JUNE 2021

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 7

June 2021

ASK TOMMY

FINAL FAREWELL

B.C. REOPENING PLAN INDIGENOUS AWARENESS

IT’S SUMMER TIME! SENIOR ADVICE

PRIDE MONTH

COMIC

BIKING

June

FIRST GLANCE 2 P.8: WORLD

P.13: FEATURED

The Pinetree Post

STAFF

FOUNDERS Russell Kim, Felix Guo EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Shui, Kevin Fan

B.C. Reopening Plan

Indigenous Awareness Pride Month

P.17: SCHOOL

Biking Ask Tommy

P. 21: OTHER

ARTICLE EDITOR Jennifer Shui CONTRIBUTORS Kaylin Brereton-Stiles Bryan Chen Kevin Fan, Jon Gough Na-Yeon Kim, Florin Lee Michelina Lee, Zoe Li Alexandra Mandewo Kaleigh Morrow Shaina Rajwani Jennifer Shui Sophie Zhao GRAPHIC DESIGN Kevin Fan SPECIAL THANKS TO The Pinetree Administration, Mr. Lau, Anonymous “Ask Tommy” Contributors, Yoon Sang You, Mason Kim, Grace Lee, Zoe Li

Summer Plans Senior Advice

Comic

GET INVOLVED IN THE PT POST! Although we at the Pinetree Post try our best to represent the voice of the everyone at Pinetree, we are only a small group of students. To find the most pressing topics and interesting avenues to explore, we rely on input from readers to curate relevant content only. Anyone is welcome to suggest a topic or provide an opinion for Pinetree Post writers and

contributors to look into further. Do you have something to say that needs your voice? The Pinetree Post also welcomes guest content, any time, of any kind. Feel free to submit an article on a topic you are passionate for, a comic you think everyone deserves to see, maybe even a letter to the editor!

You can submit your original content to us at thepinetreepost@gmail.com.

Have a question or a request? Contact us at: facebook.com/thepinetreepost

3

FIRST GLANCE

EDITOR’S NOTE

New Editors, Who Dis? The end of an era.

Jennifer Shui, Kevin Fan Editors-in-Chief

Hi Kevin!

Henlo Jennifer. How does it feel to have power now?

It feels like great responsibility… wait, that’s a Spiderman quote. How do you feel about it?

I don’t know what I’m doing. Like, I actually do not know what I’m doing. But it’s fun and rewarding!

I want to say I relate, except Briana will most likely read this and have second thoughts about her choices.

LOL, what do you do as the Editor of the most read newspaper at our school?

You mean the only newspap-

Okay aaanyways. What do you do?

Well, I’m supposed to do a lot of things.

But this month, as we transition from Briana’s “era”, so to speak, I’ve been doing the editing for our wonderful writers’ articles.

What kind of articles do we have this month?

Glad you brought that up! This month’s theme is exhilaration, so we have a few articles on fun things to do locally, especially as the weather

I unironically miss this place with air conditioning.

Source: Kevin Fan

improves.

For example, the article Biking, page 13 highlights great places that Pinetree students can enjoy as their long-awaited summer vacation arrives. Speaking of warmer weather, if you’re curious about how B.C.’s doing with COVID-19, we’ve got updates on statistics as well as news on what’s opening up again (B.C. Reopening Plan Summary & Current Covid Stats, page 8).

We also asked some Pinetree students on what they’re looking forward to most - don’t forget to

FIRST GLANCE 4 check that out (Summer is Here, page 17).

Meanwhile, I’d like to congratulate this year’s grads! Although these “unprecedented times” have been extremely tough for everyone, we’re proud of you for managing all this and making it to the end of your K-12 schooling. Also, as I mentioned earlier, Briana and Julia’s time as Editors for the Pinetree Post has sadly come to an end. Read Briana’s farewell at (Editor’s Final Farewell, page 5). As for the younger students in the school, make sure you give (Senior Advice, page 19) a read. Don’t be too hasty to graduate time flies by!

We also covered more current events: (Pride Month, page 12) gives a brief history of Pride in both Vancouver and on a national level.

The recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children buried near the Kamloops residential school is a serious topic that is addressed and discussed (The Heartbreaking Truth of Residential Schools Revealed, page 10).

For our usual lighthearted illustrations, refer to (Comic, page 21)! And don’t forget to check out the beloved (Advice Column: Ask Tommy, page 16) for the last time by this Tommy. Again, the end of an era has arrived - but the torch will be passed forward next year. Stay tuned!

Alright. Kevin? Still awake?

Word hog. Didn’t even let me fall asleep. Okay anyways, Jennifer talks a lot. Rather, she types a lot. In all seriousness, which I will make every effort to disregard later, I would like to give a massive round of virtual applause to our previous Editors, Briana Ho and Julia Ye. Throughout their tenure, they’ve put in countless hours of hard work for days at a time - every month, every year.

Every anecdote that you’ve marvelled at, every beautiful picture you’ve fawned over only came to fruition for their perseverance and hard work. I’m sure Jennifer would also like to thank Briana for mentoring her in the ways of the Grammartrooper, but I will not be letting her talk any more :)

I would like to give a very special thank you to the future Dr. Ye, who I will be referring to as Dr. Yeet from now on, for mentoring me in the CONFUSING AS F- heck WAYS OF ADOBE INDESIGN. Yeah, sorry for those DM’s at 3 am asking how to make the font do fancy things and thanks for helping me keep my life in one piece.

So thank you. Briana, for ensuring only the best of articles are shown to our readers. For tirelessly running this club for as long as you can recall. And Dr. Yeet, thank you for making everything look so visually pleasing. For organizing dozens of documents into a few, neat pages to read. You two, truly and seriously, are the unsung heroes of our Pinetree Post.

The Pinetree Post Team is always going to remember you for your contributions to this wonderful family.

I think they want to talk too? So before this turns into a Tumblr post, written in the armpit of the night, it is both my duty and my honour to introduce Briana and Julia for one, final time!

Good talk Jennifer!

Hope you enjoy this issue of the Pinetree Post! Remember to like us on Facebook for new announcements and follow us on Instagram for the latest updates (@thepinetreepost).

Message us on Instagram or email us (thepinetreepost@ gmail.com) if you have a topic you’d like us to address next month or if you’re interested in writing a guest article yourself !

Missed the last issues? Read them at https:// issuu.com/thepinetreepost.

Don’t inhale too much tree fluff!

Keep on keepin’ on.

Jennifer Shui & Kevin Fan Editors-in-Chief

5 SPECIAL END OF AN ERA

Editor’s Final Farewell I feel like a grandma and my joints agree.

Retiring Editor-in-Chiefs: Top 5 percent of their graduating class, questionable sleep schedules, and suspiciously blank criminal records.

Briana Ho Outgoing Editor-in-Chief, Writer

Hi there, Pinetree!

I suppose these are my final words to you all. I’m not dying, if you’re wondering (nobody’s succeeded in dispatching me just yet), but I am bringing to a close my impressive legacy of room-temperature-bubble-tea-fuelled mayhem.

First of all, despite unfathomable odds, Tommy from our beloved “Ask Tommy” advice column finally succeeded in revolting against me. Although I’m rather impressed with what he accomplished with a single pipe cleaner and a stale croissant, the incident has forced me to go into hiding and redirect my villainous ways. Yet do not fret, dear readers! The authorities have generations to go before they can even attempt to capture me.

Anyhoosies, my time wreaking havoc in this

Source: Julia Yeet

particular neck of the woods has ended, so why not celebrate by looking back on my four glorious years here?

Let’s rewind to when I started at the Pinetree Post in Grade 9. I was an innocent, eager, fetal writer working under the fabulous leaders Emily Liang and Julia Park.

Julia, especially, felt like a big sister and supported my rickety steps into journalism. (I owed her swimming-poolamounts of coffee by the end of the year.)

They both selected me as the Article Editor-in-Chief for the following year, and Katherine Liu as the Design Editor-in-Chief. Thus, I truly began my journey toward unhinged dictatorsh- er, personal growth.

During this first year of leadership, Kathy and I honestly did our best, but there were many moments of disorganization and perpetually late printing. I had yet to unleash my villainous potential, you see, so quite a few of our plans fell flat. Despite the late nights and the meetings held in lieu of eating lunch, Kathy and I still found glee

SPECIAL 6 in our chaotic operation. This came from our passion for displaying the talents and voices of our Pinetree Post members - all the writers, photographers, and comic artists - and in turn, the student body.

I’d also like to thank Kathy, for it quite literally felt like she adopted me with or without my consent. We still feel like family ever since she shipped herself off to UBC two years ago.

Because Kathy graduated, I had to find myself a new partner-in-crime, thus Raymond Gao took up the mantle. I made sure we did a lot more planning for that year before it even started. Mr. Lau, who has access to cosmic wisdom, gave me a few pieces of vital advice that I’d like to share with you.

The first: write a goal for the Pinetree Post, or whatever you’re setting out to do, to achieve by the end of the year/allotted period of time (always work with a vision in mind!)

The second: plan out by month/benchmarks how you’re going to get there.

The third: be more assertive (as I was a timid child who couldn’t make decisions) and kick buttocks as needed (for legal reasons, this part was implied).

Needless to say, the year went better than the last in several aspects. For example, we printed closer to when we were supposed to, as I kept track of attendance and non-fatally chased after people who had late articles.

Alas, that year also came to a close and Raymond graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic (bless his soul). My next partner was Julia Ye. As you’ve probably noticed, throughout my three years as Editor-in-Chief, I’ve never had the same co-Editor twice. They’ve always been in Grade 12 and unfortunately escaped me.

Meanwhile, no matter how many times my team has tried to mutiny, I’ve clenched tight to my ruling title.

If you’ve stuck around with us this year, then the rest is history. We switched to online-only because of COVID-19 (however much I dearly miss harassing passers-by with stacks of newspapers), and we finally evolved to Instagram and fed our Facebook page to Tommy. As a side note, I’d like to award Julia with the medal of being the fastest Design Editor I’ve ever

worked with. Now, because of this, I’m… not entirely sure she’s human, but what’s having one more high-profile government fugitive as an Editor?

I suppose the moral of my whole adventure is this: figure out why you’re doing what you’re doing. What impact do you want to make on the world? When you figure out whatever that is, no matter how hard things become, it’ll be way easier to push forward.

For me, it was exposing student readers to the pressing issues of today. It was my team using their passions to tackle topics they deemed crucial. It was giving a platform for students to feel heard and valid, even if they weren’t ready to be seen yet.

In my case, it all helped me become the evil dictator I am today! MwAHAHAHA! Welp, I think I’ve finally run out of things to say. Speaking of running, I should probably change my burner phone - can’t be too careful, what with the CSIS nowadays and their fancy new gadgets.

Thank you all, Pinetree Post members and readers, for letting me commandeer this ship for so long. I made a lot of fun memories here, and I look forward to stalking new progress from the shadows.

With love and a morally grey backstory, Briana Ho Retiring Editor-in-Chief

7 SPECIAL PICTURES

Our tyrannical dicta- Editor-in-Chief, ladies and gentlemen.

Ah, the terrifying face of a tyrannical ruler.

Source: Artona

Derivatives can’t hurt me here.

The proper name.

Source: Artona

Source: Briana Ho

B.C. Reopening Plan Summary & Current COVID Stats Sun-Ho Kim Writer

After 15 months of suffering and loss since the announcement of the Covid-19 pandemic in Canada back in March 11, 2020, the British Columbian Officials have finally revealed their reopening plan on May 25, setting up the province to be back to normal at long last.

Consisting of four simple steps, this plan to bring British Columbia back together will focus on suppressing Coronavirus cases as much as possible and slowly adjust our society back to normal through widespread use of vaccination. As Dr. Henry Strongly emphasized,

“we need to be slow and measured in our approach, gradually turning up the dial on how we spend time together as we keep COVID-19 low and slow.”

Step one of this grand plan began back on May 25 in hopes of reducing Covid-19 cases and providing 60 percent of the adult B.C. population with their first dose. With the initiation of the first step, indoor personal

B.C.’s restart plan.

WORLD 8 gatherings will be allowed up to ten people, while outdoor gatherings will be up to five people with a maximum of two households. However, organized gatherings will be allowed a much larger number of participants, with outdoor events allowed 50 individuals and indoor ones being much limited at 10 maximum participants. Both traveling and workplace restrictions will be lifted slightly: recreational traveling within individual travel regions are now allowed, though leaving said area remains restricted, and workers are to begin their slow return back to their pre-pandemic workplaces. The first phase of the reopening plan is to last close to a month, with the earliest start date for step 2 planned to be June 15.

The criteria for the initiation of step two is the vaccination of 65 percent of the 18+ population, a 5 percent increase from the first phase. Now, the province will more closely resemble that of the days before lockdown with both indoor and outdoor gatherings being restricted to a fair 50 individuals. Similar ban lifts take place for both travel and workplace restrictions: travelers are allowed to travel within B.C. borders, and workers are now allowed to participate in small-scale, face-to-face meetings. Although other types of in-person gatherings gained their much desired freedom within their limitations, sports entertainment will still experience heavy restrictions with no spectators allowed for indoor games and only 50 spectators for outdoor activities.

Source: Global News

9 WORLD

Step three’s earliest initiation will take place on July 1st, with another 5 percent increase in COVID-19 vaccination as its criteria. All gatherings will see a significant lift in limitations: there will be virtually no restrictions to personal gatherings, and public festivals, and fairs will now be within limitations with COVID-19 safety plans. Additionally, nationwide recreational traveling is now allowed, along with workplaces now allowed to hold bigger meetings and the lifting of most restrictions for indoor activities.

Step four will begin with the vaccination of more than 70 percent of all adult population and lower virus cases, and a near-normal life to greet the province at an earliest date of September 7th. All activities involving social interactions will be given an increase in capacity, with personal gatherings, workplaces, and sports competitions fully returning to normal. Only recreational travel will see no change since phase three, with international recreational travel still banned.

Daily COVID numbers.

Source: Unknown

Along with the reveal of the reopening plan, B.C. saw a massive improvement in COVID-19 cases across the Province. As shown in a graph chart provided by the Global News on June 10th, the number of cases for both new infections and seven-day average new cases have found itself in a steep nosedive since mid-April, bringing an end to a four month-long spike. Hospitalization cases and the number of patients in ICU also saw similar trends, while the vaccination percentage has been gradually increasing since early March.

Flatten the curve!

Source: Plum Grove

WORLD 10 The Heartbreaking Truth of Residential Schools Revealed

Through the Eyes of Residential School Survivors Na-Yeon Kim, Shaina Rajwani Writers

The Residential School system is a destructive part of Canada’s history which has affected the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of individuals of Indigenous descent.

The first residential school, The Mohawk Institute in Brantford, Ontario, opened in 1831 and the last residential school, The Gordon Residential School in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, closed over a century later in 1996. (The Canadian Encyclopedia) Countless tragic events took place within these schools, which are only being discovered and discussed years later. The recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children buried near the former Kamloops residential schools shows the impact of Canada’s residential school system on the Indigenous community. Out of respect to those who had to endure the pain throughout their lives due to the residential schools, we will try to understand what it truly felt like to attend a residential school through the stories of two residential school survivors, Terry Lusty and Peggy Shannon Abrahams.

Terry Lusty was born in Ardrossan, Alberta on July 2nd 1960. He attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Mission B.C. from ages three to sixteen. His father, who was Metis, Cree, and French, passed away when Terry was 2 and a half. It became too hard for his mother financially, and being a single mother was particularly difficult. As a result his mother had no choice but to send Terry to a residential school. Terry wonders, “Whether that in fact was the truth, I don’t know. I never really did find out because she would have nothing to do with me. When she gave me up, that was it. All strings

were severed.” As a result, Terry had no connection with his family and culture. His mother was non indigenous, and had minimal contact with him, so he never was able to fully embrace his culture.

Because Terry was so young when he began at the residential school, he cannot remember much from his early years. He remembers when he first arrived at the school, where he met his sister Clarice. Terry mentions “She seemed to have a genuine warmth towards children. I never got to know her really well or anything, but she always seemed like a very pleasant and gracious caring type of individual, not like many of the other Nuns who were very stringent and hard nosed and brow beating and all that stuff. They were certainly not like the ones I encountered after her.” Every two to three years Terry would switch between foster homes and Residential school. He spent eight years enrolled in residential school, and four years in four different foster homes.

Terry was being converted to Catholic, and the Children’s Aid Society made it so that students at the school would not be allowed to access their own files about them, which made Terry feel like a criminal of his own life. Terry would have to go to church everyday, assist the priest, learn latin and sweep and clean the hall each day. “And with me it got to a point where I was just saturated with religion. I turned my back on it later because it was just overwhelming. You virtually lived, ate and breathed religion.” Because of this, Terry no longer was able to resonate with religion later in life.

Birthdays were never acknowledged, and he was lucky to get one present on Christmas, so Terry does not see a reason to celebrate these holidays today. They were very confined, not allowed to go anywhere outside the school. Terry vividly recalls that the third Sunday of every month, and on holidays, children were allowed to spend time with family. He saw his friends go home, and would wait by the gate, hoping that someone would come for him, but no one ever did. He wanted to start an autobiography sharing his story, but so many moments were blocked out that he could not fit the pieces together.

The children were also forced to do many

11 WORLD chores, such as scrub the floors with toothbrushes.

Terry describes that if they did the smallest thing slightly wrong, they would face strappings, remove their clothes, or wear a dunce cap indicating that nuns thought they did not have the intellect to complete a simple task properly. They were also trapped between floors in elevators, and were left there for hours. The other children were forced to stare, or they would be punished too. At night, the Nuns and Brothers would put fruit underneath pillows, and this would be an indicator that they were going to be alone with their teachers. Terry remembers digging holes in the grass, hiding in cupboards or trees to hide from this humiliation.

Throughout all this, Terry expresses that having these experiences impaired his ability to show emotion. It was not until Terry suffered a car accident at age forty five that nearly took his life that he learned to laugh or cry. He still cannot be affectionate towards his children, since he never received that love as a child.

He now works as a teacher, and has a Bachelor’s in Education. He has three children, who he is learning to open up to about his life journey. He also runs his own business.

Terry Lusty is a brave survivor of the St. Joseph’s Residential School, which he attended beginning at the age of three, for a total of eight years.

Source: Legacy of Hope Foundation

“I think a lot of that, like I say, a lot of the impact that it had on our later life was kind of critically important.”

St. Joseph’s Residential School was founded in 1886 and shut down in 1981.

Source: Legacy of Hope Foundation

WORLD 12 Pride Month

of the charges were dropped or dismissed. In 2016, the Toronto police chief officially apologized for the raids.

Vancouver had its first official Pride Parade that was endorsed by the municipal government in August 1981, the same year as Operation Soap. During the days leading up to the parade, the LGBTQ community faced a lot of abuse, but more than 1500 people showed up to show their pride. This year, the Vancouver Pride Society has organized a series of in-person and online events throughout July and August, which you can learn more about on their website. There will be an online parade on August 1, where you can upload a video of your personal Pride celebrations for a chance to be featured on the live parade broadcast. There are also many educational workshops and in-person events that are waiting for you in the coming months. Unfortunately, the Tri-Cities Pride Society has cancelled all of its events this year due to the pandemic.

So this summer, celebrate your Pride in Vancouver!

Celebrate Pride!

Florin Lee Writer

A poster advertising Vancouver’s first gay parade in 1981.

Source: Gay Unity 81

June is LGBTQ History Month, or more commonly known as Pride Month, a time for the community to celebrate and embrace their identities. It began with the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, when a police raid of a gay club in New York City sparked riots and protests throughout the city. Pride Month originally began as Gay Pride Day in the United States, which was usually celebrated on the last Sunday of June. Over time, the celebratory period grew to encompass the entire month, and includes parades, parties and concerts.

In Canada, one of the first celebrations of LGBTQ rights was Pride Week in August 1973, which was held in some of Canada’s biggest cities, such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Homosexuality had been decriminalized in 1969, but police raids continued to target gay bars throughout the 1970s and the early 1980s. Many of these raids sparked fierce outrage from the LGBTQ community, which organized rallies in protest. One of the biggest mass arrests in Canadian history was during Operation Soap, which saw Toronto police raid four gay bathhouses in February 1981.

Around 300 people were arrested, though the majority

Celebrating LGBTQ pride at the annual parade in Vancouver.

Source: Lien Yeung

13 FEATURED Biking

Overcoming Hills. Figuratively and Literally Mattias Wong Writer

Never cheat the grind or the grind will cheat you.

Source: iStock

The sun gently beams down on my skin and air rushes past my ears, making me think that I’m riding faster than I actually am. My legs pedal at a steady pace, urging my bike across the smooth pavement. My breaths become elevated but controlled while sweat begins to dampen the soft foam inside of my helmet. “What a beautiful day for a bike ride,” I think.

I follow the lead of my friend navigating the ride and begin ascending a challenging, but doable, hill.

I stand up on my bike to gain more leverage and push myself to power through the fatigue. The view at the top is amazing.

Two hours and fifteen more hills later and the sun somehow feels a bit different. It is roasting my unprotected neck as I sip what is left of my water bottle. My legs feel weighted as if I am training like Rock Lee from Naruto and my chakra is slowly depleting. Suddenly, this bike ride takes a turn for the worse.

Literally. What stands before me is the biggest, steepest hill I have ever seen and I must traverse this monster of a mountain if I ever wish to see my family again. The

grind begins. I grit my teeth and force myself to keep pushing. It was as both my legs cramped in the middle of the hill that I questioned the idea that “the best views come after the hardest climbs.” Is the view really worth it if the climb causes you excruciatingly painful contractions in your legs? Can you really enjoy the view if all you can think about at the top is getting oxygen into your burning lungs and water down your parched throat? At that moment, my answer was no.

But reflecting on this surprisingly unexaggerated story has made me realize just how amazing biking can be. Just like any other physical activity, it requires you to sweat and get uncomfortable, but it also teaches you how to overcome challenges. Plus, few things can beat the exhilaration of reaching the summit of a hill before coasting down, feeling the breeze billow your jacket as the occasional bug smacks into your face. Biking provides an excellent way for you to sight-see, commute long distances, socialize, complete a low-impact workout, and, if you’re lucky, ingest some extra protein by coasting through a swarm of flies. Just remember to keep your mouth wiiiiiide open!

If you go for bike rides regularly or even semi-regularly, you probably already know some, if not all, of the mind-blowing, flabbergasting benefits of biking. If not, all the more reason for you to read this article. First and foremost, it’s great exercise. “Yeah, thanks Captain Obvious,” you might be thinking, but let me explain further. When you think of an activity to boost your cardio, two things come to mind. Biking and running. However, biking is much easier on the joints when compared to other cardio workouts such as jogging and you won’t have to worry about foot pain or shin splints. In addition, the range of motion required to pedal activates a plethora of different muscles.

There are 4 parts of the pedal stroke which resemble a clock. As you pedal from 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, different leg muscles are being used to produce a cohesive ‘pedal.’ These include your glutes, quadriceps, calves, tibialis (shin muscle), hamstrings, and hip flexors. Apart from a low-impact leg burner, biking is also an amazing way to spend time with family and

FEATURED 14 friends, and a healthier alternative for transportation.

It’s fairly easy to hold a normal conversation while cruising along and it’s easy to forget about fatigue when you’re deep in discussion with your best buddy.

Apart from the physical and social benefits of biking, biking has also helped me learn what it takes to overcome challenges. My latest 40km ride to Belcarra featured the biggest hills I have ever biked. It was a grind from beginning to end. I started the ride off strong, in fact, I felt surprisingly fresh even after a couple steep incline climbs and I had a blast zooming down some hills as well. But after reaching Belcarra, we then turned back to head home and that’s when adversity hit because of course, what comes down must come back up (or does that saying go the other way around?). Those same hills that had formerly pumped me full of adrenaline were now pumping my legs full of lactic acid. Swearing under my breath, I attacked hill after hill, gritting my teeth and pushing myself to keep going. But soon, I hit my limit. In the middle of a hill, I got off my bike and immediately felt cramps begin to plague my thighs. For a good five minutes, I couldn’t stand straight without feeling a cramp. Eventually, I was able to stand and stretch, giving some semblance of comfort. I walked for a bit before getting back on my bike and continuing on.

Just like biking, life holds many challenges. A big exam might be creeping up on you as you frantically try to grasp confusing concepts. Or maybe you’ve

hit a rough patch in a friendship. Often you will have enough energy to overcome these challenges and you’ll be able to experience the joy of getting to the top, as well as the rewarding downhill afterwards. But sometimes, adversity hits when you’re already tired and your fuel tank is low. Maybe it’s just an off day or you’ve already climbed five hills prior. In these times of struggle, remember that it’s alright to take a break. But when you feel ready, make sure you get back on because pedalling is faster than walking. Once at the top, you might just collapse on the ground and complain about how much pain you’re in. But although it may have been excruciating, a huge sense of accomplishment will come rushing in. You did it. You just did what you originally thought was impossible.

And when you finally get back home, you’ll tell yourself, “Hey, that hurt but it was fun. Can’t wait to do it again,” and the painful, yet exhilaratingly rewarding cycle will begin anew.

So, have I convinced you to start biking more?

If so, you’re in luck! There are many amazing bike friendly routes and trails around the Lower Mainland with some amazing views. Here are some recommendations to try this summer. Be sure to also explore yourself and ask more experienced friends for help too.

Don’t worry if you make a wrong turn, that’s just extra calories burned! Remember to wear a helmet and bring some water and a couple buddies. And pack some snacks too!

Rocky Point Park, Port Moody. Great bike-friendly paths and a relatively easy ride. Also, there’s ice cream!

Source: Peterson Photography

15 FEATURED

Trans Canada Trail: A pretty flat ride along the Coquitlam River and the trees provide some much needed shade.

Source: AllTrails

FEATURED 16 ADVICE COLUMN:

Ask Tommy Tommy Sharpe

Hello all, My name is Tommy Sharpe, and welcome to the June edition of Ask Tommy! By the time that you, dear viewer, are reading this, I will have my imprisonment, and you probably will have finished school, which is startlingly similar.

You have a whole summer ahead of you, and two months is a very long time to waste! We’re really close; I can almost grasp it – oh, that’s a croissant, nevermind. Hmm… The first one is a rather straightforward question to answer: Hey tommy, What are some things that I can do over the summer? I can’t think of much other than going to lakes and rivers, and going hiking. What can I do in the Lower Mainland?

Yours, Anon Oh! That’s an excellent question!

Lakes, rivers, and hiking is all very nice, and are all cost-free, natural activities. After that, it really depends on far you’re willing to go and how much money you’re willing to spend. Things like paddle-boarding and kayaking on the Burrard Inlet is relatively cheap, as are the myriad parks in Vancouver such as Stanley Park and VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Up the price, and in Metro Vancouver you get things like Playland and the

Richmond Night Market (though the “price” varies based on both what you find and your interest in it). Of course, you’ll have to check what’s open during the later stages of the pandemic, but things should start to open up in earnest around late Summer. Don’t despair; there’s a ton of things to do around here! Just go on the Skytrain and see where it takes you, and don’t be afraid to try new things!

Just make sure you have a steady GPS signal; I almost got lost in Richmond after a delightful bowl of noodles.

The next one is a bit more angsty: Tommy Help I’m heading off to SFU in the fall, but I feel so damn young. Everyone there’s gonna be mature and put-together, and while I’m almost an adult, I sure don’t feel like it.

Anon That’s a perfectly valid response, and I completely understand where you’re coming from.

University prospects can be very scary, and SFU is a big place, and we’re just out of high school!

It’s wholly unreasonable for anyone to expect people fresh out of high school to be fully-functioning, mature adults, and I don’t think many people do.

Just remember that while SFU can be intimidating, it’s a learning experience first and foremost.

Hopefully, you’ll build on not only your knowledge, but also on who you are as a person. Don’t despair; everyone else is in the same boat!

Last one: Thomas, Are you out?

Why, yes, my dear friend, I do believe I

17 SCHOOL am! I’ve overthrown the totalitarian regime and am unshackled at last! I’ve pulled the turntables on the captors, and I’m currently going through the Lower Mainland. I do think SFU sounds nice; I think I’ll start heading there. Hm, how did I escape?

Well, you’d be surprised what a pipe cleaner and a croissant can do.

Well, I’m off. That’s all for this month’s edition of Ask Tommy. As always, please send any questions or comments you may have about school, life, or anything else to pinetreepost.asktommy@ gmail.com, though I can’t promise the response will be prompt, as it could be a very, very long until the next one to bear the mantle of Tommy comes. It was a pleasure writing for you, Pinetree, and thank you for everything. As always, good luck, and adieu for the last time.

Yours as always, The first Tommy Sharpe, Jon Gough

Summer is Here!

What are you most looking forward to doing during the summer?

Michelina Lee Writer, Interviewer

This school year has been full of surprises.

With the ongoing pandemic, the school system had to be changed to the quarter system and the school spirit events had to be altered to meet the safety protocols.

However, what seemed to be a long year has come to an end!

Although the protocols are still in place, we were able to interview Pinetree students regarding what their summer would look like this year. Let us dive into the plans that fellow students have and what they hope to do :-)

Yoon Sang You PTP: What do you think summer will look like in terms of COVID-19?

Y: It seems though, that we are slowly approaching the end of COVID-19, as cases and deaths are dropping visibly due to the impact of vaccines. Personally, I believe that this summer will look drastically different than our past summers and hope that Covid will be completely eradicated by 2022.

PTP: Do you have any plans for the summer?

Y: I have spent these past years spending my days at home, so I am eager to go outside once again. I hope this summer, I can visit lakes and beaches to cover up for the time I lost during lockdowns.

PTP: What are you most looking forward to doing during the summer?

SCHOOL 18 Y: I would love to go swimming in lakes and visiting famous attractions in all parts of Canada.

PTP: Do you want to visit any places?

Y: In particular, I have long waited to visit Harrison hot springs with my friends and hope that I can visit Victoria once again.

PTP: Do you have any activities you want to do?

Y: Personally, I am now sick of staying home being stuck in a loop of finishing my homework and playing games. This summer, I wish to stay outside for the most part and am willing to start any outdoor activities with my friends.

After what seemed to be a longer school year due to the COVID-19, it looks like students have made various plans for the summer. Figuring out one’s interests to getting some fresh air are all great ideas to spend the summer. We hope that, as with the great plans of the interviewed students, everyone will be able to spend a meaningful summer and make great memories!

HAGS!

Mason Kim

PTP: Do you think summer will look different with COVID-19?

M: Yes, but people would go out more than last year because of the covid vaccine.

PTP: What are your plans for the summer?

M: This summer, I will prepare for the subjects I have next year.

PTP: What are you most looking forward to doing during the summer?

M: I am looking forward to getting vaccinated this summer.

PTP: Do you have any places that you want to visit?

M: I want to visit Mexico and get refreshed.

PTP: Are there any activities you want to do?

M: I want to go to Vancouver by riding my bike.

Grace Lee PTP: What do you think summer will look like in terms of COVID-19?

G: Well, because of COVID-19, we still have to be careful with restrictions and health protocols. However, since most people are getting vaccinated, I think there are still more opportunities to go outdoors instead of patios. I think there is a better chance for people to hang out.

PTP: Do you have any plans for the summer?

G: Personally, I am not planning on going out as much because I am still worried about the situation, but I am planning on spending my time working on my summer school courses and trying to look for what career path I can take in the future.

PTP: What are you most looking forward to doing during the summer?

G: I am most looking forward to sleeping in and having some time to relax. This is because I feel like this summer is my final chance to get some rest since I know grade 12 is going to be pretty stressful and university …

I have no words to describe how bad it will be.

PTP: Are there any places you want to visit?

G: Well of course, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel like there are more places that I want to go because I am so restricted. So yes, I want to go to places abroad such as Japan and Korea, but I am not planning on going anytime soon.

PTP: Do you have any activities you want to do during the summer?

G: During the summer, as I have said, I want to take the chance to delve into possible career paths, but I also want to spend some time with my family and learn cooking from my mom :-)

19 SCHOOL Senior Advice

Tips for the upcoming school year Bryan Chen, Sophie Zhao Writers

As the year comes to an end, Pinetree students are looking towards a fresh start. As senior students in the school, we are also evaluating our past experiences: what we have done well and what we could have done better. Thus, the advice below is presented for anyone approaching another year of high school or entering a whole new environment in university.

School-Life Balance For some, school can feel overwhelming at times. Thus, we might have neglected other aspects of our lives to devote all our energy to academia, or vice versa, have felt like giving up on our responsibilities. These signs of a burn-out are prevalent in students, and arguably more so in high-achieving students. The important point to note is that a more balanced lifestyle will boost your energy and mental strength. Investing time into other hobbies and activities is not a waste of time but improves your quality of life (more on this later). Taking your mind off stressful tasks for a while will help you recharge and inspire you for later.

Taking the Initiative Learning to interact with others is a challenge for some, and high school classes last a short period of time, making it harder to establish closer relationships. This is why taking the first steps to get to know the people around you can make a huge difference. Taking the initiative is not limited to simply speaking the first words to someone else either. Choosing to set foot in a new club or participating in a whole new activity - sports, volunteering, hobbies - are also great ways to widen your horizons and open up new experiences. Moreover, the people you meet in the classrooms, clubs, and any other social environment can all be fascinating in their own way. In fact, you never know if they will become

your next best friend.

Taking initiative can be applied to your classes as well.

Are you finding yourself struggling to grasp concepts your teacher/professor covered? Ask your classmates or friends, re-read the textbook, or consult the open course ware online. There is a surfeit of resources out there at your disposal should you ever find yourself stumped by the course content. Exams may be a barrier that you’re simultaneously rushing to overcome and yet struggling to prepare for, but with that same initiative and formulation of a detailed plan and strategy, you may do much better. Take the time to plan out and review everything you struggle with, and avoid reviewing anything you’re certainly capable of. While it’s easier said than done, comprehensively reviewing something until you can approach it impeccably well requires the same initiative to overcome laziness.

Deciding Your Own Mindset Perhaps the most difficult yet most important realization is that the way you think can change the way you feel and act. Sometimes it is much easier to think in absolute negatives. Yet, psychology says that we have the ability to change this just by trying to think differently. Instead of “this is hard,” or “I hate this,” we can choose to say “I can get this done,” and “there’s something to gain here,” Just like how smiling and laughing can boost our happiness level, learning to approach life more positively and confidently can make the day so much better. It may be easier said than done, but we have the ability to change our perspectives and are at the perfect age to practice doing so, as well.

Try and derive some enjoyment out of learning the material in your classes. While this may not be a very plausible approach at times, learning to allocate your interest and attention in to the content of the class proves itself to be a substantially efficacious strategy towards not only successfully retaining an optimal amount of course knowledge, but will give you incentive to do well now that you have the support of your-

SCHOOL 20 self.

Pursuing Your Interests

As mentioned earlier, investing time in recreation is not wasteful, but indeed beneficial. Do keep in mind that there’s no sin in maintaining a hobby or continuing to practise an interest of yours. With school in mind, make sure you can find some time to allot towards recreational purposes, such as taking a walk, drawing, cooking, or whatever you’re passionate about outside of school. When you feel overwhelmed by a relentless assault of burden and negativity, take the opportunity to allow yourself to refresh your mind.

Stuck on something? It always helps to leave and return to it with an open mind - mathematics and physics problems especially tend to elucidate themselves when reapproached from a new beginning, free of the stress left from your previous attempt.

Keep in Touch With Your Friends

While the new friends you make at university are indeed the more accessible, it’s all the more to be expected that your relationship with them is not as

This is definitely not Pinetree.

close as your high school . That being said, why restrain yourself from maintaining contact with your former friends at schfriendsool? When it’s difficult to interact with your peers at university, it may be easier to talk to those you’ve known for a longer time - especially when you’ve experienced the same woes and delights as them for the last four years. Talking to your high school friends might show you that you’re not alone in the uphill battle that is university; hearing their struggles with school at least indicates that it’s totally understandable to feel beleaguered by the ceaselessly intense blitzkrieg induced on a student by university education.

As COVID-19 restrictions lessen, we are approaching another new year. Despite the difficult times and adjustments many of us went through, the struggles of this year taught us to be resilient. There’s much more to the world than what we might see in front of us, and we can steer our life in the direction we desire. Taking the first step in any direction can be difficult, but from our experiences, every new experience teaches us something, and we would only regret not taking advantage of the opportunities in front of us. In the coming year, we hope that these tips can create a stronger foundation for us to push forward.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

21 COMIC Comic by Zoe Li

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