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Lesson 15, Task 4: What Do I Believe In?

In the modern world, we live in, fashion trends are playing an influential role in how individuals express and separate themselves from others. This has become an issue for schools all over the globe because students want to wear stay up to date on trends and clothing that best capture their personality but may not be best suited for a school environment. Students should be comfortable with the clothing they are wearing, however in suitable and appropriate attire for an educational learning environment. I believe that dress codes are necessary and should be implemented in schools. Dress codes will teach students self-value and respect, lessons on obeying rules, and reduce the causes of jealousy and bullying.

When there is no dress code policy students have the freedom to dress as how they please to express themselves, which may not be appropriate for school. Students should be allowed to have the freedom to express themselves but to a certain extent. In an environment where one is given the opportunity to learn, students should not need to have the urge to wear short shorts, pants sagging to their thighs or clothing items with inappropriate language. There are many other options for individuals to express themselves such as; joining the drama club, art club, environmental club and etc. There is no need to reveal so much skin and offend others when the main purpose is to get an education. Having a dress code will teach individuals to respect others and also respect themselves.

I believe that it is important to teach students the value of respecting and obeying rules. By having a dress code policy in place, it is going to teach students to follow rules and learn that their actions will have consequences if the rules are broken. Just in real life when a person is disobeying the law, they are punished for their crime. Students need the chance to make mistakes in order for them to grow and develop. It will give students a reality check on how it is like to live in the “real world” when rules are broken. Majority of high school students want to be treated as adults. This would be a perfect example for students to understand what it is to be adults. It is not all fun and games. Also, it will give the students an opportunity to mature and have a decent amount of respect for authority.

Often in school, especially in high school, students like to wear what is trending and the latest styles in season. There may be students who may not like the new trends and styles or cannot afford them, therefore refers to old regular jeans and shirts. In some cases, students can be teased and bullied for not looking or wearing what everyone else is wearing. By having a dress code policy, it can lessen the chances of students getting bullied and picked on. It can also reduce the risk of students being robbed. Students may want to wear their expensive jewellery, shoes, and accessories to school but that could create jealousy with other students resulting in a robbery of that student’s items.

In conclusion, I think it is best to have a dress code policy in place at schools. Personally, I felt that they helped prevent comparison in my school which prevented a lot of bullying. It will teach students self-value and respect, lessons on obeying rules, and reduce the potential for conflicts. Students should feel comfortable in the clothing they are wearing but not to the point where it is going to cause harm and disrespect to others. Dress codes will teach students the importance of obeying rules and will give them the opportunity to create high values for their self.

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Lesson 15, Task 2: What Has Influenced Me?

Living in Canada, a diverse community, you get to explore and experience many different types of cultures. Culture plays an important role in shaping the person you become, and it sets the morals, values, standards, and perspectives you form as an individual. As you grow you learn the customs and social norms of your culture and those of the cultures around you. Born and raised in Canada I was blessed to have the opportunity to learn about and embrace many other cultures as well as my own. My parents are from the same ethnic background and were raised in the same country, however, their perspective, values, and standards are viewed differently than mine.  Social norms back in the 1980’s, are no longer standard social norms now and the younger generation today has a more modern perspective on life. Living in such a diverse society has not only allowed me to explore other cultures but also allowed me to stay true to who I am and where my family is from.

Living in such a diverse and multicultural city like London Ontario, many types of cultures are exposed. For example, when you go to the food count in Masonville mall you’ll see a variety of options: Greek, Chinese, Indian, Thai cuisine, KFC, all the way to the classic New York Fries. It might just be because of my French-Canadian roots, but nothing is better to me than poutine. I feel that French Canadian food is warm and comforting like the people of the heritage. French Canadian foods that my mom makes are split-pea soup, poutine, cretons, butter tarts, tourtiere, and meat pies. I’d much rather have poutine at New York fries than a hamburger and fries at McDonald's. I’m always up for trying food from other cultures but I will always gravitate towards French-Canadian cuisine.

Fashion has become such a significant aspect in creating your identity and expressing who you are as an individual in this world. Having been raised in a Christian family, my parents instilled in both my siblings and I standards on how we should present ourselves so that we will represent our family well. I was taught to respect myself and to build a reputation that others would respect as well. Wearing a short skirt to school, for example, would not be the best image on how I would want others to view me. Living in the world we live today fashion trends change day in and day out and sometimes we want to fit in like everyone else and not always feel like the anomaly. When I was in elementary school, I would wear skinny jeans and a t-shirt every day because that was the trend at the time. Now I rock a messy bun, with a dress paired with sneakers because that is fashionably acceptable and in style. My fashion influences come from almost anywhere, magazines, movies, people on the streets, my family and friends, and Pinterest. A person’s sense of style can say a lot about their identity. It exhibits their personality, standards, and culture.            

In London, many families, extended families, and blended families live in modern brick homes, either in detached, semi-detached, apartments or townhouses. I grew up in an old brick home with my immediate family, which is normal in our society. As the years went by the styles continued to change. Living in the year 2019 everyone is going for a more modern look. When my family remodelled our home, we changed everything from the windows, doors, light fixtures, tiles, bathrooms, bedrooms, to the kitchen to make the house have a modern feel. When I redecorated my room, I ditched the purple walls, took out the carpets in place for hardwood floors because all those things were out of style. When I saw how some of the rooms were designed in magazines and at stores, like Leon’s, I wanted my room to look like that too.

In my free time, I love to cook. My family enjoys cooking and of course eating! It’s just always been one of the ways that we bond together. Growing up I would always watch my mom cook and asked her to teach me at the age of eight. Back in the day if you were a girl, cooking was one of the things you knew how to do. The standards have changed because it is no longer a requirement for girls to know how to cook but I truly enjoy making food and love giving it to others.

Entertainment has not changed very much in the past few decades. When I was a child, I grew up watching cartoons every morning with my siblings. Now we watch Netflix series, like Stranger Things 3 together. I feel as though entertainment can be useful in bringing the family together but if used unproperly it can also become very toxic to a person. It’s too easy to use entertainment to procrastinate. Netflix binging is a real thing, and it’s something that I have to personally be careful about. It’s easy to want to turn on the tv when you’ve had a long day at work because it allows you to not have to think and allows your mind to shut down.

Overall, it’s a blessing to me to live in a multicultural environment. I would not be the same person I am today without my cultural influences in my life and the influences of other cultures around me.

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Lesson 15, Task 1: Where Do I Live?

Where Do I Live?

Ilderton, Ontario, home to over three thousand people, sits just a few minutes north of London and half-way between Lake Erie and Lake Huron. It was a rural community of just a few hundred people in the eighties but is now home to over thirty-five thousand people due to the high demand of affordable living space close to the city yet far enough away to still maintain its village feel.

Ilderton was first put on the map when Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue won gold at the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver. This was the first time that I felt pride for my small town. The celebration for our Olympians was something I’ll never forget. Hundreds of people gathered at the local community centre to watch history being made. News stations broadcasted the victory and the town's reaction internationally. This wasn’t just a small town anymore; it was the home of Olympians. Ilderton honoured our gold medalists with a parade and statues of the Olympic rings at each of the four entrances to the town, and the fifth one was placed at the local arena where Scott and Tessa practised most of their lives. A victory like this brought the community of Ilderton closer than ever before.

Continued, managed growth makes Ilderton a hot-spot for new homeowners and the town has become a very desirable place to live. Because of this growth, Ilderton is becoming more diverse each year. Although a recent held census doesn’t provide much information on the ethnicity of Ilderton, it is very evident when you walk down the streets that this small community has grown to become more diversified due to all the development and expansion. From 2011 to 2016 Ilderton grew 9.6%. Ilderton has changed drastically from the time my family and I moved here seventeen years ago. Since we moved here three subdivisions have been built, a set of lights was installed at the main intersection, and a Tim Hortons was built. I believe that Ilderton has grown so much in the last seventeen years because people love being a part of a small-town community. People also love being tucked away in the country, yet only minutes away from the city.

Although the community of Ilderton is thriving, it does face the issue of lack of employment. The majority of the community is made up of youth primarily between the ages of 15 and 18, and even though the town has many businesses such as the flower shop on the main street or the Tim Hortons at the main intersection, there are not enough positions for every youth to be able to have a steady part-time job. To resolve this issue, I feel that Ilderton should invest in building a local grocery store to supply more jobs for the youth of the town. I feel that my community has already taken the first step to supply jobs for the youth of Ilderton by building a Tim Hortons, and as of September 1st, 2019 a Subway will be opening to provide even more job opportunities for the community. Until that time, London is conveniently less than ten minutes away and holds lots of opportunities for jobs from stores like Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Bulk Barn. Ilderton is a growing village and the community is full of optimism regarding its future.

Ilderton will always be home for me, and I hope for it to be for many others like myself. In seeing how much it's grown and developed in the last seventeen years, I wonder where It will be in another ten. My hope for this community is that it continues to expand and grows to make room for even more families to be able to enjoy living in such a quaint town. Moving forward, I hope that Ilderton invests in creating more businesses to help provide more job opportunities for the youth of the community.