Hi, my name is My name is Maxwell Evans & I am a Happy Human Rep. This is my first year being in the Happy Human Project but I'm in my third year at Dalhousie & my second co-op term working for a media company in Toronto.

I was born in Toronto, Ontario, but moved to Oakville, Ontario when I was about 5 years old. Oakville is not the most diverse city in the world, being a wealthy & primary white city, but growing up there I noticed more and more diversity around me especially while finding my people and entering high school with a diverse friend group.

When I arrived at Dalhousie during COVID-19, it felt like I was in a place with little to no diversity, even compared to my hometown and as I came alone at the time, I was very intimidated by how I would be treated differently or how I would feel being the only black man in the room for most situations I would have to encounter.
 
And that is why I have decided to write down three pieces of advice for any minority who is currently at or planning on attending a PWI (predominantly white Institution).
 
1. Find your group
I’m not saying to go and pick out every POC that you see in the crowd and try to be friends with them, just to find people that you feel comfortable with, you know has similar morals/values and that you feel like you can be genuine around. When I was in my first year finding people that I could 100% relate to was a rarity, especially since the only people I was interacting with were the people in Risley. I didn’t let this stop me from finding a good group though, as I made a couple of amazing friend groups and just decided to surround myself with positive people and positive energy which made way for my love for Dal and my friends to grow exponentially.
 
2. Join a club
There are a plethora of clubs/groups that involve diversity, check them out! My first week I went to an outdoor party that was being held by BASA (Dalhousie African Students Association) and I met so many cool people that I 100% wouldn’t have met if I didn’t show up to the Event. Another great example was the meet in Greet held by the Black Student Advising Center where I met so many people who are now a friendly face around campus & always people, I can talk to wherever I end up seeing them.
 
3. Have fun! Go out!
The good thing about Halifax is that we have some of the most fun nightlife available at a Canadian university. Meeting people is so natural, and you will see every type of race, culture and religion getting together to enjoy each other's presence & just have fun, every time I go out, I can find at least one person I connect with in some way whether its music taste or laughing at that one guy dancing like a crazy person. Try to go to parties to give that new friend group a chance or to meet some new people and find out what they're about. If partying isn’t your thing go play your sport or check out the Dal events; painting or movie nights. Every time I walk into the Dalplex to play basketball I feel right at home, like I’m dapping up my long-time homies I've been playing ball with for years. (If you ever see me next semester come say hi, I'll throw you on my team.)
 
Well, that’s all I have for right now, if you need any more advice let me know, I can talk about this for hours. But now it's time for me to get some rest as I have a train to catch at 7:54 tomorrow morning, peace out.

Hey! My name is Bella Pagotto, and this is my third year being a rep for Happy Human! I am also in my third year at Dalhousie, studying a BSc in Microbiology and Immunology and Gender and Women Studies. 

​All my life, it has been important to me to experience more than just one thing. Jumping at trying new things played a key role in my confidence in feeling secure in the things I did (or didn’t) like. Through that, I developed a huge respect for important aspects of my life: family, friends, competitive sports, reading, music. One of the most expansive qualities of life that I felt such a groove in was school. Not only was there a routine to school, but there was also promise. The promise of finding out something you never heard of before, to do and be better. It was a way I can flourish and excel but also a way I can reflect on my growth as a person and who I can be for those around me. ​

​Hello! My name is Agatha Rose Joseph, and this is my second year being a part of Happy Human Project! I am a Happy Human Rep and am in my third year of Computer Science at Dal.  
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​I landed in Halifax last fall, excited to be in a new city and atmosphere. Although the first few weeks were busy and exhilarating, I soon started to miss home and my family and all the fun I used to have with my friends back home. Over time, I've made new memories here, and Halifax feels like my second home.   ​

I'd love to share a few of my favorite places and things to do in Halifax if you're looking to study, stroll or eat.  ​

I was always hesitant to try new cuisines, but when my friend convinced me to try sushi, I fell in love with it and Japanese cuisine. Sushi Jet down on South Park Street has my heart with its ambiance, food presentation, and kind staff, and to top it all off, they have an all-you-can-eat option with delicious sushi and more for an affordable price!  
  
If you're looking for a place to run outside or even take a stroll, I highly recommend Point Pleasant Park, which is perfect for listening to music with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. Another place about 12km away from Halifax is Herring Cove, which I finally visited during the reading week right before sunset. The short walk from the bus stop to the cove was so serene, and I was in awe watching the waves roll in, sitting by the rocks.  
  
I'm always looking for cafes with decadent pastries that I can also study in, and one of my favorites is Creamy Rainbow, close to Park Lane, which has the cutest and most flavorful macarons and pastries. They have a calm ambiance making it a perfect spot to get some work done. 
  
If you're in the mood to go biking, rollerblading, or roller-skating outdoors during the summer or ice skating in the winter, do check out the Emera Oval, which is the largest outdoor, artificially refrigerated ice surface East of Quebec City. They offer free equipment rentals and offer skate and speed skate programs. 

My name is Lexie Gallant and I’m a happy human rep going into my fourth year at Dalhousie. I’m taking psych, French, and law/justice/society. My journey with schooling has always been slightly interesting. Elementary school was not great for me in terms of actual content that I managed to absorb. I vividly remember being put in groups that needed extra help with subjects like math and science. By the time I reached middle school, things were looking better. I started to blend in a bit, and by high school I was close to the top of my class in everything but math. I thought that the explanation for this shift was an increased interest in school, however, in eleventh grade chemistry, my teacher asked me a question that genuinely changed my entire worldview. 

The first unit we had done in chem was theory based, I remember studying and doing well on the test. The next unit, on the other hand, was math based. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t wrap my head around the content. I studied for hours and performed poorly on the test. I stayed late after class that day to try and explain myself. I didn’t want him to think that I just stopped putting in effort halfway through the semester. Before I could even say anything to him, he asked me if I had ever heard of a condition called dyscalculia. I looked at him blankly, so he began to explain. He said that it’s like dyslexia, but math based. This was a very basic and slightly inaccurate definition of the term, but it was also my first time hearing that word spoken.

I got home that night and began frantically googling everything about this term. I was shocked; everything described me perfectly. Though it was scary to see something that could be different about me, it was also relieving, I finally had what I thought was an explanation for why I tried so hard, but sometimes just couldn’t succeed. I mentioned it to my parents, and they thought it would be worthwhile to get me tested. Finally, I had a diagnosis, and broke down crying when I was told. Everyone thought I was sad, but I didn’t know how to explain that I was just so relieved to understand what was different about me. 

Since then, not much has changed. I still struggle with anything math-based along with other tasks related to this disability, such as judging speed or time. However, knowing that there is something different about me allows me to be more patient with myself. It has also helped me develop strategies for everyday life. For example, I work as a server and sometimes I must handle a lot of cash. Even though it is possible for me to make change at the table, I always let myself step away to a server station. That way I don’t have the anxiety of trying to do math in my head in front of other people. I know now that rushing to figure it out is more likely to lead to a mistake than taking the time to walk away is.

​Though this learning disability affects me every day, it is so much easier to live life being patient with myself instead of just frustrated. University poses a lot of challenges for people with learning disabilities, including the lack of accountability and structure. Compared to high school, University gives you full freedom and when you struggle to learn and engage already, it can be hard to keep motivated. I’ve found that dedicating time to a planner and dedicating time to doing things other than school is what helps me. Yet, I’ve nowhere near figured it out completely. The only piece of advice I would give, is to continue trying to find something that motivates you as an individual. And remember, you can’t always see what someone is struggling with, so just be kind!

Hello there! My name is Sare Yorukoglu, and I am a part of the Happy Human Project team this year as a representative. I will be completing my fourth year in BSc Psychology with a certificate program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This past year, I got diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder. As clueless as I was, COVID-19 has given me the chance to learn more about myself. Therefore, for those who might feel a little lost, I would like to share a story of how anxiety has impacted my life as an international student.

​I come from a coastal city in Turkey called Antalya. It is a lovely place to go for vacation during summer as the weather is always warm here! When I was 15, my high school introduced me to Nova Scotia International Student Program. I was super invested in the idea of going abroad and learning about Canadian culture. After writing exams and taking part in interviews, I got selected for the program. In a chaotic process, I packed all my stuff (especially winter clothes) to travel to 
Windsor, Nova Scotia. I was assigned to stay with a lovely host family for a year and attend grade 10 in a local high school.

During the experience I had in a year, I got the chance to meet a lot of Canadian and international students and familiarize myself with its culture. I loved it so much that I decided to complete my high school in Windsor while staying with my Canadian family. Since then, I get to visit my family back in Turkey once a year for two months. Even though I miss them 
and back home, I felt like I found where I was meant to be in Canada.

After I completed high school, I got accepted into Dalhousie and moved into the Risley hall during my first year. Living in residence and meeting my friends was amazing. Although during my years of studies, I have faced some issues that were personal to me. For instance, as an international student, I was feeling lost. At some point, I felt like I didn't have a certain identity where I wasn't enough Canadian to live in Canada while not feeling enough Turkish to live in Turkey. This feeling 
especially took place during the challenging times of COVID-19. Because of the pandemic, I felt like simple interactions with people were the end of the world, and I didn't know what to do. There was also this constant fear of not ever being able to go back home, or if I would, I would never be able to come back to my home in Halifax.

Of course, these thoughts were not colorful, but I'm glad that I lived through them. Even though the isolation of covid was quite scary, it also allowed me to look into my life and decide on what is the best for me. Accepting my situation was the biggest first step for me. When I decided to reach for help and diagnosis, my friend group and people in the community were all so supportive. Now that I am aware of the presence of my anxiety, I feel more comfortable talking about it to others and it has become easier to live with.

Life is not all rainbows and sunshine, and that is okay! It's okay to feel down and exhausted sometimes. What's important is to know that these feelings are normal to have, and there might be a lot of people who might feel the same way as you. We all come from unique backgrounds, and I believe that's what makes this community great. Always keep in mind that you are not in this alone, and we are here for each other! Happy Human Project :)