When my team first considered starting up a youth-written blog, we had no idea how much it would take off! We have had 35 high school students sign up since March 11, and over a dozen of them are already writing their first posts. We thought it would be cool to let these individuals tell you a little bit about themselves:
Margarita
My name is Margarita, and I’m a 15-year-old 10th-grade student in Toronto. I enjoy spending my time reading and analyzing books to improve my English skills. Since I’m an ESSL student that came to Canada 3 years ago, it may be more challenging for me to do work than others. However, I am a fast learner and capable of finishing my projects with a good result on time. By looking at the past, I can say that my English improved a lot and now I am on the same level as other kids. I have high grades in my Academic English classes (90-95%), which proves that I am hardworking and very adaptable to the new environment. My goal is to provide my help and opinion to my community through volunteering. Not long ago, I applied for my other volunteer work as a tutor for a grade 3-5 kids program through online meetings. Thus, I am a very good explainer and would do a good job communicating and explaining things to others.
I am very grateful and happy to volunteer and help you. I chose this opportunity because the very idea of blogging about topics that interest or excite you is an opportunity to share your interests and voice your opinion. Also, we can connect with others and find new audiences, clients and friends who share our interests. Writing about important topics of relevance to my audience not only makes me an authority on the field but also improves my professional image and helps develop my writing and communication skills. I think this is a great chance for everyone to speak up, especially in these challenging times when digital communication is the main platform for communicating with the world.
Mehavi
Hello! My name is Mehavi, and I’m from Pickering. I enjoy writing, and it’s one of my greatest passions. I want to spread awareness and information about environmental topics that will cause positive effects.
Mia
Hey, my name is Mia! I’m turning 15 late April, I’m from Mississauga, Ontario and I’m a youth blogger for WR School Food Gardens. I like to find new hobbies, read some books and plan my future. I’m excited to grow my environmental interest and get some valuable experience in writing. Glad to be a part of this team!
Jenny
Hi! My name is Jenny and I am a junior high school student in Toronto. My hobbies include reading novels, long walks with my dog Iris, and painting. My interests are in the STEM field more specifically, engineering. I am interested in becoming a biomedical engineer to construct medical technology that can one day save lives. I have always had a passion to share my concerns on environmental issues. I was even an “earth ranger” as a kid, a program that spreads awareness on endangered animals. Instead of only sharing my thoughts about the environment with peers, family, and friends, I also wanted to share my thoughts publicly and bring change however, I did not know how to or where to start. After doing some research, I found this incredible team. Waterloo Region School Food Gardens has given me and others a great opportunity to bring awareness and knowledge about gardens, agriculture, sustainability, environment & climate change, food literacy, pollinators, and nutrition. I am truly honored to be part of this team and together, to bring a change in our community.
Jessica
Hello! My name is Jessica and I am currently in grade 9. I like to draw, play the piano, and garden as well. I have a cat, rabbit, and a hamster. In my school, I am a part of the green club. I stumbled across this position on a website and decided to apply. I like the environment and I could earn volunteer hours too, so it seemed like the perfect activity for me to do. This is my first time writing a blog so I can’t wait to get started!
Kiya
Hi! My name is Kiya and I am a grade 8 student in Waterloo. I have been volunteering with Waterloo Region School Food Gardens since 2019. I was a School Food Farmers market leader that year and it was fun. Because of COVID I have a lot of free time these days so thought I’d try something new by writing for WRSFG. I care a lot about animals and the environment, and want to learn more about how food plays a role in protecting both of these things. I can also get a head start on my volunteer hours this summer which is perfect!
Zoe
Ello! My name is Zoe. I have two baby kittens, both british shorthairs! One is Boba and the other is Greyy (they are adorable). I LOVE to read, and yet I am the worst at spelling. I’ve also sincerely considered becoming a doctor or a teacher just so I could get away with the mess I call my handwriting.
I help out my grandma with her garden sometimes(yummy, yummy veggies) and she’s one of the reasons why I decided to take this position! The other is that I want to pick up writing again and I felt this would be the perfect place to start. I have absolutely no idea where I want to go for post-secondary school or what I want to do, however isn’t that all a part of life? (… but maybe a teacher eheh)
Have the nicest day,
Zoe Chen
Jeffrey
Hi, my name is Jeffrey and I’m a blog writer for Waterloo Region School Food Gardens. I personally really enjoy writing and creating posts that provide a lot of detail and light on various topics, especially when the topic is something important to many. I hope I can spread insightful and detailed information on these topics, which will hopefully help people all over.
Fatimah
Hi there! I’m a seventeen-year-old high schooler who has had a passion for writing since I was nine. As a vintage and book lover, I spend my spare time composing poetry, writing my coming-of-age novel and painting landscape canvases. More often, I train and teach as a black belt in taekwondo and spend time exploring the beauties of Ontario’s nature.
Aiva
Hi, I’m Aiva. I am 15 and I live in Waterloo. I have been volunteering with WRSFG since 2019. I like to read, write and draw in my free time. I also do nature/animal photography and will be volunteering as a photographer with WRSFG this summer, too.
Trisha
Hello everyone,
My name is Trisha and I am a ninth-grader in Guildwood. I enjoy the arts, video games, specifically all of the Assassin’s Creed series, and also gardening! I am excited to be a part of this opportunity and I look forward to meeting other individuals who share the same passion for the environment!
Christina
Hi guys! I’m Christina – an aspiring engineering student and avid puzzler (cryptic crosswords are, simply put, the greatest thing ever invented!) currently living in downtown Toronto. I have some gardening experience (my family and I have a small vegetable garden on our patio) – but my real *passion* lies with making environmental science and food chemistry accessible (and interesting!) to all. I’m a firm believer in the power of individuals – and know that mind-boggling, transformative societal change starts by talking to real people 🙂 When I’m not battling my way through tests and assignments, I enjoy improvising jazz numbers on the family piano & walking through rainy boulevards with my cherished polkadot umbrella.
Arhona
I’m a Grade 9 student in Waterloo, ON, Canada. I’m passionate about Science and Technology. I like to learn new Computer programming languages like Python, Arduino (similar to C/C++), etc. I am always curious about various natural phenomena and am enthusiastic in finding innovative solutions to real-life problems.
I was awarded Aspirations in Computing Canada 2021 award by National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Regional Award at Waterloo-Waterloo Science and Engineering Fair, Canada in 2020.
My hobbies include music and painting. I believe in the popular quote by Victor Hugo “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
Zinnia
Hey everyone! My name is Zinnia, and I’m a highschool student from southern Ontario. I absolutely love nature and take it as my inspiration. Even my name, Zinnia, is the name of a flower! I am super excited to be a part of the blog writer team. I will try my best to contribute a new writing piece for every publication date. My blogs will be a combination of stories, informative pieces and even tips for gardening. I look forward to this!
We are so proud to have such a talented and diverse group of young people working with us this year! And, with so many voices to be heard, we’ve decided to change up our posting schedule from biweekly to weekly. That’s right, there will be a new post every single week. So keep an eye out on Thursday evenings to hear from the bright and inspiring folks above and plenty of others who we have yet to introduce.
Rayna Almas is a program developer with WRSFG