I got an A+ for this U of T paper!

I know it's bad to flex, but this is my blog so I can do whatever I want here. I wanted to share an essay I wrote recently for a literature class in first year at the University of Toronto. The professor gave us an open-ended essay assignment. We were allowed to write about anything we wanted as long as it was inspired by something from the assigned reading. I took a brief quotation from Hannah Arendt's The Human Condition and put my own spin on it. I'm really proud of my paper because I did really well on it, so if any of you want to read it I'll add the link here. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FSgHtjqHKKAJ7xZWsD3qY_LDCjx2eu3OYRKlIqwGXeE/edit?usp=sharing

By the way, if any of you are planning to attend the University of Toronto and want to be English majors and/or are really serious about creative writing, take some courses taught by Al Mortiz. If you sign up for the Vic One program first year which has a supplementary application and a selection process, choose the Northrop Frye stream which focuses on literature. In later years, Al Moritz teaches poetry classes where you have to submit a portfolio of poems to get accepted. I'm considering it. Hopefully if I decide to apply, I'll get in :)

In my journey to become a prolific writer, I'll be sharing lots of tips on this blog so that I can encourage other writers. Remember to seize all opportunities that come your way!

Toronto's Hidden Gem: an Authentic Indigenous Craft Market

Here's a fun fact. The only dreamcatchers that actually prevent nightmares are the authentic ones you can buy from indigenous artisans. All other dreamcatchers, including the ones at the dollar store that are made in China, were designed to give you even more nightmares. Of course I'm just kidding, but I'm serious about the fact that you should support indigenous artisans. When you buy authentic cultural crafts, you're helping to keep the culture alive. When there's a high demand for dreamcatchers, jewelry, and moccasins, more of those items will be produced. Also, don't worry about the cost. The items are handmade, so you're definitely getting your money's worth. It's also not considered cultural appropriation if you get your accessories straight from the people whose culture they are from. 

Lots of people I know would love to buy art from First Nations people, but they don't know where to go to find them. So I'm going to tell you about a place in Toronto. It's called the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. There are always a few good products on sale made by indigenous people, as well as huge craft markets that take place around four times a year. You can also learn languages with the Anishinabe and Mohawk language lessons. It's also a great place to volunteer your time. I definitely recommend planning a trip now.