Cawthra Park LEAP tumblr.

LEAP is a student run organization leadership and social justice club. Based on a “Me to We” philosophy, LEAP strives to create awareness on social and political issues and to develop student leadership skills. We want the students of Cawthra to get excited about making a difference in their community and empower them with the knowledge and skills to be responsible citizens. We hope to create enthusiastic leaders who will in turn empower others.

I’m in love with you, and I’m not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I’m in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we’re all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we’ll ever have, and I am in love with you.

— John Green (The Fault in Our Stars)

(Source: shadocrytr)

apeculiarsprezzatura: Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly. 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. The questions raised: *In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? *Do we stop to appreciate it? *Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made… How many other things are we missing?

apeculiarsprezzatura:

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities.

The questions raised:

*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

*Do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made…

How many other things are we missing?

TEDxYouth @ Toronto

You go along with your daily routine everyday. Get up, go to school, go home, do homework (maybe procrastinate), watch some TV, then go to sleep and repeat the cycle.

 On Sunday, a selected 150 youth from the GTA broke their weekend routine to experience a day of inspirational TED Talks (similar to those on http://www.ted.com). They were showered with inspirational speakers meant to trigger the ‘Power of One’ potential that they all possess.

 Each speaker, from the young high school student researcher for the ‘Hospital for Sick Children’ Marshal Zhang, to activists Rob Stewart (director of the documentary ‘Sharkwater’), Simon Jackson (founder of Spirit Bear Youth Coalition) the Water Brothers (Alex and Tyler Mifflin , hosts of the upcoming series ‘Water Brothers’) opened the minds of the youth in ways that  they could have never experienced without TEDx.

 The day was not merely listening to enlightening public figures however. Team building and reflection exercises were scattered throughout the day to keep the minds into the action and true purpose of the day.

 Great business minds such as Arlene Dickinson from CBC’s Dragon’s Den, Jordan Banks (managing director of Facebook Canada), and Dani Reiss (CEO of Canada Goose) shared their life experiences of hard work and determination. They proved that with motivation, passion and hard work, you can accomplish anything in this world. No matter where you are brought up, or who your parents are.

 The participants were not limited however to merely listening to the speakers; they were able to meet them face to face, talk about their views in greater depth, and also to pose for a few pictures that would solidify the memories forever. I personally got to talk to the ‘Water Brothers’ over a great lunch break filled with topics from their show, to the primetime hit ‘Modern Family’.

 After Ziya Tong (host of Daily Planet) had enlightened us all with her exceptional speaking skills, I got the privilege to take her fish ‘Luigi’ home (she used him as a metaphor during her presentation, and gave him up to me to take care of).

 Also in attendance were the great minds of

Dr. Anthony Watanabe, (Founder and CEO of Innovolve Group), Haroon Mirza (Co-founder and CEO of CognoVision) and Corey Atkinson (motivational speaker and MC of TEDxYouth Toronto)

Overall, I will never forget the day that I met my heroes, and was inspired by the immense amounts of motivational power at the Ontario Science Center on November 20th 2011.

 I believe Rob Stewart best sums up the events of the day when he said, “Challenge the status quo, and figure out how to change the world yourself.”

 TEDxYouth @Toronto is an annual event, I definitely encourage you to apply next year, and experience this great event. I know I will. 

-Jocelyn D

power of the people

power of the people