For many, anxiety and stress can be debilitating. It can lead to a number of physical symptoms that prevent you from being fully present in the moment.
Double standard of the dress code
By Emma Hunter, Youth Speak NewsIn recent years, there has been public debate about the need for dress code reforms, particularly for female workers in the restaurant industry. Workers and restaurant patrons have complained that it is unfair for female servers and staff to be forced to wear short skirts and high heels as part of the establishment’s dress code standards. This issue hinges on discrimination towards female workers, as their male counterparts often don’t have the same dress code requirements.
Pitfalls of looking for the perfect guy
By Francisco Uy, Youth Speak NewsI recently read an article written by a Catholic teen girl and what she believes every Catholic teen guy should be. She listed off things that (I agree) should be the foundation of any relationship, such as being faithful and respecting each others’ values.
Learning from my temptations
By Maria Montemayor, Youth Speak NewsDuring Lent, we are all like Jesus, starving in the desert and being asked to turn stone into bread. But we must choose each and every time to say no. Even in the “Our Father” we ask God to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” But why must we face temptations during Lent and how do they shape us?
This Lenten season I decided to give up Facebook and YouTube videos. The reason was simple. I wanted to be more productive. So, I resolved to liberate myself from procrastination and to purposefully get work done.
Learning from past mistakes
By Melanie Lamarca, Youth Speak NewsIndigenous youth face a lot of harsh realities even in today’s school system and it has made me think about the new responsibilities that Clayton Shirt will face as the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s first-ever elderin- residence. Shirt, a member of the Cree First Nation, will be providing insight into the indigenous culture and act as a resource the school board has not had access to in past years.
True faithfulness and gratitude
By Steven Travale, Youth Speak NewsAs I ran down a dirt road in the village of Nandarola, Nicaragua, I could hear the bus approaching behind me, its air horn tauntingly blowing. With four-year-old Miguel on my shoulders, the two of us were racing the bus back to his small house. It was the last day of my visit to this remote community. It was a poignant moment, waving goodbye to the mothers and children — Miguel included — as we left, and one of many fulfilling and joyful experiences I had in Nicaragua.
What does ‘Amen’ mean?
By Julia Swist, Youth Speak NewsLike any other Sunday I sat in those wooden benches, eagerly waiting for the priest to take his place at the pulpit and give his homily. Impatiently drumming my fingers against the wooden edge, I looked around the church.
Beyond your resolutions
By Julie Hall, Youth Speak NewsLent is a season which seems to always start strong in our hearts, and then gradually falls apart throughout our time of suffering alongside Jesus. We are now starting our journey. We already binged on pancakes a few days ago and a good few of us decided to give up either candy, chocolate, television or cellphones. (I’ll pray for you guys, don’t worry.)
Compassion for our fellow man
By Regina Contreras, Youth Speak NewsThe mass shooting that claimed four lives in La Loche, Sask., and injured seven more on Jan. 22 was a horrific tragedy.
In defense of faith and reason
By Robert Adragna, Youth Speak NewsThe spring of 1633 was a time of controversy in the Catholic Church. The Inquisition had decided to bring a Florentine scientist named Galileo Galilei to trial for authoring a book that declared the heliocentric model of the universe as unequivocally correct, which contradicted the Church’s teachings at the time.
The gift of friends in faith
By Maria Montemayor, Youth Speak NewsWith the start of a new year, what has become increasingly evident to me is how fortunate I am to have strong, faith-filled female friends.