Becky De Oliveira
Becoming a mother changed my life in ways that areboth profound and impossible to fully put into words. Before motherhood, my world revolved mostly around myself and my business— i was on my own schedule, striving to reach my goals, prioritizing my needs, and my sense of who I was. I had a clear vision of what I wanted from life, and I moved through the world with a sense of autonomy that felt natural and, honestly, effortless. But the moment I became a mother, everything shifted. It wasn’t just that I now had a tiny human depending
Anael Domingo
What Changed Me? The moment that truly changed the course of my life was when I made the difficult decision to drop out of the UofT and pursue my passion for becoming a wardrobe stylist. At the time, I was a year into a university program that I had no real interest in. I went through the motions, trying to convince myself that it would all be worth it in the end, but deep down I knew I wasn’t following a path that made me feel fulfilled or excited. I made the bold choice to take a
Tatiana Chisolm
The day I got my first solo apartment changed everything. I grew up in the Bronx—aka NYC—which was always loud, colorful, and full of life. But behind that energy, my own childhood was filled with heavy experiences: surviving cancer, facing periods of homelessness, and carrying emotional weight far too big for my small frame. For years, I never had the chance to let my nervous system slow down, breathe, and process any of it. I was always surviving—never just being. That all shifted the day I moved into my own apartment. It was small, barely decorated, and not
ISIE YANG
I’ve always appreciated visual culture from a young age. I loved going to the library to look at picture books, staring at pretty storefront displays, and watching animated movies. My favourite hobby was always drawing, and I filled my household to the brim with art supplies. I never really gave much thought to my future until I heardother people around me lifting me up and encouraging my work. Ever since I could hold a pen to paper, I have been drawing. I guess that it paid off, because I received my very first A+ in Visual
Alexander Panetta
The Soundtrack of My Life My name is Alexander Panetta, and I am a 21-year-old musical artist, dancer, choreographer, and photographer. I grew up in Mississauga, a city just west of Toronto, where my earliest memories are intertwined with music. My parents often tell me stories of how, as a toddler in a stroller, I would bop my head and dance to the beats of songs playing in stores at the mall. Their love for music became mine, and they introduced me to legendary artists whose songs quickly became my favourites. Before bed, I remember my dad
Chris Munro – A Weekend at Ramona’s
Which Moment Changed Your Life? For me, Chris Munro, everything changed when Ben Nunes and I decided to take music seriously. Before that, music had always been part of my life—I played in bands, picked up different instruments, and spent hours figuring out how songs worked. But there’s a difference between playing music and committing to it. That shift happened when Ben and I started A Weekend at Ramona’s and realized we weren’t just messing around anymore—we were building something real. I’d been involved in music for as long as I could remember. Growing up, I had
Ameer B
From when I first touched a turntable and a mic, I knew I had something different to offer. Music has always been more than just sound to me.It has been my voice, my escape, my therapy. It’s the medium through which I’ve processed emotions, overcome challenges, and connected with others. I never wanted to be boxed into one style or sound. Instead, I made it my mission to master the art of blending genres—seamlessly moving from hip-hop to house, afrobeats to pop, soca to dancehall, and everything in between. My sets aren’t just about playing songs; they’re about
Kay Crerar
The Daydreamer "You’ll need to think more realistically." I was 21 when that phrase hit me like a ton of bricks. It felt as if the floor had given out beneath me, leaving me drawing a blank. I sat across from the doctor, whose only attempt at comfort was sheepishly holding out a box of Kleenex as I wiped away the tears I hadn’t even realized were spilling down my cheeks. We had been discussing how my medical symptoms were affecting my daily tasks and how severely they impacted my ability to keep up with my university
LEINA COMEAU
From rock bottom to resilient: how fitness gave me my life back WHO AM I My name is Leina, and I’m a personal trainer with a background in psychology, blending my passion for women’s mental and physical health. I grew up active—any sport, you name it! My family made sure of it, not just with sports but with endless “functional training” disguised as yard work or sparring with my brothers in and out of karate class. I was always kept on my toes—literally. They toughened me up in ways I didn’t realize I’d need. THE PHYSICAL STRUGGLE At 16,
AKIRA DAWN
Every Path is Meaningful –My Two Careers That Have Nothing to Do with My Two Degrees Be yourself—don’t let the world change you.You are amazing simply because you are who you are right now. The decisions we make at each stage of life hold equal power in shaping who we are today. We are the sole passengers on the ship of growth, and every small victory deserves to be celebrated—no one can take that away. As an immigrant who moved to Canada alone at 18, I never cried over homesickness; instead, I embraced the freedom of being away
