taught singer, songwriter and guitarist. She started to teach herself to play the guitar when she was in grade seven with a guitar that she saved up for and purchased at Toys R Us. “Let’s just say I’ve come a long way from there”, says Bukola, continuing, “I love listening to music and learning from it as well as it’s something that makes me feel happy”. Her favourite genres are Jazz, R&B, Soul and Pop. Bukola feels, “music is able to convey emotions that words cannot and it can spark a light in our darkest moments, and harness the bright lights in our happier times”. “I’d love to thank Close Look United Foundation for putting on such an amazing event. They’re all so kind and welcoming and you can tell that everyone who is a part of their team loves to be there.” “Events like these are so helpful for youth because it gives us the opportunity to do what we love. It’s so rewarding to have a space where you can share what you’ve been creating and what you love with such a kind audience after harnessing and honing your craft for so long. To sum it all up, I’m just a girl with a guitar who loves to make music and hopefully, my music will be able to take me to places beyond my wildest dreams, but most importantly, I hope I’ll be able to inspire someone to either pick up a guitar and write a song, or to help someone realize their dreams and talents, and that they should pursue them.” If you’re interested in keeping up with Bukola you can visit her on: Instagram: @bukolaamusic Facebook: bukolamusic YouTube: bukolamusic CLOSE LOOK
16
FALL 2017
Mariah Lynne Dear Mariah Lynne Dear is a majestic young woman who lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a poet, a fiction writer, a feminist, a nanny, and a writing workshop facilitator. Since her spoken word poetry debut at age seventeen, she has travelled across Canada competing both individually and as a team representing the city of Vancouver. You can find out what Mariah is currently working on at www.mariahlynnedear.com! “I feel like Close Look United Foundation is an exciting and growing foundation with a great aim. It is important for youth to feel like their creative passions and talents aren’t useless, as they can often feel, since they are not nurtured and cultivated in schools as much as they could be. I feel like Close Look really gave me a forum to meet other like-minded youth and created a great opportunity for me to show off something I am proud of, my writing.” Mariah also emphasized, “These events are helpful towards youth because they allow youth to meet friends with similar interests, it is often the best friendships that grow out of similar likes and loves. On top of that, it destigmatizes the ‘nerdiness’ of the arts by offering a professional showcase, (as opposed to an event with simply parents or 2-3 people in attendance) and by watching adults stress the importance of the arts.” “I am so happy to have taken part in this talent show!”, gushed Mariah.
CLOSE LOOK
18
FALL 2017
INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
IS HIDING YOUR
ADDICTION REALLY WORTH IT?
As a first generation Canadian-born South Asian, I had a great life. My parents both worked hard to provide for my siblings and I. I had all the love I needed. However, looking back now, I recognize that I was also surrounded by negative behaviors that I felt made it okay for me to drink and party as a teenager. My Mamiji (uncle) was a fullblown alcoholic and my father and other Mamiji’s were also heavy drinkers. They would often gather around the table drinking, laughing, eating chicken, and drinking scotch until they could no longer stand. My cousins and I would be watching TV and playing video games and didn’t think anything of the drinking. It was all just a part of life. We knew as a family that alcohol was a problem for certain males in our family, but it was normal for us not to talk about it, but rather sweep it under the rug. When I got older and went to high school I tried to get good grades and play sports like my brother, but gave up because I felt I wasn’t capable. I noticed from the peers I surrounded myself with that there was another way to be popular: by being the party guy who drank, smoked, and used drugs. Hiding my party life from my parents was easy, because I already had practice keeping our family secrets of addiction. By the time I entered grade 12, I started to indulge in harder drugs like cocaine and ecstasy. I partied on the weekends, smoked weed during the week and skipped classes, and cheated my way to graduation. And I wasn’t the only one. I was surrounded by many first generation kids doing the same thing. One night, the year after graduation, I was driving home drunk and crashed into a parked car and left the scene to drive my ruined car home. That was the point when my parents realized I was up to no good, but didn’t pin point it to alcohol and drugs, or at least didn’t want to believe it was alcohol and drugs. I wanted to be independent from my parents so I could hide my addiction, so I started to sell drugs and progressed into other criminal activities to live a life full of nice clothes, drugs, and alcohol. My life was full of false happiness, and I ultimately started realizing that lifestyle CLOSE LOOK
was not really me and that I was just trying to fill a void. I turned to the drug Oxycodone to fill the void. That is when my life came tumbling down. When I got into opiates, I knew it was bad because I couldn’t go an hour without using them. The money I got from selling drugs couldn’t maintain my addiction. I even started stealing money and jewelry; pretty much anything I could get my hands on, from my family and friends. I had no money left, no drugs to sell, and nowhere to turn. I was so down and out I had to eventually tell my family. I told my brother first. He broke down crying because he knew something was wrong. My parents wanted to hide it from everyone because of pride and being proud Sikh parents. They tried to hide it for months by helping me themselves, but were unsuccessful. My siblings, aunt, and cousins knew I needed professional help and reached out. I went to a 1-month treatment center, followed by two 90-day programs. They helped me get my foot in the door of recovery, but the programs weren’t long enough to help me sustain my sobriety. In August 2016, I entered the John Volken Academy. When I walked into the doors I was still on the fence of wanting to be sober or not. About 2-3 months in, I knew this was it, that I was ready to change my life and that it was here that I would obtain lasting recovery. This program has brought my family back into my life. If my family and I did not reach out to the John Volken Academy I would have died and never got sober, or started loving myself. The stigma around addiction in the South Asian community is a big issue and causes a fear of reaching out. But I can tell you, it is not worth it. So I ask, if you’re struggling with this disease of addiction, reach out and get the help you need. Sincerely, A Friend in Recovery
20
FALL 2017
MONEY MATTERS
Financial Advice for Youth Have you always wanted to make your own money and stop spending your parents’ money? Here are some tips and tricks, although there may not be many options available for teens. However, it still is a possibility for you to be your own boss and make money doing the things you cared about! Depending on what you are good at, and how you measure your own strength. It is always a good idea to start small. Starting a small job first. If your old enough to walk the street alone without supervision from guardians. With winter coming it’s way and fall just kicking off. You might want to consider a small side job of working in the drive way or the yard. If your parents are already paying you to get the fallen leafs cleaned up in their yards during the fall season, and getting snow shoveled away from the driveway. Perhaps, you should take that opportunity to offer your neighbours the same services. Politely ring their doorbell and ask them if they would like to have their yard clean or drive way shoveled, and let your neighbours know that they can pay you as much as they think you deserved. If you have kind neighbours you will be making more than then you think you could make! If hard labour is not your forte, perhaps considering your talent and putting them to work! Like arts and craft and selling your work online. Always check to make sure that your small business plans are legal within your city and also ask an adult for questions if you are unsure. Remember that there is never a bad question to ask, always save half of what you earn and spend half on whatever you like. Treat yourself because you do earn it, and most importantly is to have fun and staying safe! Mai Le CLOSE LOOK
22
FALL 2017
“Our Solutions for your business” No Monthly Contracts – Cancel anytime Free Payment Terminal Credit Card Processing Internet Processing Cash On Demand Competitive processing rates Guarantee lower rates than your current merchant service provider! Thai Le Phone Number: 778-896-8424 Email: thai@tiranasolutions.com www.tiranasolutions.com
“Close Look Got Talent 2017� was our first annual Youth Talent show held by Close Look United Foundation, a registered not for profit society. Congratulations to all the participants. We thank all the parents and guests for attending this event to support Youth. CLOSE LOOK
25
FALL 2017
“Close Look Got Talent” We Made It Happen
PUNJAB IRON & STEEL LUMBER LTD.
GURJIT BAL CLOSE LOOK
26
FALL 2017
ATLAS ENTERTAINMENT
ASAD SYED (REALTOR) & HP HOMES CLOSE LOOK
27
FALL 2017
This is an annual Youth Talent show where our efforts go into promoting awareness, diversity and equality through arts and culture in our community. The event itself provides a platform for young musicians, writers, artists and performers to showcase their talents live. At our event, we awarded cash awards and trophies varying categories from solo and group live performances to visual arts. We are hopeful that by youth participating in such activities, we can give youth a productive leadership role and/or opportunity that promotes positive attitude and exceptional work ethic. We ultimately hope that by having youth, including those at risk, getting involved in our initiatives we will give them a push in the right direction while pursuing their passion, rather than getting involved in drugs, crime, and social exclusion. Furthermore, this initiative will give all youth an equal chance to showcase their performances and qualify for an award. www.clufoundation.org
CLOSE LOOK
28
FALL 2017
I SUPPORT
Students for Humanity is a non-profit humanitarian organization at Simon Fraser University (SFU) that aims to address numerous social and health issues within our community. It was founded by Prabh Dhillon (Founder and President) early in January of 2017 alongside his partner Braeden Peterson (VicePresident), with the intention of creating an inclusive environment that allows people and students of all We focus on addressing a variety of different social and backgrounds to connect, to build a bond, and to work health issues within our community. One of the reasons why we are so diverse is because each individual together harmoniously to help others. on our team has a unique interest and passion for a Together we provide relief, aid, and assistance to particular social/health issue. Although we may have those in need, while also providing education, and ac- different interests, we all share a common passion tively promoting health and wellbeing to the commu- for giving back and helping others. Some things we nity. We do not just share a common value of being do include addressing issues, such as, mental health, humanitarians, we uphold the core principles of hu- women’s issues, homelessness, cancer, heart disease, manitarianism: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and collecting blood donations, improving the health of children, interacting with seniors for emotional supindependence. CLOSE LOOK
30
FALL 2017
port, and even providing seminars for education and bring together the community as a whole to create discussion of various issues. We do not limit ourselves unity and to share a drive to extinguish the stigma to simply one issue. around mental health and to provide those struggling with mental health a chance to see people coming As for how we operate, we thrive solely on the dedica- together in support. tion of others who volunteer their time, energy, and their skillsets. Volunteers are the foundation of our or- This was a free event to attend, however, we did colganization and without them we would not be able to lect donations. In order to support local mental health help very many people. By volunteering with us, peo- initiatives, proceeds were donated to Moving Forple are given an opportunity to make a difference in ward Family Services to support the establishment of their community. Volunteers are also given the chance Cyndi’s Centre: a centre in Surrey for child education to serve the community, build awareness, heighten and psychiatric counselling for children. With over 150 their visibility, establish a connection with the mem- people in attendance, an extremely successful turnbers of the community, and most importantly, they out, we hope to host this event annually. will have the opportunity to develop themselves individually through personal growth. You can learn more about us at www.studentsforhumanity.org or follow us on On September 24th, 2017, we held our very first Instagram @healinghumanitytogether. event. ‘Paint Your World’ was an art night for mental health, consisting of various forms of art such as singing/music, poetry, and painting that we held at Maharaja Banquet Hall in Surrey. This event was an interactive exhibition that provided a safe space for people to discuss mental health and to express themselves without fear of judgement. We were able to
CLOSE LOOK
31
FALL 2017
We have specialized advisors to help with any of your real estate needs!
Little Oak Realty
Independently Owned and Operated
HARJ BRAR TITAN REAL ESTATE TEAM
604-309-1111
CIRCLE OF KINDNESS
BY IRA SAINI
Altruism isn't for a day. It isn't even for cause. It really is a habit; one that spreads the smile in its own special way. It touches people. It creates an unspoken, untold bond that has the power to bind strangers, even if for just a moment, and cause the ripple effect to follow through. And this is why we bring to you the Kindness Circle, to recount the stories you can be inspired from, stories you can pass along and stories that will melt your heart.
By the time I got to the train station to head home around 6pm, I was super tired but could not find any place to sit. I stood beside a small girl who must have been around the age of five and her mother. Without thinking much, I called my mom and started cribbing about my day, adding that there was no place to sit on the train and that I was really tired and felt sick right before hanging up. The little girl probably heard me, got up and nudged me to say, “Here, you can have my seat.” It was so sweet and kind that it made my day. I thanked her and asked her to stay seated, but by this time her mother had caught on to what had happened, and she asked the girl to sit on her lap to make sure I could get the seat. I had so much admiration for both the child and her mother that I will never forget that day. It was definitely the kind of story you can share with the #SeriousParentingGoals. - Britteny, 21
1. When I was in my first year, I lived about one and a half hour away from my university, and dreaded the daily commute since it took so much time and energy that I didn’t have. The first year courses were all very difficult; my schedule was pre-decided and tightly packed, so much so that on some days, I barely had enough time for a twenty minute lunch break in a day full of assignments, labs and lectures. Thursday was one of those days, and I had just finished writing my first exam. I hadn’t slept in a couple of nights and was pretty sure that the sneezing all that day were warning signs of an upcoming sickness. CLOSE LOOK
2. This happened during my trip to Europe last spring with my best friend. What was supposed to be the best time of our life, was turning into a nightmare when due to a delayed train and bad weather, we ended up in a small town in Belgium very late at night. Most places around the train station were closed, and the couple of taxi drivers in the area did not seem to understand English, or possibly didn’t want to drive us because our hotel was supposed to be within walking distance from the station. We knew our hotel was very close, but had no idea where to start walking. We had the directions saved on our phones, but of course, they had died due to the length of our journey and we were stuck with nothing but paper maps. We stood outside a random grocery store and tried
33
FALL 2017
PROPERTY SALE OR PURCHASE
IT’S COMING
I work for you!
TRUSTED - HONEST - PROFESSIONAL You can rely on me to deliver outstanding results, flawless service and a rewarding real estate experience!
Harvinder Sandhu 604-617-0533 harvinder0533@gmail.com www.harvindersandhu.com
to match the street with our paper map to figure out where we were. It so happened that the grocery store merchant walked out at this time, ready to go home and lock his store. He saw our flustered faces and asked in broken English if he could help. We showed him the name of the hotel. He went back inside his store, grabbed a paper bag and signaled at us to follow him. With no other choice, we dragged our bags behind him in a wary yet helpless manner. The man not only walked us to our hotel, but also gave us the paper bag, which had some apples and unopened cookies to munch on, since everything nearby seemed to be closed.
gratitude for this man’s random act of kindness. We left a bouquet at his store on our way back, and thanked him in our broken Flemish this time. - Susen, 20 Side blurb: Do you have stories of kindness that you would like to share? Would you like to get published and inspire fellow readers to be kind? Email us your personal “kindness story” or one that you know about and we will select a few for every issue.
Our trip from there on was seamless, but we were full of Author Bio: Ira is a freelance writer and traveller, who works to inspire and be inspired everyday. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Information Technology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver and has been involved in organizing, leading and winning contests at Model United Nation conferences at an international level. These conferences aim to simulate United Nations sessions and engage youth in coming up with ideas to resolve world issues. A philanthropist at heart, she truly believes in helping people grow and aspires to be a motivational speaker one day.
CLOSE LOOK
35
FALL 2017
Capturing Your Life’s Greatest Moments Email: musicandphotoart@gmail.com
Our floral specialists are ready to bring your vision to life. We are committed to providing excellent customer service and executing your vision with class and creativity.
778.320.2271 | www.spoilmefloral.com | spoilmefloral@hotmail.com
Society of Punjabi ENGINEERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (SPEATBC)
SPEATBC (The Society of Punjabi Engineers and Technologists of British Columbia) is a non-profit organization, which has successfully brought together Engineers and Technologists from different disciplines from both Canada and the Indian subcontinent. SPEATBC was incorporated under the Societies Act of British Columbia on May 16, 1995. SPEATBC represents all disciplines including Electrical, Computer, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, Environmental, Metallurgical Engineers and all Applied Science Technologists and Technicians. SPEATBC provides free services to its growing number of members, which has reached over 500 members this year. Our executives continue to provide assistance to new immigrant engineers, new graduates in areas of professional guidance and career development. All engineers and technologists are encouraged to take part in providing guidance to students, and new immigrants, and promote Engineering profession in the Punjabi community and community at large. For professional engineers and technologists who are already employed, it is a great way to network with other engineers and develop potential business clients. SPEATBC will be awarding five scholarships this year for students in a technical engineering related field of study. The scholarships will be for a value of $1000 each. The selection criteria will be as follows.
CLOSE LOOK
•
ENTRANCE SCHOLARSHIP – a high school student (grade 12) or recent graduate (within 2 years) planning on pursuing post-secondary studies upon graduation in an engineering or technology related field of study at a recognized university, college, or technical school in BC
•
POST SECONDARY SCHOLARSHIP – a post-secondary student enrolled in an engineering or technology related field of study at a recognized university, college, or technical school in BC
•
WOMAN IN ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP – a woman student enrolled in an engineering or technology related field of study at a recognized university, college, or technical school in BC
•
NEW IMMIGRANT SCHOLARSHIP – a new immigrant (max. of 2 years since arrival in Canada) pursuing post-secondary studies in an engineering or technology related field of study at a recognized university, college, or technical school in BC
•
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP – an international student studying in Canada with a valid Student Visa enrolled in or pursuing an engineering or technology related field of study at a recognized university, college, or technical school in BC
Please visit speatbc.org for eligibility and application forms. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2018. For more information, contact President via email: speatbc@gmail.com. Successful candidates required to undertake a minimum 24 hours of volunteer work with SPEATBC in 2018.
37
FALL 2017
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
Ways to Create
YOUR OWN OPPORTUNITY By Melissa Eisler
There are people in this life who always seem to be in the right place at the right time. They’re the ones who appear to always land the dream job and live the dream life, fulfilling their dharma, or their life’s purpose, in ways you can only imagine. Their life seems to be marked by a profound sense of grounded-ness, self-realization, and joy.
Here are six ways to navigate the process and step into your success:
1. Understand Who You Are
Before you start the journey of finding or creating an opportunity, you first need to know yourself on a deep level. Anything you do should come out of a sense of who you are, so that your unique skillset can be used to the fullFortunately, those people aren’t just subject to luck est extent possible. By identifying what you can offer that and chance. Opportunities are present all around you is also in line with your personal values, you can begin to as well; you just need to learn how to identify and hone what is or isn’t an opportunity for you. For example, step into them. There is nothing in the Universe that if you are highly skilled in biology and value helping othsays you can’t fulfill your own dreams and create a life ers, then a great opportunity would be to look into mediyou want to live. On the contrary, the Universe actu- cal or nursing school (as opposed to becoming a graphic ally invites you to step into who you were created to designer.)
be, offering your unique skills to others in ways only To get a better sense of your unique offering, take a halfyou can. Whether you’re an entrepreneur embarking on your next business idea or a visionary simply wanting to start a new quest in your personal life, you don’t need to wait around for an opportunity to present itself. By knowing yourself and making a conscious effort to push forward, you can create your own opportunities or find ones that fit what you’re looking for.
day retreat to reflect on what makes you special, what you value, and what skills you’d like to offer others. Beforehand, ask those closest to you to answer the following questions (and answer them yourself) to use for your reflection: • • •
What do you admire most about me? If you could describe me in one word, what would it be? What unique qualities do I possess?
• •
What do I offer others? What am I naturally good at?
2. Believe in What You Offer
Once you have a strong understanding of who you are and what you want to offer, believe in your power to offer those skills. Developing self-confidence can open up doors that you may not have knocked on before. By projecting this type of confidence, you encourage others to view you as an expert in your skills. If you believe in yourself, others will too.
CLOSE LOOK
39
FALL 2017
We Deliver We Deliver Superb Superb Creaave Creaave Output Output to make to make greatgreat thingsthings happen. happen. Illuminated Illuminated Signs Signs | 3D Signs | 3D Signs Signs Signs Banners Banners | Real|Estate Real Estate Development Development Display Display & Stands & Stands | Vinyl| Graphics Vinyl Graphics Prinnng Prinnng & Markeeng & Markeeng Materials Materials Address: Address: 16-12468 16-12468 82nd Avenue, 82nd Avenue, Surrey, Surrey, BC V3WBC3E9 V3W 3E9 Email: Email: info@idealsigns.ca info@idealsigns.ca Ph: Ph: 604-599-0076 604-599-0076
3. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
5. Create Good Karma
Opportunities rarely happen in your comfort zone. If an opportunity were prone to present itself where you are, then you’d already have one. Use your confidence to step outside your comfort zone and engage people and situations that will help get you to where you want to be. If you want to develop an app, join a networking event in your area that focuses on the tech industry. If you want to start a travel blog, go somewhere you’ve never been and interview locals to get an insider’s look into the area. If you’re looking for a business partner, join local entrepreneurial meetups and networking events. By putting yourself out there and meeting people who will support your dream, you’re more likely to create opportunities for yourself.
As much as creating opportunities is based on doing, it’s also about how you do it. Being a good person and putting positivity into the Universe invites good things to happen in return. Take time to genuinely connect with others, instead of having a one-track mind for building an opportunity for yourself. By creating lasting, solid relationships, people will remember you when an opportunity arises that requires your expertise.
And when and where you can, volunteer your time and talent! Offer guidance and counsel based on your skills, establishing credibility and laying the foundation for when a full-blown opportunity presents itself. If you have a listening ear and want to become a counselor, volunteer your services at a local community center or offer your time pro bono at a counseling firm. Even if an opportunity doesn’t 4. Remain Open You might set out with a goal in mind of exactly what you manifest immediately, have faith that something is on the want to do and how you want to do it, but rarely will life horizon. work out exactly how you think it will. By not holding anything too tightly, you open yourself up to opportunities 6. Be Decisive that may not have even been on your radar before. When opportunities arise, take advantage of them with For instance, if you’re a storyteller at heart and have a pas- confidence. You haven’t planned, primed, and nurtured sion for giving other people a voice, you might be able to a pipeline of opportunities to let them go to waste. The use those skills in a corporate communications or market- amount of preparation you’ve done will equip you to know ing job that develops testimonials. You get to know peo- whether or not an opportunity is right for you. You’re able ple and their story while also meeting a business need. Be to make an informed decision based on your confidence, flexible as you take action. Sometimes opportunities that skills, and knowledge of self. Step into your power and feel use your skills are different than what you expect. assured that you cannot make a wrong decision. If you step into an opportunity that eventually turns out to be less-than-perfect, you’ll know that it served its purpose of leading you to the next one. Every step in your journey happens for a reason. Use these tips to create opportunities that align with who you are and what you were meant to do. Remember to enjoy the process, be patient, and maintain a positive outlook. This world needs what you have to give.
CLOSE LOOK
41
FALL 2017
Contact: Box Office 604-501-5565 Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall, 13450 104 Ave www.surrey.ca
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival originated in 2008 to “bridge the gap” between South Asian talent and mainstream audiences by connecting directors, actors, producers, community organizations, corporate brands and South Asian cinephiles. This year, opening night is November 16 and the Festival continues for 4 days. There’s world-renowned cinema at our doorstep. Cost: Various Date & Time: November 16 to 19, 2017 Presented by: South Asian Film Festival www.visaff.ca
NOTHING UP MY SLEEVES Matt Johnson is not your typical magician. He has crafted a style that’s a cool mix of urban street magic combined with the comedic timing and slick stage presence of a seasoned performer. He blends illusions, sleight-of-hand, mind reading, the power of suggestion, and lots of audience interaction into a performance that has been hailed as “…simply brilliant!” Suggested ages: 8 and up Running time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, including intermission Date & Time: December 1, 2017 at 7pm Cost: Zone A $35. Zone B $25 Presented by: Surrey Civic Theatres
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Santa and Mrs Claus are coming to Surrey - and you’re invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast with them! Bring your family to a recreation facility in your community and get into the Christmas spirit. Date & Time: December 2, 9 & 16, 2017 Please note that this is a children focused event and parent participation and supervision is required. Call 604-501-5100 or visit any recreation facility. Register online to secure your spot www.webreg.surrey.ca/webreg/Start/Start.asp
WINTER ICE PALACE Find a time below to skate across the old fashion pond from December 22 to January 7. We will also be open on Christmas Day and New Years Day! Date & Time: December 22, 2017 to January 7, 2018 Location: Cloverdale Ice Arena, 6090 176 St Cost: $4.50/person; $3.25 for skate rentals; $1.75 for helmet rentals. Free admission for Recreation Pass holders. Contact: 604-502-6410 For correct time of events please visit online for schedule. www.surrey.ca
CAREER/EMPLOYMENT
WHY SALES
IS THE BEST
FIRST JOB
I often speak to students, whether undergraduates or MBA students, and I keep hearing the same question, “I don’t know what I want to do. What type of job should I look for?” Unequivocally, my answer is simple: get a job in sales. My first summer job in high school was working at Lotus Software (remember Lotus 123…? I think Lotus Notes still exists!) and my job was to call customers and update their database/CRM. This introduced me to the world of getting people’s attention and convincing them to give something up. Although this wasn’t a real sales job, it was a precursor. My first real foray into sales was forced upon me when I started my first company. I was forced to cold call and close deals. This is the single best experience I received in my career. The strengths and strategies I gained through selling have helped me immensely throughout every aspect of my career. In fact, a survey of Harvard Business School graduates rated the biggest skills gap they had before founding their company was “a lack of sales experience.” Here are my three reasons why sales is the best first job. 1. SALES IS EVERYWHERE Why do I tell people to get sales experience? In my opinion, being able to sell is the foundation of any successful career. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, there’s always some aspect of selling involved. Even if you aren’t directly selling a product, you might need to convince someone to hire you, which is just selling yourself. If you’re the CEO of a huge publically traded company, you need to sell your vision to your shareholders. Even as a Ph.D. student, you need to sell your ideas to receive funding and publish. Don’t just take my word for it - a survey of business leaders by Hult International Business School rated “strong sales skills” as a top 10 critical skill of today’s workplace. CLOSE LOOK
43
FALL 2017
2. SPEAKING ABILITY Being able to articulate your ideas and speak eloquently is important in any career. When it comes to speaking and speaking well, practice makes perfect. There is no other profession that allows you to continually practice and get better at speaking and connecting to people. A common trait amongst great leaders is their ability to inspire through speech. This is one of the best things that sales teaches you. 3. CONFIDENCE Closing deals and getting better at sales made me much more confident. I’d always thought growing up that I was somewhat of a geek and could never sell. Gaining experience in sales - talking to perfect strangers and turning them into your customers and even friends - definitely increased my confidence. I don’t need to tell you how much this boost in confidence is incredible for your career and life in general. Whether you’re looking for a summer job, your first (or your last) job, or a change in career, sales is an amazing experience that will be invaluable to you forever. About the Author: Somen Mondal the Co-founder and CEO of Ideal. Somen’s accomplishments include spots on the Profit Hot 50 and Deloitte Fast 50 Companiesto-Watch lists as well as the 2012 Ontario Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
CLOSE LOOK
44
FALL 2017
Somen Mondal
WORDS OF WISDOM
There are no pre-requisites to experience Grace other than a personal relationship with the Divine
Staying Spiritual On A Daily Basis First of all, do you consider spirituality a job? Is spirituality something that you must do because of an obligation? No! No, it should not be an obligation or a duty that you must do every day. It should be your passion. It should be so natural to you that you WANT to progress in your spiritual life. What is spirituality for you? For me it means, reconnecting with the soul first, and then getting to the source of the soul, God, but with the blessings of my Satguru Ji. The fuel for spirituality should be the love for God not some obligation. No, no! How does this love for the Divine develop? We must form a personal relationship with God. Bhagat Namdev Ji Maharaj used to refer to God as his Holy Father, Baap Vithala. They had a relationship with the Lord where the Lord was their father. The love was meant to develop. Bhagat Ji never referred to the Lord as the UNIVERSE because they knew that he was the Creator of the Universe. And so his relationship was directly with God, not some third entity, that is the universe. Universe(s) exist because of the Creator, so why create the distance between the relationship of your soul and God. Be direct. I do not know of different religious practices, different forms of meditation and prayers, but I know all that is done truthfully in the love of the Divine is beautiful and is true because it has love in it. If waking up in the morning hours, Gurbani calls this time Amrit Vela, is a motivation to you and enhances your relationship with God, then wake up and do what you have to in the Divine’s love whether it is meditation or prayers. But never make anything a mere ritual, and if there is no love then it is sadly a ritual. Do it from the heart. Feel the Lord. Love him‌unconditionally.
www.universalpeacewisdom.org
CLOSE LOOK
45
FALL 2017
MAKEOVER
Nail Beauty Tips
How you can get beautiful healthy looking nails? All in the simplest steps ever! Following guidelines can be hard, but nothing beats the compliments you get when you show off those healthy looking nails! Step 1: Eating healthy, whatever you eat really shows into your nails and skin. Try to avoid all those junk foods, like chips and fried food. Although they maybe tasty, they are not so healthy and it surely shows on your nails! A healthy diet goes a long way for beautiful nails and skin, a good iron and zinc diet are a necessity for healthy nails. With a healthy diet it brings out a natural healthy glow. Step 2: Getting a manicure and pedicure. It’s the closest mini-vacation you can get for your hands and feet. When your hands and feet are happy, your nails will smile. Every beauty salon that offers a good manicure and pedicure should always starts off by soaking your hands and feet in a perfect temperature warm water. As you soak your hands and feet, the tough dead skins soften up for removal. Step 3: Polish. It’s like a dress for your nails, from the hottest pink to the brightest green, you name it! However, if you prefer that nude look for a natural looking nails, try using a clear nail strengthener. The strengthener help to protect your nails from chips and strengthen your nail buds. Plus, it gives your nails a shiny coat as an added bonus!
Professional Nail Care Highest Quality products, excellent services all at a low price! Walk-in Welcome or call for appointment (gentlemen are welcome)
CLOSE LOOK
46
108 – 186449 Fraser Hwy, Surrey, B.C V3S 7Y4 (604) 372-1377 www.no1nailsspa.ca FALL 2017
BRAIN TEASER?
4) A man dressed in all black is walking down a country lane. Suddenly, a large black car without any lights on comes round the corner and screeches to a halt. How did the car know he was there?
1) A little girl kicks a soccer ball. It goes 10 feet and comes back to her. How is this possible?
5) A rooster laid an egg on top of the barn roof. Which way did it roll?
2) A 10 foot rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat with the bottom rung on the surface of the water. The rungs are one foot apart, and the tide goes up at the rate of 6 inches per hour. How long will it be until three rungs are covered?
ANSWERS: 1) Ever heard of gravity? She kicked it up. 2) Never. The boat rises as the tide goes up. 3) B is the daughter you MCP’s! 4) It was day time. 5) It didn’t roll – since when did roosters start laying eggs?
So... You’re clever, witty, creative? Then you will love this!
Caption Contest!
Send us your caption at closelook.ca and win great prizes
CLOSE LOOK
48
FALL 2017
SUDOKU
Answer:
3) A is the father of B. But B is not the son of A. How’s that possible?
SPEAK UP
WOMEN
One is not born a woman but becomes a woman, household tasks based on gender such as washand the idea of being feminine is created by ing dishes to daughters and mowing the lawn to society. sons. They typically make these roles even clearer by saying, ‘you’re a girl, and that is why you When refusing to become a woman it is just re- should do this’. fusing to accept the imposed ideas of femininity that society has constructed. Most importantly, Traditionally, women have been homemakers female’s domestic duties are always an obstacle only. Some have no education, and no expertise to success in their career. Men essentially oppress of dealing with many aspects of the world in abwomen by characterizing them on every level. sence of a male member of the family. There have been many exceptions, of course, but this is mostThe difficulty of breaking free from femininity, ly how it used to be. The greatest discouragement prompts many women to accept the usual roles to women entrepreneurs is that they are ‘women’. of wife and mother. A patriarchy raises important The female is always given the duty to the child’s questions about women themselves. Many wom- care and development. en internalized the culture of patriarchies, holding that it was their job to obey and to serve men and Many women fall under the pressure to sacrifice accept arguments that their ideas were inferior to their careers in order to be good mothers. Patrithose of men. Girls are usually raised to assume archy is a main issue that creates differentiation in patriarchal conditions, and boys were raised with male and female differences. Awareness has the full consciousness of their distinctiveness. Society ability to better the lives of females in preventis patriarchal; women are traditionally considered ing self-esteem issues. While conquering them as homemakers, and not ‘businesswomen.’ independent, original individuals and not as what society pressures them to be. Generally, gender roles are formed through nurture and ways of socialization, parenting, By Gurleen Virk and an individual’s education. Parents distribute
CLOSE LOOK
49
FALL 2017
CLOSE LOOK
50
FALL 2017