One of the most important lessons the fellowship taught me is that you don’t need a perfect plan or a large platform to begin. I used to believe meaningful change required waiting—for the right idea, the right time, or the right level of confidence. This experience showed me that starting small isn’t a weakness. It’s often how change becomes possible.

In the chaos of school hallways and online chat rooms, words are increasingly weaponized in the classroom. More and more frequently, young students use harmful and hateful language; words echoed online find their way into schools, causing harm far deeper than many of their users understand.

Moving out of your parents' house for the first time is both the most exciting step into adulthood and a scary path full of unknown and hard lessons waiting around every corner. From navigating new friendships to learning how to live independently, everything feels like a first in this new chapter of life.

by Abbigale Kernya for The 44 North Managing Editor Students tossing their graduation caps in the air. To be honest, I don’t really know.    What comes after four hard, draining years besides a pile of debt and a sense that everywhere you step is the wrong direction? It’s a strange sort of navigation to move past everything that defined you as an adult: the transition from teenager to student to know a third unknown, unfamiliar identity. Who am I now? Who am I supposed to be

It’s no secret that exam season can be incredibly stressful for students – there’s a reason so many middle-aged professionals still have anxiety dreams about finals! Balancing school, studying, jobs, friends, relationships and just, ‘life’, alongside the expectations of ourselves and our loved ones, can be a lot to manage.

by Mikaela Brewer, for The 44 North Senior Editor Mikaela Brewer  is a multidisciplinary writer, poet, speaker, researcher, and mental health advocate & activist. Children sitting at desks listening to the teacher. As back-to-school season approaches, our discussions and preparation tend to centre current students. This isn’t a bad thing, of course, but we wondered about all the former students who became high school teachers, music teachers, elementary school teachers, profe

Young people, especially students (and their allies), have always been at the frontier of fighting for values-based economic stability.

Nearly three years ago, I wrote a piece reflecting on my first year in university. I wrote about the fear that comes with opening a new chapter in your life, the constant struggle of wondering if you made the right decision or not, and the debilitating loneliness of post-secondary that I never heard people talk about before I went off to school.

As someone who has had a learning disability for the majority of her life, studying did not always come easy. I often struggled knowing where to start if I had an upcoming test or even a small quiz to study for. Over the years, however, I learned how to organize myself in a way that made studying less overwhelming and more enjoyable.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, a little stunned by the mountain of tasks in front of you and then turned to face those around you to see an ocean of calm faces?

I still remember walking down the halls in ninth grade and thinking, wow, this is it. It seemed like this was my forever, an array of soft-toned metal lockers and linoleum floors. And even though I knew I would graduate and move on, I didn’t actually think it would ever really happen. High school feels like forever, but once you’re out, you begin to realize how fast everything went. Make the most of the precious last few years you will spend as a kid...

First off: yes, everybody is just as scared as you. Your trembling hands and shaky breath is normal, everyone else is trying just as hard to hide it too.