IMTAC Issue No.02 by imtacmag

ISSUE 02

Leanne Lam Adventurer, risk-taker, traveller, dream-achiever

Sakshi Vasudev

Get to know the founder and creator of BamPads!

INSIDE:

• • • •

Growing Vegan Do You Wanna Write A Song? Snakes Can Be A Girl’s Best Friend Unblock Your Limiting Beliefs

Laura Williamson Sustainable vintage value

Our Purpose To be the voice for and from girls and young women, to: •

Create a safe space for girls and young women.

•

Hear from other girls and women on their journeys.

•

Understand how to deal with the pressures placed on them by peers, adults, the fashion and personal care industries.

•

Learn how to navigate a male-dominated society.

•

Talk about subjects they feel too embarrassed or ashamed to raise.

Photo by Gemma Chua-Tran on Unsplash

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Our second issue! Hi You’s! Gosh! I’m so proud of our small team of five! Without a massive PR machine, we’ve had thousands of imprints and hundreds of reads... and dozens of positive messages about how much a magazine like IMTAC is needed. The most thrilling bit is that many young people have signed on to be part of YOUR journey, sharing stories of challenges, achievement, unusual interests and experiences. In this, our second issue, we have not one, but THREE cover girls who are each so much more than a cover; an inspirational journey from a female leader in the construction industry, and a snake whisperer! We have shared deep personal experiences from two mentors, and a young man’s perspective on respect and vulnerability... and so much more! I know it can be hard for people to write about their experiences, so it’s such an honour when when they share them with us. We hope you are as inspired by our lovely contributors as we are! Read on! I’m LOVING this journey!

I’M MORE THAN A COVER MAGAZINE

November 2020

IMTAC TEAM Deborah Mannas EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Q Gonzales C R E AT I V E D I R E C T I O N & L AYO U T

Duane Girton MARKETING DIRECTOR

Kimberley Kleczka EDITOR & PHOTO JOURNALIST

Loulou Von Spiel E D I TO R , W R I T E R , & I L L U ST RATO R

What’s your Dream?

CONTRIBUTORS:

Denise Patel Cecilia Ao Latitia Kung Christine Chan Kio Jason

Leanne Lam

SPECIAL THANKS

Kids4kids ALT Team

ON OUR COVER

Style Spotlight:

Laura Williamson

More than a Cover Story

Sakshi Vasudev

Meet the dream chasers and social crusaders who make the world a better place. Yes! Definitely more than a Cover!

Snake Whisperer

Meghan Montgomery If you have any questions, ideas, stories you want to share, people you want us to feature, or photos of your joy send them all to info@imtacmag.com

Articles 03 08

Editorial Mentorship: Unblock Your Limiting Beliefs Letter to My Younger Self Globetrotter & Placemaker HN&U: Growing Girls and Veganism Wanna Write A Song? BY D E B O R A H MA N N AS

BY L AT ITI A K U N G

We’ll collect all of them and have them published in the coming issues of IMTAC!

So keep sending in your questions, stories, and photos!

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Respect Stay Positive Build Your Self-Esteem BY JAS O N

BY D UA N E G I RTO N

BY C H R I STI N E C H A N

B Y D E B O R A H MA N N A S

B Y D E N I S E P A TE L

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Creativity Corner Ask Ceci Find Your Joy In the next... BY C E C I L I A AO

B Y DE B O R A H MA N N A S

DISCLAIMER | The views expressed in IMTAC - I’m More Than A Cover Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or contributors. The publisher and editor cannot be held responsible for differences of opinion or statements published in good faith. The publisher, contributors, their employees and partners are not responsible for the results of any actions, errors, or omissions taken on the basis of information contained in this publication and expressly disclaim all and any liability for any such action of any person. The mention of specific companies or products in articles or advertisements does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by this magazine or its publisher in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without expressed permission from the IMTAC team.

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What’s your

__________?

by Kimberley Kleczka

Leanne Lam was born and raised in Hong Kong and studied briefly in Paris. She is an adventurer, risk taker, traveller, not afraid to express her own opinions and a fighter for her dreams. Leanne impressed me with her clear-sighted decisions and how she balances her gut feeling with her personal experiences. The empowering, effervescent Leanne has developed a variety of skills and special talents, that continue to lead her towards her ongoing goals.

What three things did you learn as a teenager? One important lesson I learnt is that we cannot control everything. Whether it was the school I wanted to go to, who I wanted to be friends with, what things I wanted to achieve… Sometimes things don’t work out and there is no need to be upset because one door closes for another door to open. There are so many things we cannot control, and even if things are not the way you want them to be, they will turn out fine. Another lesson is to never compare yourself with other people. You may see your peers doing all these things and getting achievements, but it does not mean you are not good enough. It just means that your time is coming. The last thing is that it is ok to not find friends with whom you completely feel connected with. It

can feel a little lonely, but there will be a lot of opportunity in the future in university and in the workplace for you to find true friends. You love to travel, so where do you call home? For me, home is all about the safe place where you are most comfortable, where you can truly be yourself and explore your potential. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, but I would say that I’m still searching for the place where I truly belong. How did you become an entrepreneur? I think it has always been who I was. I enjoy creating new things and building things from scratch. I knew from very young what kind of working environment and industry would be most suited for me, so I took a leap of faith and started my own company.

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Live your dream And share your voice

What has been your biggest failure and how did you overcome it? I don’t think there are any failures in life. Just lessons. Every failure is a chance for you to reflect on how to do better the next time. Tell us about your businesses? My main business is my events company, Le Lumiere Events. We specialise in private event planning and decorations. Everything from wedding to birthday parties. We hope to be the light throughout the different stages in our clients’ lives.

Embrace your style as this is your life to live.

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My new project, Blu Journal is a content platform that includes a podcast and blog that hopes to inspire youth to pursue their dreams. Describe your typical day? I usually wake up and have some ‘me time’ whether it is to read or meditate. Then I go to a workout class, followed by a lunch meeting. Then it’s a full day of working and meetings. On event days, we spend the whole day making decorations or creating rundowns. Normally after work, I attend networking events or have an enjoyable dinner with friends.

How did you become a ‘micro-influencer’? I started my social media presence just like any other girl my age, during the time when Instagram and Facebook had just started. I believe I really started to represent brands and voice my own opinion when I was first signed to a model agency. It allowed me to learn more about the industry and do personal branding. If you had to start all over again in business, what advice would you give us? One piece of advice I would give is to ask

Every step towards your success counts

Telling a story through florals, styling, food and colours to create the element of surprise with each individual client Prepare yourself and keep chasing what makes you happy.

for help. I used to think that I could do everything on my own, but in reality, this is impossible. Asking for help and advice is not a weakness, but a strength. Also, when listening to advice, always be openminded but still use your own judgment. Do you have any special tools that you work with in your industry? The event planning industry needs a lot of soft skills: organization, negotiation, creativity, self-expression… It is a people business and the best tool is your voice.

to believe in yourself. Even when a certain idea does not work, you can always continue to try different ideas until it succeeds. You also need to remind yourself how far you’ve come. Every step counts. Even when you’ve only gained one customer or earned one dollar, it counts, and it is one step forward. As a firm feminist, what message do you have to young girls? You can be anything you want to be. Do not let society or another people’s opinions limit you. The world is so big and there are more opportunities out there than you know. You will find people you connect with and things you are passionate about. Do not rush it, opportunities will be there when you are ready and open to accept them. |

What is your special key to success? Perseverance and belief in myself. Success is a very long journey. While some people give up on the way, it is so important to know what your short term and long-term goals are, with a plan to achieve them, and a belief that you can.

Creative food Is a universal experience

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UNBLOCK YOUR LIMITING BELIEFS by Latitia Kung

Hi girls, how are you feeling today? Brilliant, excellent or amazing?

primary. She remembered the saying “the world is your oyster” and she strongly felt it.

I’d like to tell you a story of lost and found. There was a girl who was extremely bright and confident before she was 12 years old. She was excellent in academics and won a lot of table tennis and public speaking championships for her school. She was one of the most popular and beloved students to her school teachers and her parents were so proud of her.

She signed up for all the interest groups she wanted to explore, and was ready to learn and shine. But one day, she was told that she was not allowed to sign up for all 5 interest groups because she wouldn’t be able to manage it. So she withdrew her application from the debate team, from table tennis and the choir, and just applied for volleyball and athletics.

When she got into secondary school, she wanted to excel, explore everything new and meet amazing people, like she had in

And one day her best friend suggested that she should not join the athletics team because boys like girls if they sit still

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it’s extremely important to look after your beautiful minds and develop a positive mentality and resilience

and are quiet, so she should join the book club instead, as it would make her more feminine. “That’s how a girl should behave,” said her friend. Meanwhile, her parents told her not to outshine others, otherwise other girls would be jealous and she wouldn’t make any friends. “Be polite, well behaved. Be good but not too good, so you can fit in,” she heard. She had always been a good girl so she listened to all the “advice” because she was told that they were for her own good and she was “just too young to understand”. She tried very hard not to be too confident and outspoken, to live up to “good girl” standards.

I think you can all imagine what happened to that girl, she “fitted in well” and lived a safe and mediocre life. Yes, that girl was me. I “fitted in” well for 15 years until I met my life-changing mentor, Debbie Mannas. She was my wake-up call from playing the “good girl” character and fulfilling everyone’s expectations. She held my hand and told me “Latitia you are so talented, you inspire me. I will be with you on your self-discovery / re-discovery journey.” She taught me that I could do everything I wanted to do, building incrementally and at my own pace and no one should be allowed to tell me what was too much for me. That I was the CEO of my own

life and I always would be. That it was my responsibility to take ownership of my own success and embrace all the mistakes I made trying. She showed me a vivid image of a successful working woman, a caring mom and an inspiring mentor in one woman. And, I want to be that woman in my own right and inspire more girls / women on their journey to self-discovery. When my fiancé asked me to join him in the UK in 2017, I was at first scared about moving to a new land, speaking English, leaving my family and my dream job in HK. But I shook off those fears and went anyway, and now I lead the Asia Pacific team at Anoushka, have joined the Cherie

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Blair Foundation as a Business Mentor and have been paying it forward by mentoring young girls and entrepreneurs.

relationships and opportunities in the world. Girls, if you can find a positive influence or be one yourself, I encourage you to do so.

We are all fed false information by institutions, media, people and the world around us about what is possible for us. Like Richard Rohr said “Transformation is often more about unlearning than learning.” You must unlearn all the things that give you limiting beliefs.

And so, besides my day job as Head of APAC and Strategic Partnerships for Anoushka, I am working to fulfil my promise to empower other women to transcend their limiting self-beliefs. This year, I founded my coaching and mentoring platform, HELLO BEAUTIFUL MINDS.

It has been proven that 50% of success comes from education, talent, knowledge and skills but another 50% comes from who do you permit yourself to be and the mental image you paint of yourself. So, it’s extremely important to look after your beautiful minds and develop a positive mentality and resilience. After mentoring and coaching so many young women, I realised there are a lot of limiting beliefs developed at a young age which have significant influence on all the decisions women make in life and impact on how they see themselves, their

Hello to all the beautiful minds out there! Believe you are worthy. You are valuable. Remember, only if you’re comfortable with yourself, you’re going to shine and radiate! That’s my story of “Lost and Found” what’s yours? |

Latitia Kung Certified coach, specialised in transformational and growth mindset coaching to enable women to unleash their full potential in order to find the purpose of life, pursuing mental freedom 10 | IMTAC www.imtacmag.com

More Than A Cover Story

BAMPADS founder, Sakshi Vasudev talks to us. by Deborah Mannas

A year ago, I facilitated a workshop to help HK school kids channel their emotions into song, in a Kids4Kids program called “Powered By Youth”. Sakshi was one of the leaders of the school kids in my workshop, and I was impressed by her spirit, passion and talent. We stayed in touch and when I started IMTAC, she was one of the first girls I got in touch with. At the young age of 18, her business idea, BAMPADS was approved by the Kids4Kids Action for a Cause program. I asked Sakshi to talk about BAMPADS and what inspires her.

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IMTAC: Sakshi can you tell us about yourself, what you are doing now and what you are passionate about? I turn 19 this year and am currently studying in City University of Hong Kong. I am a feminist and a period rights activist. I founded BamPads! in 2019 with the help from my family, especially my dad. In our culture, it is taboo to talk about periods, but I hope to raise awareness on the health, environment and economical benefit that reusable cloth pads provide. BamPads! is a social enterprise designed to empower women through education on sustainable periods and to market reusable pads for comfort, the environment, and those in need. BamPads! is actually an abbreviation of bamboo pads, which is one of our signature products.

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Did you feel any expectations put on you because you were a girl, growing up? I feel really lucky to have had parents, who supported my two sisters and I in whatever we did. They never put any expectations on us, whether at school or with our social life. My parents taught us right from wrong, and never really stressed about academic excellence. They just wanted me to do my best in whatever I did. What were your best subjects in school and why? My best subjects were definitely Music and German. Iâ€™ve enjoyed singing and performing since I was about six years old. Singing allows me to express myself through music and words, encouraging people to listen to the message more attentively.

I have been rejected many times at singing competitions but I kept improving myself and my voice. Interestingly, I was never really interested in learning languages, but I learned German in high school and got a scholarship for a 3-week trip to Germany to enhance my German, which fueled my passion for languages. I can currently speak six languages. Did you ever feel there were some things you couldnâ€™t discuss, growing up? There were a lot of things I was afraid to ask about, such as dating, or hanging out with guys (even just as friends) because I knew that my mother would disapprove. So I would secretly arrange for us to meet

when I was out (this was when I was around 17 years old). Sometimes, topics like menstruation also felt like a taboo when touched upon in public or with friends. Even when we talked about periods, it was either in hushed voices or in code. What’s your advice to other girls regarding discussing taboo subjects? Do not be afraid to talk about these subjects with someone you trust. It is not weird or disgusting, but absolutely normal. I personally know how it feels to talk about taboo subjects with my parents. We have the tendency to avoid these subjects in conversations with them, but that’s okay. If you have friends or someone you look up to, you can always ask them questions or just talk to them!

What future do you see for girls in Asia? India? With the problem of period poverty coming to light, many countries are trying hard to facilitate access to sanitary products and facilities for girls in Asia. They have started to realize that such necessities are crucial for the continuation of their education, and thus, promoting gender equality. Before there were many restrictions for girls in India such as child marriage, restricting menstruating girls from school premises and many more. But I believe the future is bright for girls and women as many are now are seeing the problematic reality of traditional practices, and stepping up to fight for equal rights to education. |

L: Readying BamPads for shipping out; R: Sakshi giving a presentation on their latest pad innovations.

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To learn more about BamPads, visit their website: www.bampads.com/our-story/ TR: Participants attending a talk from a BamPads event; TL: Sample BamPads ready to ship out; M: Participants of the first-ever BamPads workshop; B: Our beneficiaries from our communities in Nepal

Affordable, reusable menstrual products are not only a step towards liberating women from the stigma of menstruation in developing countries, but itâ€™s also great for the environment the world over. Thank you for being part of this work Sakshi, and for sharing your story with IMTAC.

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Letter to my Younger Self

lf from a Tuesday

To my teenage se

in 2020

by Christine Ch

My dear Christin

and drinks ive for breakfast al s ie et ci so ts t I mean. tous year that ea you will know wha y 2020 is a momen da e on — er nn entire life apéritif before di ill be judged your economies as an w u yo : m is em nges. You no time for euph mfortable challe For now, there is co un to g in ad le nder and race, trouble if it gets you into based on your ge en ev , ck ba ht ing). come, and to fig you’re done read will learn to over n he w is w Le hn uble; look up Jo (mostly good tro aits: t the world that aw ou ab gs in th e re I will now say th

1. Asia is where you belong it is v ou y y tr n u co n r te es w y ever 2. You encounter art ayciousmcainn rise above it but learn th ination, im cr s di e th of k ic s t, is in m 3. You become at,n aanrddevniot lefence committed by men against women and harassmen globe girls around the the person ey will shape th se u a c e B e things? gently Why these thre lk to you intelli ta ill w y d o b o Because n ut them at you become. u to learn abo yo g n vi a le , and sexism nd anger about racism will feel hurt a u yo se u a c e B rangers. ow to the hands of st t won’t know h u b r te n u o c n dice you e the year from the preju cause 2020 is e b d n A s. n se emotio statements. overcome tho of these three th u tr e th e lis when you rea

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Ever since you can remember, daily life in white rural America was filled with racist slurs, chants, and, on a few occasions, punches. Teachers liked your perfect scholastic record, but classmates seldom spoke to you. Never mind, you say to yourself, one day I will leave this pit of intolerance and make my way in the world, which is filled with wonders. Good attitude; you were partly right. You will travel the world, you will see and learn wondrous things. But you will also encounter suspicion, bigotry, even hatred because you look different from the rest of the population. Shopkeepers in America who fought in WWII will refuse to sell you merchandise because they mistakenly think you are Japanese and still an enemy. You will learn what racist taunts sound like in french (similar to english) from a gang of schoolboys in the south of France. Men expecting you to embody a sexy, submissive asian female stereotype will try to get close to you even when you don’t want them to, not by a mile. You will learn to avoid/shut down all these types. More importantly, you will learn to not let this belittlement affect your self esteem because it doesn’t change who you are—a bright, curious girl who believes in her own potential.

You will travel the world, you will see and learn wondrous things. But you will also encounter suspicion, bigotry, even hatred because you look different from the rest of the population.

One day you will land in Hong Kong, the city where you were born. Surrounded by your people, you’ll experience the incredible lightness and freedom of belonging. This, you’ll realise, is how all those white people felt, and it will be an utter revelation to you. It will be like discovering a pair of wings on your back and no longer needing

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to trudge through the streets dodging insults from people who don’t know you but feel assured they are superior.

But you’ll also doubt your motives: Am I living here because it’s not demoralising? Isn’t this the same homogeneity that I found so dangerous when I was the one who didn’t belong? Am I running away from challenges, or do I deserve a respite from racist manifestations? Am I Eastern with Western tendencies, or am I Western with an Eastern face? What are my own biases toward whites? These are questions worthy of your deep curiosity, and you will do well to associate yourself with friends who can also ponder these questions, for these are the people who will enlarge your thinking.

Take a deep breath, dear C., because things get more complicated from here.

As one of three daughters in a family where the fourth sibling was a prized son, you learned that in some cultures, girls are fungible (yes, look that up) or made invisible. All the classical music you studied was written by men, all the art you absorbed from museums was made by same. How many of your textbooks came from the mind of a woman? None, until you reach graduate school. Women were half the world’s population. But where were we in the archives? Were we being conditioned to accept a male world view? Screw that, you say, I have a brain and boundless curiosity and nothing will stop me from making my mark. But it gets worse. Despite the UN’s efforts to end violence and trafficking of girls and women, the statistics are still shocking, even after decades of global efforts toward human rights. Worldwide, women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, setting us up for a lifetime of economic disadvantage and a precarious retirement. You will live in a world that devalues women’s work and contributions to culture, the economy, and governance. You will be furious about this; you will engage in patriarchenraging actions while searching for ways to channel your outrage. But listen, here’s what you do instead: you hold your head high and excel in school so nobody can say you’re unqualified. You absorb knowledge and other world views so that you are fearless when questioning the status quo especially when it is unjust, racist, or misogynist.

You overcome your cultural reluctance to ask for help and find smart, kind people who will raise you up when the burden feels too heavy. You mentor and empower other women by sharing your experience and hard-earned confidence, and by supporting them in their fight for equality. You learn to stop someone from mansplaining in mid-sentence. Fortunately, you will grow up to see the world become less hostile to the idea of female governance. Look up the careers of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Christine Lagarde, Mary Robinson and Christiana Figueres and ask yourself: how did they succeed, and what will my legacy be? You will find your tribe of brilliant women around the world and learn that ambition and empathy are not incompatible, I promise. Run towards them and keep them close. And finally, never let anyone disparage you for being female or a minority. Racism, sexism and even ignorance are the perpetrator’s offences, not yours. ‘I majored in unafraid.’ — Anna Quindlen.

Good luck, kiddo. |

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Lisa Cameron grew up in Australia before moving to Hong Kong in. Having a degree in Architecture, a Masters in International Business and Economics, and confessing to have watched nearly everything on Netflix in recent months, Lisa has recently returned to university to undertake a Graduate Certificate in Supply Chain and Logistics Management. Lisa has negotiated multi million dollar contracts, worked on airports, data centers, green buildings, universities as well as designing highrise offices with famous architects. She is the recipient of many industry awards. Juggling the challenges of having a career whilst being a wife and mother, Lisa has spent the majority of her adult life working in the male dominated construction industry... and has absolutely loved it

GLOBE TROTTER& PLACE MAKER We talk to Lisa Cameron about her life as a woman in construction. by Deborah Mannas

I met Lisa a few years ago, in a different life, when she was leading the team that was redesigning our office space. Petite, elegant and with rockstar hair, we bonded over the design of female toilets, wellness rooms, and shoes, in a world used to men designing workplaces for men. So naturally, when it came to inspiring young girls on career possibilities, my thoughts turned to Lisa Cameron, to tell us about her life as a Woman in Construction.

IMTAC: Lisa, Iâ€™m beyond thrilled that you agreed to talk to IMTAC! Iâ€™ve been so inspired by watching you own your space and lead a room full of men. When did you realise that you wanted to be an architect and construct buildings? I grew up in a smallish town, where everybody knew everyone and family roles were quite traditional. Both my parents had gone to university and so it was something that I had always accepted I would do too. My mum was one of a handful of women in our town that had gone to uni, and even as a child, I could see the benefits of having a career. 18 | IMTAC www.imtacmag.com

How did you land your first job in construction? My first big role was on a team building an airport. Of the 250+ members of the team, there were only eight women on the site, and only two of those (of which I was one) were on the professional team. It was a fantastic time in the industry; a time when there were more roles than qualified people. I had entered the workforce after graduating with honours and running my own design practice, but the architecture firms I interviewed with couldn’t get past the fact that I was a newly single mum. I remember them asking what I would do if my children fell ill. I was viewed as a risky hire and was unsuccessful despite getting shortlisted many times. I was lucky that the construction industry at the time was taking everyone they could get, and so after interviewing successfully with just one firm, my career in construction began.

You’ve gotta be prepared to have a workweek wardrobe of Fluro

I don’t think at 18 I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but what I did know was that I wanted to have a career and that it needed to be one I could travel abroad with. When I applied for university I listed Architecture, Urban Planning and some Science based medical degrees. I got offered Architecture, and so I accepted it. I used to draw a lot as a kid, build and design things, and help my dad when he worked on home improvement projects. I inherited my mom’s creativity and expressiveness and my dad’s mathematics and engineering bent, and Architecture is a good blend of both! The best thing about an Architecture career is the more you travel and experience life and understand people, the better you can design for them. It’s also a window into the past, old buildings are an insight into how people lived, worked, how society operated, and I find that really fascinating.

Who supported you most on your journey? I credit my mother for a lot of my independence, but I am sure that pretty much everyone around me as I grew up infused me with the themes that I continue to hold as core beliefs. I have had some of the most unlikely individuals as sponsors. Gruff older men that were tough as nails, sun weathered from years on site, and others that have

“It has never been just an office job. I’ve seen some pretty amazing things and gone to some amazing places.”

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probably never picked up a tool in their lives, calm, intelligent with wisdom and a way that could provide you with absolute clarity when you needed it. For where I am today, I have to credit my husband, he knows how much my career means to me. Doing what I do would be impossible if my husband wasn’t up for the ride. I also think it’s important to have a strong sense of who you are deep down, in that quiet moment, that no one knows about but you. What are the challenges women face in construction ? I remember the first time I walked onto a site for a new role, and the foreman

politely suggested I walk back out of the gates for my own safety, as if I had wandered in by mistake. The change to his facial expression was priceless when I informed him that I wasn’t lost, I was just looking for my site office. As it turned out, there was a flood of phone calls made shortly after, because they did not allow for any female toilet facilities on the site. Though the statistics of women in Construction have hovered around 10% or less for the last decade, times have changed. The industry is more professional, with more governance and focus on health and safety, and increasing use of technology, than when I started.

Warning! Fishnets on site...!

Blowing up for the basement #boom the boss is on site!

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What are the opportunities for women in Construction? I think the breadth of professions that it encompasses actually makes it the perfect place for a woman to have a career. In fact, there NEEDS to be more women in the Built Environment. When you have a whole industry tasked with designing and building for society, determining how we use space and how we experience a city, diverse contributions are absolutely necessary. When architects talk about their designs, they don’t focus on the concrete, the engineering, they focus on how it works, what it will feel like, how it will address some form of problem or enhance

an outcome. Construction isn’t just about building spaces, it’s actually about placemaking, where just one half of the population won’t be able to get it right for the whole of society. I would love more women to join the Construction Industry. With the changes in technology, with VR, supply chain, and contracting methods there’s a whole lot of career choices for women to pursue. And whilst I may have traded my steel caps for heels, I do miss wearing that fluro vest and my hard hat, and so if rolling up your sleeves and getting stuff done is for you, then so is a career in construction.

What would you tell your younger self? There was a lack of female mentors when I began my career, and so I think I would definitely tell my younger self it’s OK to be different, to not fit in - certainly never apologize for that. In fact, it can be an advantage. When I look back on those times in my life when I smashed it out of the park, it wasn’t because I had my act together. Sometimes, I just didn’t have any other choice other than to go for it. I’ve taken roles that everyone ran away from, and done really well because of it.

Top: A site in India while inspecting a new building under construction; L: “I have to confess it’s a family affair — even the cat has attended the odd zoom call;” R: Still managed to scrub up nicely, Lisa and husband Ben attends a new restaurant opening.

On a personal front, I think I overplanned my life, what I wanted to do and by when. For most of your life, you will perform the role of daughter, perhaps wife or mother, and so I wish someone had told me to take more time to be just myself. My first marriage at a young age didn’t work out, but I am happily married now with four great kids. I know that I haven’t always had a healthy balance because of the amount of time or focus I have given my career. I think you can save yourself a lot of heartache if you learn from the mistakes of others, so even now I am still learning, and have decided to spend this next chapter investing my time where it really counts, and rebalance the time I have with my family. |

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by Loulou Von Spiel

Reptiles Are This Girl’s Best Friends

A teenage snake whisperer tells tales about snakes as a way to overcome depression, the challenges posed by her atypical passion and living with a genetic disease which affects her mobility. For most of us, the mere thought of reptiles carries a lot of negative emotions, the stuff of nightmares and superstitions. Unfairly regarded as creepy, slimy, and even dangerous, they inspire no such feelings in Meghan Montgomery, a 19 year old reptile enthusiast from Pennsylvania, who started caring for such animals in her early teens. Radiating kindness and maturity, Meghan dispels the myths and clichés around snakes as she tells us about her unusual passion for this hobby which usually conjures up images of either geeky boys or Tiger King type weirdoes.

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It is not common for women to be reptile geeks. I like not being like everyone else and knowing I am more open to the “freaky” things in the world.

Linguine

Linguine is a special needs snake that required specific care and attention. Meghan rescued him after he was sold to someone who then ended up abandoning him with no heat, water, or food.

I am most attracted to snakes because of how their body moves compared to other animals. I find their body functions and how they are able to get from one place to another fascinating. I knew it was going to develop into a passion because of how much it piqued my interest. My first snake was a Ball Python I had named fluffy as a joke, so my sister would think I came home with a fluffy rabbit or hamster. It freaked her out when she found out what he actually was. But it worked beautifully and the name stuck. I got Fluffy as a hatchling (baby) through a breeder after looking through a ton of different

kinds and deciding he was the one. My mom was all for me getting a snake but my siblings, not so much. Other people like friends and family were nervous about them as well or found the hobby odd. Within the herping (reptiles) community, do you ever face discrimination as a young woman? Does it affect you and how do you deal with it? Are there any advantages to being a girl hobbyist? I don’t feel as though I am discriminated against a lot, but I have definitely had instances where people think they know more than I do, but I end up proving the opposite. It does frustrate me a bit, but I just push aside what they say and even if they don’t know it, I know I know my stuff. As

Fluffy

IMTAC: So, what’s the attraction and when did you know it was going to be a passion for you? How did you get your first snake and how did loved ones react?

for the biggest advantage as a girl, it is not common for women to be reptile

Fluffy is Meg’s favourite snake, the one who started it all and is now 6 years old. Here he is as a baby. Ball Pythons can live up to 30 years!

geeks. I like not being like everyone else and knowing I am more open to the “freaky” things in the world.

Meghan says her knowledge comes from experience and research. She has been working at “one of the largest pet stores in the world” as a reptile room employee for almost 2 years. She credits that experience as a major contributor to her knowledge, thanks to working with 100+ different species of

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its presence. It just depends on what was programmed in these peopleâ€™s minds when they were younger.

Linguine remains stunted and may have a short lifespan due to issues caused by suspected inbreeding.

reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates giving her the amazing experience to see and learn about some rare reptiles in person. It has also allowed her to help her mom, who rehabilitates turtles and tortoises.

Are you considering a career in the field? I would have absolutely loved to make a long term career out of working with reptiles. I had originally planned to work as a zookeeper, then as a

What would you say are the biggest challenges keeping snakes? How do people react generally? The biggest challenges are landlords, spouses, or family members thinking the snake is going to eat them or that snakes are killing machines and will chase them down just to bite them. But that is not at all the case and it is disheartening to hear.

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Fluffy and Meg have a good relationship. He gets grumpy when she wakes him up or â€œtriesâ€? to move him but acts like it is the best thing in the world once he is out of his enclosure. Awwww.

Cheerio

I feel as though it has gone both ways working where I do, with people so terrified if I have a snake out that they cry, and make me leave the room. Others may be scared but still look from a distance, purely out of curiosity. Some are open to holding the animal, and some are excited to be in

biologist focused on animal behavior, then into being a vet tech for an exotic vet, and now I am not even able to work in the reptile room of the pet store anymore. Unfortunately I have a progressive disease that deteriorates my cartilage, causes my muscles to be loose, causes arthritis early on, which can greatly affect my immune system, and prevents me from doing pretty much anything physically demanding. I am only 19 and already have severe arthritis in my left ankle.

Cheerio is a female Python and will probably reach 6 ft in length. She likes watching TV with Meg, and eating thawed rats!

Calico

Calico is a Bull Snake (Hypo White Sided) who is full of anger at anything around him, His breed is a lot less relaxed than Meg’s other 3 snakes: Fluffy, Linguine and Cheerio, who are Ball Pythons.

What insider knowledge do you want people to have about snakes? This is something I have discovered in my many years of working with reptiles and snakes especially. In order for your snake to be calm, you yourself have to be calm, so the more you hold the animal the more it comes naturally for your nerves, stress, and in some cases depression to be lessened. I live by this and tell this to anyone interested in snakes, in fact, I remember a time a customer bought a snake based on my recommendation. He later returned to thank me with a card and a gift, and to let me know that the animal has become an emotional support for his anxiety and severe depression.

Currently, Meghan is transitioning to an office position at her present job. Hearing this makes me wish for an outlet for her to share her valuable expertise and enthusiasm with others, maybe through a youtube channel, as she would make a charismatic, knowledgeable and appealing presenter. “It would be cool to look into, but I feel I ‘d need more reptiles to have visual examples”

Finally, what advice would you give young girls interested in reptile keeping, and is there anything you would do differently?

I hope she gets those extra pets and eventually inspires more girls to take up the hobby.

I would say absolutely ALWAYS do your homework and figure out what the animal needs before ever considering it. Go on discussion boards and ask tons of questions and do your research. I would also add, never take what people say about your interest to heart because their judgments may be based on irrational fears, unless they have actually had bad experiences with snakes.

Meghan is also a talented draughtsman and designed the logo for a series of merchandise for her mum’s favourite charity, Central Mississipi Turtle Rescue (https://www.centralmsturtlerescue. com/) helping them to set up with the profit generated. She wears one of their hoodies in our videos where she introduces her snakes and talks about their care and personalities.

I don’t think I’d change anything about what I’ve done. I have enjoyed every moment involved with these animals. |

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Style Spotlight Kimberley Chats with

Laura Williamson

Lifestyle blogger chats about Vintage Value Embrace your inner child with these vintage sweatshirts

by Kimberley Kleczka

Laura Williamson is a sustainable lifestyle blogger, who lives in Hong Kong. She created a blog called Days Like Laura (www.dayslikelaura.com), which educates and teaches us about helping the planet through sustainable living. Laura also runs her own online store, Plantdays (www.plantdays.com), a carefully curated marketplace for sustainable + vintage goods. Some of her topics include ethical street style fashions, tips on how to live sustainably, as well as a travel guide and a variety of delicious recipes. 26 | IMTAC www.imtacmag.com

Save the planet by shopping sustainably.

My goal is to inspire people to live more conscious, sustainable lives by showing them that sustainability is cool and stylish. I want to

Laura, where is home and how long have you lived in Hong Kong? Hong Kong is home now, but a little bit of my heart will always be back home with my friends and family in Atlanta, Georgia. Where are some of your favourite cities? There are so many! I love Positano and the Amalfi Coast, because that’s where my husband and I got engaged. It’s so beautiful and relaxing there, and the people always seem so happy. I’m also a huge lover of Tuscany. We actually got married in a private villa outside of Siena, Italy and if I could move there, I definitely would. A couple of my other favourites include: London, Bali, Los Angeles, NYC, Amsterdam, Phuket, and Tokyo. What is your mission in life?

Love baggy t-shirts? We do too. Which is why our vintage features oversized styles.

make it more accessible to the general public, by highlighting that it’s not an “all or nothing” lifestyle, To me, it’s all about making more manageable, realistic changes to be more conscious and aware of our impact on the planet. It’s about saying “hey, I know there are all these issues, and this is how I can be more low impact”. Just like no one diet or exercise routine will work for everyone, no one way of living more sustainably will work for everyone. It’s all about doing what works for you, so that you can make more mindful, conscious changes in your life that you will be able to stick to. Start small and go from there. I’d rather see 99% of the population making

an effort to live more sustainably than 1% doing it perfect all of the time. Why did you start a blog? After graduating from university, I got really physically sick actually. I had really bad stomach pains and digestion issues,

You were born to sparkle! Throw on these vintage earrings from the 1970s and 1980s and shine baby

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so I went to the doctor and got tested for all sorts of food intolerances. Basically, I was eating too much dairy, so they told me to cut it out cold turkey and see how I felt. At the time, I wasn’t a big meat eater, but was really eating dairy all the time for every meal. So, I had no idea what to eat and no idea how to cook. Luckily, I was living in Los Angeles at the time, so I started ordering vegan dishes (which were guaranteed to not have dairy products) which were readily available everywhere. I felt my energy levels go up tremendously, started running and

Remember, that the most sustainable option is the one you already own.

exercising regularly, and overall felt better both physically and mentally. I started my blog to document the really simple, quick vegan recipes I was teaching myself to cook.

old and new. I absolutely love shopping vintage and have been doing so since I was really young. I’ve always collected cool vintage treasures I find when traveling, making a point to stop at vintage markets all over the world. There’s something so rewarding about digging through all the clothes to find a piece you love. I wear vintage tees and sweatshirts 99% of the time, which I’ll always style with ethical pieces like sweatpants or second-hand denim. I try my best to shop second-hand too. Remember, that the most sustainable option is the one you already own. What questions should you ask yourself before buying new clothes? My golden rule is that if I’m buying something new then it has to either fill a hole in what I already own, or replace something that doesn’t fit me anymore. If it’s replacing something, I always make sure to responsibly recycle it by selling it on a second-hand platform. It’s the ageold question: do I really need this? Also, something I learned when I was a kid that I still do to this day, is ask myself if I really love what I’m buying. I am not an impulse shopper. If I see something I like, I’ll take a photo of it and then go about my day. The next day, if I’m still

L: What’s new Scooby-Doo?

What does sustainable styling mean to you?

Flash back to the 90s in these one-of-a-kind vintage cartoon t-shirts curated by Plantdays; R: Want to look good and feel

To me, sustainable styling is all about mixing

good? Shop vintage to help reduce textile waste and fight fast fashion

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L: Hong Kong + vintage = one cool cat.

thinking about it, then I will go back and buy it. A lot of times, if you walk away, you’ll forget all about what you were going to buy! It’s a quite simple concept, but it’s what works for me. What is your personality style? I’m very laid back and easy going! I’d definitely say I’m a bit of a nerd - I love to read. Actually, I’ve always loved reading books ever since I was little and never stopped. I’m really a huge fan of Jane Austen and Emily Brontë. So, I guess that explains why I’m also an introvert. I get a lot of joy from being on my own and it takes a lot of energy for me to be social. A good book, a cup of tea, and a bubble bath would be my ideal environment. I do really love what I do and feel blessed to share it with others. My passion for the cause and the mission to help make sustainability the norm drives me. Can fashion ever be plastic free? Yes! 100% yes! I’ve seen a lot of brands switching to plastic-free poly bags actually made from postconsumer waste which is

really awesome. For Plantdays, we use upcycled boxes, paper envelopes, and bags made from cornstarch to ship our orders. As plastic-free packaging becomes more affordable, it in turns becomes more standardised and accessible to everyone which is great. I think in terms of the clothing themselves, it’s cool to see a lot of activewear and swimwear made from recycled plastic bottles. I really do think this is the future. Where do you buy your street style clothes and accessories? I shop local as much as I can and love to support Hong Kong-based ethical fashion brands and independent labels. For vintage, I mostly buy them at thrift shops and vintage markets in places like Los Angeles, Tokyo and NYC. What kind of cuisine do you like to make? I love to bake. I have a major sweet tooth, so I’m always making baked goods or desserts. Everything I make is vegan and glutenfree, and mostly refined sugar-free as well. Can you share one of your favourite recipes with us? Yes, my favorite recipe would have to be my vegan Snickers bars. I love making a delicious, dairy-free vegan version of this classic candy bar recipe. It also happens to be the most popular recipe on my blog. You can find the full recipe here (http:// www.dayslikelaura.com/eat/festivefriday-raw-snickers-bars-r-v-gf-rsf/) Do you have any lasting thoughts about how to live in a sustainable world? It’s all about finding your own balance in life, not about being perfect. Together we can create a more sustainable world that’s kinder on our planet. |

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Health, Nutrition and You

by Denise, Clinical Nutrition

Hi again, I thought I should address the word “diet” today! If you look it up in the Miriam Webster dictionary, several definitions come up. I like the one that says “habitual nourishment!” So everything we choose to eat or drink on a regular basis is our diet. If we follow a certain religion, there may be certain foods or drinks from which we abstain, and that’s alright because we can make up for those foods on other days of the week. Today, we have a zillion diets out there: Paleo, Mediterranean, the DASH, vegetarian, and trending now, the Vegan. Let’s talk about veganism. I see many young ladies and mums come into our Wellbeing center asking for advice, as they want to turn vegan. These are things I advise them on: •

Veganism is a philosophy centered around animal rights, and the intentional avoidance of all animal products: no eggs, no milk, no dairy products, no meat of any kind, poultry, or seafood. Even honey or gelatine in sweets is avoided due to the fact it is derived from animals. Vegans believe that animals have rights, starting by being kept off our plates.

•

Veganism also means you don’t buy any items made from animal skin, fur or feathers. So no more leather shoes, bags or jackets either, young lady! Whatever your motivation for adopting a vegan diet, it needs to be done right.

•

There are essential micronutrients in animal products which you have to match in your vegan diet, for example: Vitamin B12 , Zinc, Iron and essential fatty acids Omega 3 and calcium, which are typically from meat and fish.

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•

Vitamin B12 is more easily derived from animal sources and is essential for healthy digestion and prevention of anaemia (low circulating iron). A deficiency in this vitamin can lead to fatigue, nerve damage, loss of appetite and constipation, and nobody wants that, right? So, active B12 supplementation is a must, since the recommended vegan option is from button mushrooms and nori. But you would require a basketful of them to get the recommended dietary intake of 2.4 µg/day! Vitamin B12 works with folate, another B vitamin, essential for cellular regeneration and growth.

•

Zinc is a trace mineral that needs attention, as its convenient sourcing is from animal products, required for many body functions

including healthy immunity, growth and development. Broccoli, carrots and bananas contain zinc, but may not cover your daily needs. So go nuts on seeds such as hemp, pumpkin or chia or legumes like lentils, beans, chickpeas etc. Tofu and wholewheat bread works well too. Still, a supplement may be required when your diet is lacking, 40mg may help you kick start your day! •

Our menstrual cycle depletes us of several nutrients each month, the most important one being Iron. It is required for red blood cell production and for carrying oxygen to all the tissues in our body. If you were tired at school or college today, or a bit low after your period, then you may need an iron boost. So if not coming from meat, get it from a stack of broccoli, beans, and tofu, sunflower seeds or nut butters. Around 15mg/day

is what you need to consider. Vitamin C assists in iron absorption, so fruits are your friends! •

If you decide to go vegan, read up on it. To include all the necessary nutrients, spend time buying daily fresh produce, preparing it and have fun exploring all those new tastes and textures. Get creative!

•

I choose a couple of days to go meatfree, and find it is a great way to cleanse. I select a variety of food colours: green, orange, yellow, red and purple, to get all the benefits. Fresh herbs and spices really jazz up the flavour. There are plenty of delicious recipes out there, and a quick search online will provide you with ways to “veganise” any of your favourite dishes. For more information, The Vegan Society (vegansociety.com) is a reliable resource. RECIPE

Brekkie On-the-Go! • • • • • • • • • •

250ml almond milk (or your choice of nut milk) 1 teaspoon of probiotic powder 1 small banana 1 handful of blueberries (they can be frozen if not in season) 1 teaspoon of peanut butter 1 or two unseeded dates ½ teaspoon organic vanilla essence ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder 1 handful of seed mix (sunflower, linseed and flaxseed) 1 cup of raw baby spinach leaves.

Blend with ice (extra water if required) and enjoy. Your tummy will be happy till lunch time. If mangoes are in season, I sometimes add a chunk for added fibre and taste. Try it and tell us if you liked it! |

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WANNA WRITE A SONG? by Deborah Mannas

Since the dawn of time, people have been singing. Songs have the power to change lives, make you feel happy, sad, victorious, motivated, take you through your darkest hours, make you think, change the world. I’ve found I make my best arguments through song! So can you sing? Write music? Notate? Write poetry? If you can’t, songwriting is not for you. OK,OK, Just kidding. The truth is, anyone can write a song (and sometime I feel anyone does, to be honest), and so can you, if you want to badly enough. Can all songs become hit songs? That’s mostly luck, connections and a great PR machine. BUT anyone can write a song that allows them to express themselves and experience the joy of creation. 32 | IMTAC www.imtacmag.com

I’d always dreamed of singing my own songs from a teen. But I told myself that it was impossible as I couldn’t read or write music. Then, many many years ago, I visited my aunt in London, and told her how I wished I could write songs, but that I was limited by my inability to read or write music. All she said was “darling, the Beatles never wrote a note of music. Paul Mcartney recorded his first lines of ‘Hey Jude’ while he was driving his car”… and so that very day I wrote my first song. I’ve been writing ever since and have never looked back. I recorded 5 songs a few weeks later, and was one of the first generations of digital MP3.com artists… You can be a melody maker (someone who writes the music), a lyricist (someone who writes the words) or both, ie, a songwriter.

SO HERE ARE

TO KICK YOU OFF:

FIRST,

NEXT,

think of something you’re passionate about and note the words or phrases which describe the story and the emotions it conveys. Use simple language that paints a picture, but do try not to use clichés. Arrange the phrases in a logical flow. Do not rearrange the sentence structure to make things rhyme, this is really old school and if not done well, will come across as cheesy. Not every phrase needs to rhyme. You can use near rhymes or internal rhymes.

think about what you’d want to belt out in the shower. What will get played on TikTok? You may find that a phrase or two captures the essence of the song and brings your point home… this will be your refrain. If you create a soaring melody around it, it will become the “hook”, which is a repeated phrase that lifts the song and makes it memorable. Remember Adele’s “Hello from the other side” or ABBA’s Dancing Queen “You can dance, You can Jive…” or Ed Sheeran’s Perfect, “I’m dancing in the dark.” “Mmmbop” by Hanson is super hooky from start to finish. Halsey “you’re not half the man you think that you are” is the hook for “You Should Be Sad”. From A Million Dreams: “cause every night I lie in bed, the brightest colours fill my head…” is a great hook. Maroon 5’s “Memories bring back memories, bring back you” is another great example. The hook can start the song, or can be the refrain. But “hooky” songs are remembered.

THIRD,

what style/feel do you want the song to have? There are so many to choose from and in this age of technology, beats are so easy to program, so that’s a great place to start. You may need to add or remove words/phrases to fit the beat. My experience is that I start with a lot of words and I end up slashing and burning ruthlessly to make the song flow.

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FINALLY,

capture an idea as soon as it comes to you. You may think you’ll remember it later, but I’m here to tell you, you won’t. Voice memos and notes have been the best inventions ever for songwriters. Capture any ideas floating by and flesh them out later. Songs happen in stages, iteratively, and they’re YOUR work, so you can do anything at all with them. The more you write, the more choices you have to get the song you’ll be proud of. Let your creative juices flow! Once you start loving song writing, I guarantee you will start researching great songs, creative processes, poetry writing and teaming up with collaborators. A world of creative catharsis and grounding lies waiting! And best of all, it’s free! Some of my best ideas come to me at 2am in the morning, or in most inopportune places! There was a time I’d leap out of bed and dash to my recording device to capture a song. Stranger in my head and Jellyfish Conquistador are a couple I could name. A few months ago my son was watching something on his computer and said out loud “Feels like lava”. Turns out he was watching National Geographic, but I thought, “wow, great song title”! And before I knew it, “Feels Like Lava” got written from the comfort of my massage chair. REF: Feels like lava feels like lava molten hot and then cold stone feels like lava feels like lava burning blazing and then it’s gone V1. So engulfed by your blazing flame I didn’t think to wear my armour unprepared for all your games I’m sacrificed upon your altar (REF) V2. Coursing down into my veins burning every cell of mine charred in your wake, my flesh and bones are ash and dust, I’m not alive (REF)

I had the glimmerings of a melody when I first wrote the song, which I chewed over, and finally nailed down while getting in my 10K steps in the park. I recorded my voice through my iPhone’s headset, with passers by looking at me like I was from another planet.

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Girls grow up with so many misconceptions about what is expected from them, particularly when it comes to the opposite sex. I met up with Jason (not his real name), a recent graduate, and simply asked him to tell us. Jason, you’ve just returned from university in the U.K. You have a mixed background and have lived in three Countries! If you think back on your teenage and college years, and your discussions with both male and female friends, what stands out to you as “expectations” on either side? I believe that during my upbringing there has always been an equal balance of expectations and that I don’t expect more from one gender opposed to the other. I went to an academic secondary school where there was no clear difference between intellectual ability between genders. Following this, I went to Loughborough University, which is renowned for sports with both males and females competing at elite standards. This is definitely a personal perspective on expectations of males and females and it is possible that others might feel differently. What do you respect in a woman?

by Deborah Mannas

This is a difficult question to answer, purely because there are so many aspects of a women that I strongly respect. I feel that the adversity and struggles women have faced throughout history are often unacknowledged. Women have triumphed against inequality, sexism and stereotyping in society, and are continuing this fight today. Therefore, if history isn’t a testimony to the strength of women then I don’t know what is. Would you say your perspective is shared by other males your age? I do believe that males are learning to appreciate the role that women play as equal partners in all aspects of society. I think the current woke movement does come into play here by encouraging people to be aware of the social injustices the world currently faces. However, I would say my personal perspective on women has been sculpted by my mother, who has been successful in I’M MORE THAN A COVER MAGAZINE

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raising two children whilst having an amazing career. This has personally magnified the respect and admiration I have for women, as tradition often follows with the working husband and at home wife. Having said this I don’t think all men have had the same experience I have had which has shaped my perspective. What do you believe are the expectations of males versus females? I personally believe that society forces males and females to be perceived in a certain way. For example, a man crying is seen as hyper emotional and a women cruising is seen as unladylike. These expectations restrict individual behaviour to their gender which can be unhealthy for both females and

males. I hope that as society progresses with an increased awareness for gender equality that we can overcome these restrictions. Did you ever want to break the mould? As you mentioned, vulnerability in males is frowned upon. Yes, taking vulnerability as the example. I think it is healthy to be vulnerable at times. It shows that you are only human and I believe that acknowledging vulnerability allows us to grow, cope with pain and even overcome it. However, I still think the stereotype that showing vulnerability isn’t masculine still exists and it is down to us males to challenge this perspective and I think females play an important role in making us feel safe to do so. |

It’s so refreshing to hear you say that Jason. We all have a role to play to make each other feel respected. Hearing your perspective makes it all about us just being — human.

I think it is healthy to be vulnerable at times. It shows that you are only human and I believe that acknowledging vulnerability allows us to grow, cope with pain and even overcome it. 36 | IMTAC www.imtacmag.com

Our outlook and attitude on life play an enormous part in how happy we are. Research shows that success is related to positivity. You may have noticed how much more productive and creative you are when you are relaxed and calm. However, when we let our negative emotions drain our energy, we have surrendered our power to anger and stress. The way we think and feel not only affects us but also the people around us. Have you noticed that when you smile at others, they respond positively and are far more cooperative and willing to help? There are some ways we could develop a more positive outlook and start to alter the way we think and feel about many of the situations that we may encounter in our dayto-day living. Changing our attitude and not slipping into a negative thinking pattern will take time, but eventually, our new outlook will become an unconscious habit.

STAY POSITIVE! by Duane Girton

Let’s look at ways we could turn our negative thoughts into a positive outlook:

1. Practice positivity. Tackle tasks one at a time and think only of a positive outcome and the way we would feel if we accomplished that task. Never give in to doubt, break up the journey, and just keep going. 2. Be a good listener and lift others up by showing them the silver lining behind what they are feeling. Don’t deepen somebody else’s pain. That’s not to say you should dismiss their troubles, but you can help them and yourself by either staying silent, empathizing, or offering positivity and support. It’s amazing how good that feels! 3. Gratitude! Seek out the good in those around you

and point it out. Offer thanks, sincere compliments, and an encouraging word. Keep a gratitude diary… there are a few apps out there that you can use. Or just write! 4. Build a circle of trust with people who discuss ideas, progress, and the future, not things, people, and past misfortunes. When you feel yourself getting pulled down by boring work, look at why you’re doing it and how it will help you progress. 5. Have faith that you are where you are, because it may lead you to new learnings, new emotional maturity, new connections…and stay grounded to your purpose.

If you have been experiencing a long spell of negativity, your new positive outlook will take a longer time to register. This is okay. Just keep practicing the points above.Next read about building self-esteem and let your light shine! | Copyright © 2020. IMTAC Magazine. All rights reserved.

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BUILD YOUR SELFESTEEM by Duane Girton

Realizing your self-worth has nothing to do with the amount of money or wealth you possess, itâ€™s about who YOU are. We give others respect, love, and consideration but how often do we gift it to ourselves? Your self worth or the value you place on yourself is dependent on your self-esteem. Healthy self-esteem leads us to independence, happiness, flexibility, the skills to adapt easily to any given situation, co-operate with others, and a positive outlook. Unhealthy or low self-esteem, on the other hand, leads to irrational thoughts, unhappiness, fear of anything new, rigidity, defensiveness, and a negative outlook. How we often see ourselves determines how others see us, if we are happy,

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smiling, and glowing with confidence then others see us as someone they are attractive and want to be part of our tribe. If we respect ourselves and portray this to others, then they will respect us too. It is hard for others to respect and love us if we don’t respect and love ourselves first.

Here’s what Low SelfEsteem looks like:

•

• We lack belief in ourselves and are very insecure. • We have difficulty giving or accepting love and intimacy in relationships.

Don’t take other peoples criticism to heart, instead just HEAR what they are saying and see how it will help you become better.

Finding and developing our self-worth is all about developing our selfesteem, so let’s look at some characteristics of High Self-Esteem:

• We never recognize or praise ourselves for any accomplishment.

• Carve out time for yourself every day. Even just 15 minutes, to meditate, look inside yourself and realize all of your good points and reposition areas for development into a more positive light.

• We find it hard to forgive ourselves or others.

• Give yourself a high five for every small success.

• We are secure in who we are and trust our abilities

• and the biggest one of all is we resist change at every turn, and are unwilling to learn new things.

•

Do something every day that you enjoy. Go for a run, the gym, or a walk in the sunshine or soak in a bubble bath, or sing in the shower.

•

Never feel guilty about doing what you enjoy, as long as you’re not hurting others.

• We allow ourselves to be more open and vulnerable to others. • We are open to intimacy and love in our relationships • We are willing to recognize and pride ourselves in our achievements • We tend to easily forgive ourselves for our mistakes and, in turn are able to forgive others.

• We are never able to let our true feelings show.

So what are some of the small things we could do to build our self-esteem? There are many ways that we can boost our self-esteem and create a more positive and healthy outlook about ourselves. Let’s look at a few ways we could develop and build our self-esteem.

• Talk positively to yourself. Repeat affirmations to rid yourself of negative thoughts and feelings. •

If you are going through a rough time consider joining a support group.

However you choose to begin building your self esteem, start today! Be thorough and consistent with the process and know that it may take a while. Don’t give up if you slip. Remember, you are an important and worthy human being. I hope these tips help you. If they did, pass them on and stay tuned for more in this series! |

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Join

Action for a Cause and Bring Your Ideas to Life If you are a secondary school student in Hong Kong who wants to make a positive impact in the community, we would love to help you achieve your goal!

Visit the Kids4Kids Youth website NOW! (www.kids4kidsyouth.org.hk/ action-for-a-cause) and submit your proposal by Friday, 13 November 2020.

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Kids4Kids is a Hong Kong founded non-profit organization that envisions a future where all young people are empowered to make positive contributions to society. Every year, Kids4Kids provides students with the chance to launch their own community projects through Action for a Cause. For Action for a Cause 2020-21, we will select up to 25 projects to receive HK$3,000 seed funding as well as mentor support to bring your ideas to life in a period of 6 months!

Close your eyes and breathe. You no longer have to worry. Just take it slow and feel for your heart. Find yourself, somehow. In all those broken pieces, Find yourself.

We’re honoured to share are these two beautiful poems by teen poet, Kio.

It has been such a long journey A tiring and lonely one I feel my knees trembling My whole body, in fact

I can feel the walls closing in Bit by bit It suffocates me I feel like I have my whole body Tied up and thrown into the ocean

We would love to feature the creative works of our young readers in the form of poetry, art, song, photography, and anything else

I strive to free myself Yet I am unable to move I will close my eyes, for now And I’ll let myself sink Till someone comes to save me Or till I lay here in eternal sleep.

that can be shown in two dimensions. Please send in your creative submissions to: connect@imtacmag.com

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ASK CECI Do you have questions that you’re too embarrassed to ask? Is there a topic or story that you want to share but find it awkward to talk to others about? Ceci is here to discuss and try to answer all your questions about life, friendship, family, relationships, and growing up. She is the big sister that you can always ask questions to! Here are a few questions she’s answered, from our readers... Dear Ceci, I failed my math subject, but I am afraid to tell my parents. My papa is going to be so mad if he finds out. I feel so stupid and worthless! My mama always tells me to study harder, but even though I study hard, I still fail. Should I just give up and not care about it since I’m no good anyway? - Jerome Dear Jerome, I scored A in my Math O-Level and A-Level but I failed my Math tests while I was studying in school. So, out of my own experience, I can assure you it is alright to fail in Math but still get flying colors afterwards, we just have to figure out a method to attain the goal. In my personal struggle, I worked very hard but I disliked the subject even more as I forced myself to sit in front of a pile of Math exercises. To cut the story short, I gradually realized it was not about the amount of time I spent but about not knowing exactly why I failed in the subject. So, I approached my Math teacher, showed her my Math tests and

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asked where my weaknesses were. She gave me an individual evaluation and suggested ways for me to improve. As I followed her advice and began to spend more time on my weaknesses, I saw that my brain was trained and was able to solve problems that were beyond my capabilities before. Motivated by the improvement, I became more confident, found interest and started to score well in Math. So, I would also suggest you to talk to your Math teacher, ask for his/her suggestions regarding your situation and give it another try. When you share this idea with your parents, I believe they will also appreciate your trying and be supportive.

Dear Ceci, I’m 13 and I don’t have a lot of friends in school. My classmates are always ignoring me. One of my classmates punched me in the face but I could not punch him back because he is much bigger than me. I don’t want my classmates to think that I am a wimp so I pretended that it wasn’t painful. So he punched me 3 more times. I really wanted to cry because it hurt, but I am afraid that they’ll laugh at me. I’m so angry right

now but I don’t know what to do. - Wimpy Kid Hi Wimpy Kid, I am sorry you have been hurt by your classmate, it must be a difficult time. Nobody wants to be wimpy and what you did show your determination. However, physical strength is not the only dimension of strength, especially when we are looking for the support we need in daily life. If we want to be strong in our everyday setting, we have to cultivate our mind to deal with challenges like the situation you are facing at the moment. I suggest talking to your teacher about this so he/

she may support you with a safe and efficient plan when you communicate with your classmates. In the long run, try to join some school activities and make more friends, they can offer help and support in challenging situations too.

Dear Ceci, Do you have any advise on how to deal with a break up? - Sadness is tough Dear Sadness is Tough, I am sorry to hear about your breakup. The best way to deal with this is to understand that the breakup occurred not because you are not good enough but because you two did not suit each other. In this case, it will be best to end the relationship and look for someone else who is more suitable. Before the new guy comes, enrich your life with new opportunties and challenges even if it means,you have to start the journey by yourself. Take for instance, try to make some new friends, join a bookclub, learn a new skill or reach out to the community. The next guy may just be around the corner.

Dear Ceci, Can you give me some advise on choosing a college major? Puzzled Girl

Dear Puzzled Girl, Thank you for writing. College is the bridge between teenage and adulthood. Instead of focusing on the narrow concept of acquiring technical skills, it is more important to investigate the art of learning and learn the general skills of problemsolving in college. So, don’t be too worried about not knowing exactly what you want to choose. Instead, try out different internships, talk to people of various professions and think broadly whether you enjoy the field of arts, science or commerce. When you have the answer, pick a major related to the field, continue to explore your interests and learn the ways of the industry through practical experience in the subjects. Unless you have already decided the exact profession you want to engage in, the key is to choose a major that gives yourself more room to explore your interests and abilities.

Dear Ceci, How do you know what is the right job for you? - MaryAnne. Dear MaryAnne, Thank you for asking this question. We never know what is the right job until we give it a try. My suggestion is to be open-minded to learn about

different careers and widen our horizon as much as possible by engaging in projects and internships of different fields. During the process, reflect upon yourselves to see which job makes you happy, talk to people of each profession to learn about the prospect of the industry and find a job that realizes your abilities for the betterment of the community.

Cecilia Ao or Ceci is a lifelong learner who enjoys exploring life through the lens of Psychology, History and Philosophy. She fancies moments of silence in a starry night when she writes her thoughts in a journal. She also loves hanging out with friends in daytime to listen to their adventures and exchange ideas with them. If you want a new friend, she is ready to listen to your stories over a cup of coffee. She will savour the taste of life with you and offer a “peace” of cake. |

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We asked our contributors: “What brings you joy?” This is what they told us...

I’ve always sought joy even in the everyday, I find joy to be in the small things. It can be as simple as a hot cup of coffee in the morning with almond milk, or watching the sunset at night with my husband from our balcony. | Laura

Reptiles and the energy they bring out into a room. With them in there the e energy feels mor g barren. Also carin ng hi for somet else.| Meghan

Um can I say pizza? But specifically paisanos cheese pizza . As it reminds that not everything should be done complicated in life and just keep it simple....and cheesy. | Sakshi

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I am mos t joyful rea ding a book in a nice coffe e shop with a cup of co ffee.| Leanne

I haven’t always been gre at at keeping up with hobb ies, and even now that I bu ild stuff, or at least manage people who build stuff, I still need an outlet for my creativity. So I take lots of photos of buildings and my sites, even the most boring bits of concrete or scaffolding can look quite beautiful.| Lisa

Fitness and sports make me happy. I believe it is im portant to keep myself physica lly fit as it also keeps me mentally fit. My favourite sport is basketball and I have been playing for over 13 years.| Jason

My joy is Tai chi with my sword at sunset, the ocean’s waves at my feet, the city of Hong Kong in the distance. | Christine

• • • • •

Model fights discrimination You are Enough - Dealing with Insecurity Tattoo Artist gets Her Stripes Northern Soul Goddess Shines Fighting Social Media Influence ...and other stories We are always looking for contributors! If you’re an aspiring writer, illustrator or artist and you want to be part of upcoming issues, let us know! Drop us an email at info@imtacmag.com with the subject “I want to contribute!”

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