Toronto Metropolitan University Journalism Applicant Essay pt.1 & 2

I have always been interested in writing and reading as well as the importance of delivering information. My father is an English teacher therefore information, books, politics and art have always taken a heavy role in my upbringing. I write poetry, songs and general creative writing and am very passionate about politics. Writing Essays in school was always my favourite task and when teachers assured us that a five paragraph essay was enough to talk about the most broad topics in the world, I insisted on writing at least a page or two more. In my mind, "What would you change about Canada's federal incarceration system?" cannot be answered in two pages or less. Books and reading have played a huge role in the way I think. I have been majorly influenced by writers like Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen and George Orwell. Almost all the books I read revolve around similar themes; artists, mental health and oppression. My favourite book is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. This book came to me later in my life, ironically in public school, a place that I found discouraged free thought. I love this book because it was the first book that challenged my perception of the world. This book made me think deeply about systems visible to me. It was, unfortunately, easy to make connections between the book and the real world. This book also inspired me to read a few of George Orwell's Essays, each commenting on the corruption and social injustices he saw as he travelled across the world. I believe that art, whether it's visual arts, music, or writing, that its main purpose is to portray perspective and expose ideas never seen before. A journalist who inspires me is Nellie Bly (1864-1922). Nellie Bly created the idea of Investigative Journalism. She was a Journalist who pushed the boundaries that women were confined to and put her own life in danger to spread the truth. Nellie Bly pretended to be insane (which, for women back then, meant showing signs of distress) and committed herself to an insane asylum after hearing rumours of abuse within mental institutions. She was so affected by the abuse she experienced and the women that were forever confined there, that she not only wrote the article she was assigned but also wrote an entire book on the subject. Nellie Bly inspires me to write not just for myself but for other people. I think Journalism is fundamental to giving voices to people who need it and Nellie Bly did exactly that. This concept is especially relevant in the state of our current world. I think journalism will be a great topic of study that will fulfill many of my passions. With stories on climate change and bigotry becoming more common as the stakes are getting higher, I would love to help people understand the world around them so that they too can help towards a better world. Providing people with truth is one of the most important pieces of democracy and I would love to be a part of such a vital field.

Covid was a difficult time for me and so many other people. The beginning of tenth grade was when I began to really get involved in school activities and tried my best to push past the social anxiety that held me back. I was in my high school musical and picked up a form for soccer try-outs that were supposed to happen after March break. Unfortunately they were put on hold due to Covid and until my last semester of high school none of these activities continued, Kawartha Pine-ridge being one of the last school zones to lift restrictions. I tried my hardest throughout Covid to stay connected to my community, I began volunteering in 2021 at the local food bank, and continued to work at my cafe job which is a very important place for the elderly community in my town. During Covid my Grandparents moved into my house. I kept my contacts low for their safety which restricted me from doing extra curricular activities even as things started to open up. Music, writing and going on walks saved my mind during the pandemic, and I felt lucky to have such outlets and live in a safe home. Covid slowed down and finally I graduated high school and I had the opportunity to sing Oh Canada for my graduation, which was the first time I had performed since before the Pandemic. I knew that I wanted to take a gap year since I began high school. Not because I hated learning, I love it, but because I knew that a gap year would provide me with so many life changing opportunities. I was determined to start my gap year off with something that pushed my boundaries and the Berklee Aspire- 5 week program did exactly that. That summer changed me as a musician and a learner. I met people from all over the world who had the exact same passion as me. It felt so good to be so far away from my home town and feel confident in the idea that there truly IS more out there. An idea I had been ritualizing to myself for the past four years. There was not a single person there who had similar backgrounds yet we were all so similar at heart. Not only was this the most fun experience I had but it was one of the most challenging. The whole experience was exhausting as well as exhilarating. It consisted of late nights studying and playing in practice rooms just to wake up at 8:00 for an 8:30 theory exam and then rush to another building to practice with your ensemble until 6:00 or 7:00 when your academic day would end and the open mics would begin. When I got back home I was completely changed and it made me so much more optimistic and ambitious towards life in general. When I came home I was determined to make this year the most productive year to do the things that I love to do, make some money and see a little bit of the world. I came home much more confident. I was in a Christmas Concert and am looking forward to playing Little Red Riding Hood in Into The Woods come February. I started a Blog where I can post my writings. I traveled to New York with my best friend. This being my first trip without my parents, completely funded by myself and I can’t wait to travel more. I have applied for the Woofer Program in Switzerland, because even though I don’t think I will want farming to be my life long career, I think it will be a great way to get perspective into the agricultural industry, meet amazing people and see the world. I feel like I am learning more this year than I had in high school about the world and about myself. I am no longer bound by what others think and I feel like I am truly taking control of my life and am excited to take all the experiences from this year into my academic journey next year!