EDITORIAL FOR THE WINTER 2024 ISSUE

EDITORIAL FOR THE WINTER 2023 ISSUE

Welcome Readers to the 2023 Dawson English Journal,

What follows is the fruit, the blossom, the seedling that finally parted the soil…don’t worry the Dawson English Journal did not rebrand itself as an over flowery poetry collection. It is as usual, the results of many hours of writing, reading, researching and editing. This year, we received almost 60 submissions which is a new record and we want to thank anyone who submitted their work because without you this would not be possible. The Dawson English Journal gives a publishing opportunity to all the students who work really hard on writing literary (but not only) essays. In the midst of Furthermores and having to hear the word liminality way too much in their English classes, Dawson students still find a way to write new and exciting essays. The work produced at Dawson is truly incredible and proves the analytical brilliance of the new generation ( even though for some it’s torture or forced labour).

Thank you to the contributors for not only putting yourself out there, but also writing amazing work. You are now examples for the next cohort of students who will have to learn how to formulate a complete thesis without wanting to cry.

Thank you for the English Department Professors who accompanied us throughout the whole process and made sure everything would get done: Rebecca Million, Lorne Roberts and Shalon Noble. We appreciate you all so much for the opportunity you have given us, but also for sending us email reminders because us college students are seriously overworked (please send help).

Thank you for all my fellow editors who made this whole process feel like the nerdiest party ever. You are the best and funnest. They say do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life and that was definitely invented by capitalism because work is still work but despite that, I can confidently say that this never felt like a job and that is because of you.

Thank you for all the readers who come back year after year. Hope this year’s edition still finds a way to thrill you. Thank you for all the new readers; we hope you stick around.

I would like to wish all of you reading this right now to enjoy your time reading this year’s journal but encompassed by recent political events and for the sake of Monsieur Legault’s happiness, I’ll content myself of…Bonne Lecture.

Jamie Lee Lamothe

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE WINTER 2023

Stefanie Capozzo

Hello! I’m Stefanie, and I’ll be graduating from the Literature profile of the ALC program this semester. Once again, it has been a joy to read through all of this year’s submissions. They have brought many fascinating stories and new perspectives to my attention. Readers, I hope you like them as much as we did!

Silvia Crac

My name is Silvia and I’m in the Law, Society, and Justice program. My lifelong love of literature is what pushed me to volunteer as an editor. What I loved the most about working on the Dawson English Journal was connecting with people with similar passions. I plan on pursuing a career in law, though I’m not yet sure what exactly I want to work as. 

Ericka Felix

Hello readers! I am Ericka, a graduating student in the Law, Society, and Justice program. In my spare time, I am constantly adding new books to my never-ending TBR or watching movie analysis videos on YouTube. I plan on pursuing a future career in law or policy studies. My experience with the DEJ allowed me to work on my editing and critical thinking skills, as well as read amazing student essays that I never would have had the chance to otherwise. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Dawson English Journal. Happy reading!

Jamie Lee Lamothe

 I am a literature student who likes complicated existentialist works mixed in with fluffy romance stories. Being an editor made sense to me because anything that vaguely resembles a book gets me excited, so editing and curating essays felt like a great opportunity. When I am not reading, I am busy killing minions in League of Legends. Future english teacher (or florist fairy if I follow my childhood career aspirations ), I strive for a life filled with love, dogs, and overflowing bookshelves.

Melanie Ramos

I am Mely, a Literature student in the ALC program, an enthusiastic reader, an aspiring writer, and a beginner baker. This is my second term volunteering in the DEJ. It is a fun experience that allows me to improve my editing skills while discovering interesting topics. It is also great to be able of a group that celebrates and recognizes students’ academic efforts. 

Emmy Rubin 

Hi! My name is Emmy and I’m in my last semester of Literature in the ALC program. Being an Editor for the DEJ did not feel like work for a moment because I love being around essays: analyzing them, editing them, smelling them… you know — the usual stuff. I also loved reading all of your essays because I believe that the only way to truly enjoy literature is through submerging yourself within its tumultuous waves of ink and treading your way to meaning. In the fall I will be continuing my pursuit of Literature at McGill and hopefully find more essays to write.

EDITORIAL FOR THE WINTER 2022 ISSUE

Dear Reader,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the thirteenth edition of the Dawson English Journal! In 2022, things are starting to get back to normal in the sense that the world is getting over one of the biggest hurdles that has been thrown at it in recent history. Even so, the English language and its many enthusiasts have carried on unperturbed. Passion overcomes hardship as even through these strange and transitory times we at the Journal have been gifted with a slew of amazing essays written by English lovers and those who just want to get some well-deserved recognition for their skill in creating essays full of meaning, depth, and sometimes even humor.

This year, we received over forty amazing submissions, each impressive in its own right and filled with compelling arguments and masterful usage of language which exhibited the best of what Dawson College had to offer, which I might add, was not too shabby. Good job, Dawson. We would like to congratulate every contributor whose essay was selected to be a part of this year’s Journal: you made it! We’re so happy you’re here. And for those who weren’t, we hope that you keep on writing and holding that passion close to your heart as you have a whole life and a whole world waiting to read your unique and insightful perspective on life. You’ll go far.

Thank you to all of the staff, contributors, and supporters (we know you exist) of the Dawson English Journal; without you, we wouldn’t be here today and we would just live on in an English teacher’s dream journal. We exist because of you, so thank you.

The most gratitude and thanks to our beloved faculty advisors, Shalon Noble and Lorne Roberts. They were the big cogs grinding behind the face of our great clock and without them the Journal wouldn’t have been organized into functionality or ended up being half so snazzy.

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Dawson English Journal. A lot of people spent a lot of time writing some pretty clever stuff and I know that they are dying to get other people’s critical opinions on their work (I’m joking, that’s every writer’s nightmare – please don’t do that). In the end, what you choose to do with our journal is up to you. Whatever you choose, we will always be here to support you and all the writers of Dawson College until the end of time. Because we’re a community: a place where good writing can find its proper home.

On behalf of the editorial team,

Emmy Rubin

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE WINTER 2022

Noemie Brisson
Hello, I am Noémie and I’m a first year literature student. I love to read and write, and editing is one of my favourite parts of writing! I had fun reading and working on everyone’s submissions, and I hope you enjoy this year’s issue of the journal.

Stefanie Capozzo
Hello! My name is Stefanie and I’m a first-year Literature student. Any art piece that disturbs the status quo is right up my alley, whether it’s graffiti or classic literature. I also love to dissect writing (with a bit of nitpicking on the side), so editing for the English Journal has been a ton of fun. I hope you like these essays as much as we did!

Karlanne Dusablon Girard
Hello! My name is Karlanne and I’m a second-semester Literature student. Reading has always been one of my passions and being able to edit others’ works seemed a great opportunity! I loved reading everyone’s essays and I hope the readers love the ones chosen for this issue. My hobbies include reading, writing and dancing!

Emma Beatrix Facchino
Hi! My name is Emma and I’m in the Cinema-Communications profile of the ALC program. I love all things art, media and pop culture. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to develop my skills as a writer and filmmaker here at Dawson, and being a part of the DEJ committee this year was yet another great experience. Our edition is a wonderful one; it touches upon various texts, films, and social issues, and it showcases a diverse set of student voices— including my own! A big thank you to everyone involved, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

Alexia Katsigiannis
Hello DEJ readers! My name is Alexia and I just graduated from Law, Society and Justice this winter semester of 2021. I hold the knowledge I have attained while in the LSJ program close to my heart as I am passionate when it comes to learning, analyzing and writing about social issues. This fall, I will be attending McGill University where I’ll be able to broaden my knowledge on such topics and hopefully pursue a legal career in social justice. I love fashion, film, and most of all, creative writing. I hope that you all enjoy this year’s journal as much as I enjoyed being part of its editing committee!

Awais Khaliq
Hello dear readers! My name is Awais and I am a second-year student in the Health Science profile. In September, I will begin my journey as an engineering student, so editing for the Dawson English Journal may just be the last time I get to be delve into so many wonderful essays. Since I stole my very first notebook from my mom’s office, I’ve been writing, building sentences as if I were assembling toy blocks, and setting down all the wanderings of my fervent imagination in ink. On a summer day, there’s nothing I enjoy more than picking up a book and reading beneath the sun. So, readers, I hope you enjoy reading the wide range of essays we’ve selected, and always keep writing— sometimes a pen is the best friend you’ve got!

Casey Kiss
Hi readers! I’m Casey Kiss, a graduating Literature student. I’m the Voices Editor for our student newspaper The Plant and I absolutely adore it. I love reading and writing but am also an avid watcher of trashy reality TV. I plan on pursuing a career in journalism even though for many years my plan was to be a Princess, Ballerina, and YouTuber simultaneously. That aside, I hope you enjoy this issue of the Dawson English Journal! I sure did anyways 🙂

Tanya Lemieux
Hi dears! My name is Tanya, and I’m in my second and last year at Dawson in the literature profile. I enjoy reading and writing, which is why I joined the program in the first place. As for the English Journal, I jumped at the chance to get involved because I wanted to improve my editing skills. In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing stories and poetry, going for walks, and swimming.

Marisa Mitchell
Hi! My name is Marisa and I’m an ALC Literature student here at Dawson. I’ve always had a passion for reading and writing which is the main reason I chose to pursue it in Cegep, of course along with trying to escape the realm of math and science. Undoubtedly, during my free time I enjoy reading and writing, but in addition to that, I also enjoy singing and painting. Through the incredibly positive experience during my time at Dawson and the influence of many great professors, I have decided to continue my studies in literature at McGill in hopes to teach it at a college level or perhaps university someday. I hope that you enjoy this edition of the Dawson English Journal!

Maria Paulina Mora
Hello everyone! My name is Maria Paulina and I am in my last semester of the Law, Society and Justice program. I love reading, historical fiction as much as about actual history, and picking up hobbies I will probably abandon within a couple of weeks. When I’m not trying to complete the never-ending list of assignments, I enjoy drawing and painting, scrolling through Tik Tok and trying to learn new languages. I loved being part of the Dawson English Journal editing team. Reading so many great essays about topics I would have never come across otherwise was a great time!

Diego Morrison-Tessier

Melanie Ramos
Hey, reader! I’m Mely, an ALC student within the Literature profile. As a bookworm, I’m always on the lookout for new stories, concepts and ideas, whether they are in English, Spanish or French (Ha! Knowing three languages is finally useful to something else than getting me mixed up when I talk!). Given the broad range of different and interesting points of view on a diversity of subjects, and since I plan on becoming an editor, the DEJ caught my eye instantly. I hope this year’s journal issue has you as enthralled as me and that you enjoy reading it!
(And maybe, you’ll learn a thing or two, who knows?!)

Emmy Rubin
Hi everyone! My name’s Emmy Rubin and I’m a first-year student in the Dawson Literature program. To put it in super over the top and slightly strange terms, books have been my longtime lover but T.V. has been my seductive mistress. I started reading at the age of four and really got into it when I discovered Harry Potter. Since then I have moved on to bigger and greater things like Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and, of course, Shakespeare. You can call me your basic, pretentious lit student but I still find myself coming back to Harry Potter every once in a while to remind myself where it all started. It’s a great feeling finding something you’re passionate about and that’s one of the reasons why I found myself joining the DEJ this year. I’m not done with Dawson just yet as I still have a whole year to go, but I’m hoping that one day I’ll find myself leading the life of a glamorous hermit in a semi-haunted mansion à la Lydia Deetz when I’m not writing scripts for comedy shows and horror films.

Erica Zhang
Hello, readers! I am Erica, a student in the General Social Science profile. Since I loved my experience being an editor, I joined the Dawson English Journal again. I love learning about East Asian history, anthropology, and sociology. I also enjoy reading, watching, and analyzing stories from multiple media and walking in nature. I strive to learn about a range of perspectives on any topic and believe that storytelling is a powerful tool that can change how we see the world. Being an editor allowed me to see the incredible diversity of viewpoints that could be told, so I am happy to have been part of the team.

EDITORIAL FOR THE DOUBLE ISSUE

OF 2019-2020/2020-2021

Reader,

Welcome to this special double issue of the Dawson English Journal! The 2021 Journal comes to you in a time where academia, in many senses, has been turned upside down. Two major changes, of course, are online learning at a scale that has never before been practiced, as well as a growing challenge to find employment despite the achievement of a university degree. These, among other factors, have shifted ideas about academic culture and the value of education. Despite these challenges, our journal received more submissions this year than ever before. Essays ranged from topics about racial justice to modern literary theory to Shakespeare. In the end, Dawson students didn’t allow wild circumstances to discourage them from contributing to our journal, and from volunteering to be editors, too. The biggest number of submissions was joined by the largest editorial team to date.

The process of reading and judging more than eighty submissions was not only fun but also incredibly rewarding. If your essay was chosen, congratulations! I hope seeing yourself in print is as gratifying as it is bragworthy. If you submitted to this year’s journal and were not chosen, do not let that discourage you from continuing to write. You have a unique voice and perspective which enriches the conversation, and no one can take that away from you (not even a group of ragtag peers who were forced to limit the number of chosen essays for their publication).

To all contributors, supporters, and staff of the Dawson English Journal: thank you. We are on our twelfth edition of this publication, and going strong, despite the aforementioned wild circumstances. This is due to you.

An extra special thanks to Rebecca Million, Lorne Roberts, and Shalon Noble, our faculty advisors. Without their volunteered time and effort, none of this would have been possible.

So, go on! Read! Learn something from your peers rather than your professors. Take it in with a grain of salt, a healthy skepticism, and ask yourself the right questions. Think critically and be inspired. Remember, as Nietzsche once said, there are no facts, only interpretations.

On behalf of the editorial team,

Julie Jacques

EDITORS

Many thanks to all those who worked hard to bring the journal to completion this time around, under the difficult circumstances of the 2020-2021 academic year.

Below you will find a list of the volunteer editors who worked on the most recent issue of the journal.  Farther down are the editorial committees from previous years, followed by the editorials from previous issues.

If you are interested in volunteering as an editor, please contact the faculty advisers by writing to englishjournal@dawsoncollege.qc.ca.  We will put out a new call for editors in the fall of 2021.  Thank you for your interest in the Dawson English Journal!

Editorial Committee of 2020-2021

Mojisola Adamson

Hello everyone, my name is Mojisola Adamson. I am in my last semester at Dawson College studying Law, Society & Justice. I will be attending Mcgill University in the Fall and I will be studying Political Science with a concentration in communications. I have a deep thirst for knowledge and the desire to understand different subjects. I love listening to people who have different perspectives on issues and learning from them.  I enjoyed my program and I am very happy that this is what I choose to study at Dawson. During my pastime, which is honestly most of the time because of online school, I love editing videos, reading books, listening to music, and scrolling on TikTok for hours to avoid my school work. When I am my most productive self I love journaling, making video essays, and thinking about social issues. One day I hope to become a lawyer and pursue a career that I am passionate about!

Maya Amato

Hello! My name is Maya and I am in my second semester of the Law, Society and Justice program. I’ve always enjoyed reading, my favourite genres being psychological thrillers and mysteries. In my spare time, I watch hockey, play badminton, read, and knit. It was a great experience to read and edit everyone’s essays; I learnt so much! I hope you all enjoy this issue of the Dawson English Journal!

Lyna Ben Meddour

Hi readers! I am Lyna Ben Meddour, a second-year student in Dawson’s Science program. My passion for learning and my curiosity brings me to always be open to new experiences and to challenge myself. Being part of the Dawson English Journal was a way for me to connect with amazing writers and their work, but also reminded me how important I value diversity in literature. In the future, I really want to pursue research in the scientific field. In the meanwhile, I will continue to see every day as a learning opportunity and to become my best self, especially through my hobbies like drawing and travelling.

Beatriz de Souza Neves

My name is Beatriz Neves, and I’m a graduating student in the Literature Profile at Dawson College. I will be continuing my education at University in English Literature and Education. I’m Brazilian, and I came to Canada in 2018, so I miss the summertime and a good real ocean bath on the beach. I joined the Dawson English Journal because I’m passionate about reading and writing, and I enjoy writing and reading scholarly essays. In my free time, I enjoy swimming, playing tennis and binge-watching 80’s and 90’s movies.

Beth Fecteau

Hi! I’m Beth, and I’m in my last semester of the Literature program. My passion has always been stories – reading, telling, and dissecting them. In terms of fiction, I love horror, mythology, contemporary fantasy, and the occasional (okay, frequent) trashy YA romance. In my spare time, I paint, draw, crochet, and write. I’m hoping my studies will lead me to being a Cegep-level English teacher one day so I can share my love of stories in a meaningful way, but mostly I’m just studying what I love and going with the flow! I hope you enjoy this issue of the Dawson English Journal!

David Friedman

I’m a second-year commerce student. I’ve always been fascinated by literature and writing. I’ve been privileged with the opportunity to foster and grow my interest here at Dawson. Michael Lewis, my favorite author, is someone I feel greatly influenced my writing and interest in literature. Shout out to him.  My experience with the faculty of English has been truly great; I take this opportunity to thank my professors for the incredible learning experience. Shout out to my fellow editors and professors involved for the smooth and enjoyable editing process. Looking ahead, I aspire to become an attorney, but most importantly to keep learning and meeting new people.

Mayan Godmaire

Hey, I’m Mayan. I’m in the Literature section of the great ALC program. From this piece of information, one can deduce that I’m easily enthralled by words, style, punctuation, grammar, books, and the like. That’s accurate. What’s more, I’ve got a passion for correcting mistakes that aren’t mine, so hopping onto the DEJ editorial team couldn’t have been a better decision. I’m in my second year with just one little semester left to go; after, I’m on to uni. I want to be an editor in life, but what the future holds is held onto tightly; I can’t get a glimpse. I’m still hoping that one day I’ll get to meet a dragon and maybe a couple elves.

Olivia Integlia

Hi everyone! My name is Olivia Integlia and I am a second-year student in Liberal Arts. I joined the Dawson English Journal editing team as I have a passion for reading and writing. In my free time, I enjoy debating, binge-watching series on Netflix, and intensely crocheting scarves for fun!

Julie Jacques

I’m Julie, Ju, JJ, or Jules, whichever you prefer. As a Literature Profile student, I love writing, editing, and dissecting essays, and am excited to pursue just that as an English Lit major in university! Before I go, I can proudly say that I was a part of the 2021 DEJ editorial team and boast a little about how great this issue was! It was a pleasure reading and editing submissions, and I hope you enjoy the final product.

Linda Kang

Hi! My name is Linda and I am a Cinema and Communications student. I have big dreams but little sleep. I love how all forms of art serve to communicate fascinating insights and perspectives, and writing is no exception. Joining the Dawson English Journal team was an enriching experience that allowed me to read remarkable essays and improve my skills as a writer. I hope you enjoy this issue just as much as I did!

Noah Leve

My name is Noah Leve. I am in my final semester of the Cinema and Communications profile in the ALC program. I have loved my time studying film and exploring my interests at Dawson which has led me to pursue Political Science in university next year. In my spare time, I watch movies and TV shows (inevitably if I’m studying cinema in CEGEP) and listen to music predominantly from the 1960s. However, one of my greatest passions is SOCCER; I’m absolutely in love with the beautiful game! I gleefully picked apart the essays you are about to read, so I hope you enjoy this edition of the Dawson English Journal.

Cyrielle Ouedraogo

Hi! I’m Cyrielle and I’m a second year Liberal Arts student. I love history and philosophy, but I’ve also always had a big penchant towards poetry. In joining the editorial team of the DEJ, I was excited to see how different people viewed different works, and to be a part of a group that showcases all of these student voices. I hope that in reading this issue you find something worthwhile, be it inspiration, motivation, or just a bit of entertainment.

Anastasia Paraskevopoulos

Hey! I’m Anastasia, a soon-to-be graduate from the Liberal Arts program. My amour fou has forever been reading and writing, which was further cemented by my former English teacher from high school and my time at Dawson. My passion for words pointed me in the direction of the Dawson English Journal team. It has been a pleasure reading and editing all your essays ─ I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I have.

Mia Scroggins-Hadley

Hey! My name is Mia (she/her) and I’m studying Cinema-Communications. I love making and thinking about art. I’m passionate about learning about people and the ups and downs of the human condition. I joined the Dawson English Journal because I like reading and writing. I’ve really enjoyed getting to read the work of all the different voices that made this issue possible.

Elizabeth Seliverstov

Hi! My name is Elizabeth and I am a second-year student in Environmental Science. In the Fall, I will be attending McGill University to further my knowledge in environmental science and environmental studies. I dedicate a lot of my free time to reading, something that I have loved since I was a child. I typically catch up on the classics that I haven’t read, but my guilty pleasure is science fiction. Reading has pushed me to write my own short stories, which I hope to publish somewhere in the future. Editing for the Dawson English Journal was an incredibly stimulating and fun experience, and I hope you enjoy the texts!

Erica Jia Wei Zhang

Hello, readers! I am Erica, a previous Health Science student who switched into the General Social Science profile. As I wanted to improve my pre-existing writing and editing skills, the Dawson English Journal piqued my interest. I love learning about East Asian history; I also enjoy reading, watching, and analyzing stories from multiple media, and walking in nature. I strive to learn about a range of perspectives on any topic and believe that storytelling is a powerful tool that can change how we see the world. Being an editor allowed me to see the incredible diversity of viewpoints that could be told, so I am happy to have been part of the team. My future is yet to be decided, but I strongly believe I will end up in a field I will not regret.

Editorial Committee of 2019-2020

Tina Barbusci

My name is Tina and I’m a first-year Liberal Arts student here at Dawson. I am no stranger to overstressing, I’m sure many can relate, which isn’t helped by such a demanding, albeit fun, program as Liberal Arts. The Liberal Arts program at Dawson is extremely well-rounded due to its combination of various disciplines and is small enough that everyone is friends with each other! I love astronomy and also greatly enjoy reading, especially sci-fi and fantasy, as well as writing in such genres. My ultimate goal in life is unsurprisingly to publish a novel, but right now, my future plans are to become a fiction editor and hopefully work for a publishing company.

Amelie Chornet

My name is Amelie Chornet, I am currently in the International Business Studies profile here at Dawson. Escape from Social Sciences courses through literature has been something I’ve been seeking the moment I started studying at Dawson. The DEJ caught my eye and through joining the team of editors, I was able to nourish my curiosity and my love for literature. Regarding my future, I’m looking to continue my studies in business, but mostly, I’m letting things shape themselves and I simply applaud the process while maintaining my avid thirst for knowledge!

Beth Fecteau

Hi! I’m Beth, an ALC Literature student here at Dawson. My passion has always been stories – reading and telling them, and then eventually dissecting and analyzing them. In terms of fiction, I love horror, mythology, contemporary fantasy, and the occasional (okay, frequent) trashy YA romance. In my spare time, I paint, draw, crochet, and write – all of them poorly, but nonetheless with great enjoyment. I’m hoping my studies will lead me to being a Cegep-level English teacher one day so I can share my love of stories in a meaningful way, but mostly I’m just studying what I love and going with the flow! I hope you enjoy this issue of the Dawson English Journal – I already can’t wait for next semester!

Rose Morin

Hello there! I’m an ALC student in the languages profile and I always liked reading, arts and, obviously, languages. I decided to join the DEJ when I was taking a Reflections course because I thought it would be a good opportunity to contribute in something I like while I’m at Dawson. I plan to further my studies, probably at McGill in East Asian Studies and International Development. I don’t know where life will take me, but does anyone really? I guess my motto should be to just go with the flow.

Sarah Mucci

I’m a first-year student in Dawson’s Enriched Science program studying Pure and Applied Sciences. I love learning about how the world works, but am equally interested in learning about the people who comprise it. In my free time, I enjoy reading and analyzing stories. I have, ever since childhood. I joined the DEJ to indulge in this hobby and hoped to improve my own writing along the way. In the future, I plan to continue my studies in the sciences while maintaining my passion for literature.

Nia Pietrobruno

My name is Nia Pietrobruno. I love art, horror, aviation, thrifting, coding, and writing amongst a thousand other things. As a student in Pure and Applied who switched into Commerce, I often found it difficult to explore my interest in writing and literature. My programs didn’t tend to lend themselves to creative writing, and while juggling school, work, air cadets, and Technovation (a tech and business competition), I rarely found the time to fully focus on any personal project. After publishing an essay written for the American Gothic Reflections course in the 2019 DEJ, I knew that I wanted to become a part of the DEJ team. I’m happy that through my editor position, I was able share my passion for writing once more before leaving Dawson to pursue a degree in Finance at Concordia’s JMS.

Leana Ramirez

My name is Leana Ramirez and I am an International Business student at Dawson College. I would describe myself as an avid learner and a wannabe polymath; I have a deep thirst for knowledge and value intellect, curiosity, and versatility of the mind. The Dawson English Journal is a way for me to focus on my passion for writing and editing in the midst of my study of global economies and entrepreneurship. I really don’t know what the future holds for me, but what I do know is I look forward to reading new books, watching movies, discovering new places, laughing with my friends, and living life at its fullest.

Ann Trinh

Hello readers! Ann here! I’m one of the editors for this year’s English Journal. During the editing period, I was a second year in Pure and Applied Science and now I’m heading to university into Software Engineering. I always loved literature and got involved in editing when I was in high school – which was why being an editor for Dawson caught my eye. It was great fun reading everyone’s submissions and I hope everyone continues writing wonderful works for future editors. Even though I will not be pursuing a career in literature, I won’t let that stop me from continuing what I love.

Editorials: From the editors to our readers

Editorial: Winter 2020

Dear readers,

Welcome to the 11th edition of the Dawson English Journal! This edition of the Dawson English Journal contains a sample of  the best writing that Dawson College has to offer. Despite the many hardships and difficulties this hectic semester brought us – trying to survive a global pandemic for example—this journal remains a tie between students of different backgrounds. The writers featured in these pages discuss identity, poetry, monstrosity, and current events in a homogeneous union of essays.

After reading through the many submissions, as Frankenstein with his creation, we had to pick and choose the right fit for our journal, assemble the right pieces, and finally edit them to achieve the best results. Our collective ensemble of words reflected our true intentions; to lift the student’s voices and showcase their talent in a renowned literary journal. However, this semester has been difficult for all of us students and teachers. Severed human contact helped desperation spread like plague. Though we may not have formed the deepest connections as student editors, through this journal, we hope to make you feel the connections we all wished to have these past months.

As you read these essays, think of the person behind each sentence, behind each unique wording. Think of them as a friend sharing with you a piece of their world and think of the real-life conversations you could have. Let these essays shape a portion of your mind, no matter how small it is, and feel the ideas behind every story shape your views on the world. It is what makes us human.

A big congratulations to the students who submitted to our literary journal. Without your artistry and skill, this journal would have been a figment of our imagination. We loved the diversity of the essays received and we hope you, the reader, will love it as much as we did.

To all the talented students who wish to join our team as student authors, think no more! By showing an interest in publishing your work, you have already reached a big milestone. Who knows, maybe you will take a liking to it! We cannot wait to read you next year.

A big thank you to the student editors who took the time and energy to read the submitted essays solely due to their passion for literature. Never let that fire be extinguished. Thank you for putting your editing skills to good use and for making our school proud.

Thank you to our faculty advisers Rebecca Million, Shalon Noble, and Lorne Roberts for going forward with the journal despite the difficulties. This would not have been possible without you.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to the person reading this. Thank you for taking an interest in what our school has to offer and thank you for giving our students a voice. You make our work very gratifying.

On behalf of the editorial team, happy reading!

Leana Ramirez, Editor

Editorial: Winter 2019

Dear readers,

Welcome to the 10th edition of the Dawson English Journal! We have worked hard going through the 2017-2018 student submissions and are now pleased to bring you the very best of Dawson’s academic student writing. We hope that you enjoy reading through our compilation as much as we did.

We owe a massive thank you to our contributors, without whom none of this would have been possible. Your hard academic work is now immortalized within our journal containing the finest writing Dawson had to offer this academic year. Each of the essays we received was a pleasure to read, and, though it was hard to narrow them down to a fraction of the number received, we do believe that these are truly the crème de la crème of a wonderful bunch. From literary analysis to more personal pieces, the diversity within the texts was endearing and made it hard to select only a few. Thank you for daring to submit your work; opening yourself up to a panel of judges is no easy task. We urge whoever may be interested to submit their work for our next edition!

Thank you so much to every editor who volunteered to make the journal what it is. We admire your willingness to take some time from your busy schedules to create this year’s edition of the Dawson English Journal. Your critical thinking, time investment and editorial skills are greatly appreciated! Reading through a hefty number of texts and then debating them can seem like a daunting task, but you were all up to the challenge. Thank you for putting your English skills to the test and for making sure that the Journal represents the very best our school has to offer. Furthermore, for those who worked on the graphic design, thank you for making the English Journal as beautiful as it is. It would be impossible to be what we are without you.

We also want to thank our faculty advisors, Rebecca Million and Lorne Roberts, for their endless support and guidance. You have been the foundation to our house, the cross-beams to our ship, the little wooden stick to our popsicle, and we would not have been able to do this without you. You’ve diligently organized this 10th edition and reminded us of deadlines, for which we are grateful. Your beaming attitude and will to help us will always be remembered!

On behalf of the entire editorial team, we wish you a pleasant read through the Journal. We hope that your ideas will be challenged and that you will learn something new. The texts within this book are excellent and deserve to be read beyond the classroom!

Danielle Renaud and Camille Delagrave-Ajduk, Editors 2018-2019

EDITORIAL: WINTER 2017

Dear readers,

Welcome to the 2017 issue of the Dawson English Journal! Let me thank you for investing your time in reading this compilation of the best writing you can find in our school.

To all those brave students who submitted their work, thank you for your interest and support. You are the ones who make the journal possible. This year we received submissions ranging from personal essays about social trends, to academic essays about literature and its contexts, to creative pieces like poems and short stories, of which you may find examples between these pages.

To any shy students who may find themselves unsure about sending in their work, take courage! Putting your work up for criticism is not an easy task; in fact, it can be a little scary. However, if you truly think your ideas are great, take a chance and give it a try. It’s a rewarding experience.

A big thank you to the students who volunteered as editors and graphic designers. Despite the challenges, we persevered and our hard work has paid off!

Also, special thanks to faculty advisers Rebecca Million (co-founder of the journal) and Shalon Noble for their help and effort in seeing this project through.

We hope you enjoy some of the best writing at Dawson College. On behalf the editorial team of the 2017 issue, happy reading!

Veronica S. Naranjo, Editor

EDITORIAL: WINTER 2016

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the seventh edition of the Dawson English Journal.

From short stories to epic novels, poetic expressions of feelings to angry essays about politics, and examining mythology in our favorite literary classics, this edition of the Journal will surely have something to interest you. You will have the chance to enjoy some of our Dawson students’ finest essays. To all of our readers, thank you for your interest in our beloved publication. It takes time, effort, and a bit of courage for both students and editors to share their work and bring out the best in their writing abilities. The editing process can be difficult sometimes; differences in opinion arise often but the motivation to show off the best English writing our college has to offer is reason enough to work through the differences.

Once a year, Dawson students are invited to send us their best English essays in the hopes of getting their work published. We appreciate the diversity and talent that the students have shown through their writing, and of course, we appreciate the teachers that make it all possible. Rebecca Million founded the journal when a former student of hers suggested the idea back in 2010. It shows that when students and teachers work together, great things can come from it. Genuine appreciation for each other’s work makes learning an easier and more enjoyable activity for all. This year we would like to graciously say thanks to Shalon Noble for taking on the effort to lead the journal. We could not have done this year’s issue without you!

So if you are a student with great ideas to share or an English teacher looking for some bragging rights to let the college know that your class writes the best essays, send us an essay and talk to your students. Let the world read them; you never know what great things may come from it until you give it a try!

Therefore, on behalf of the entire editing team, thank you for the support, the positive responses, the amazing submissions, and above all, your time spent reading the Dawson English Journal.

Sahib Al-shemeri, Editor

EDITORIAL: WINTER 2015

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the 2015 issue of the Dawson English Journal!

In this edition, we cover a variety of topics in the form of essays, formal or personal. The literary works covered range from Lord of the Rings to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with a commentary on music to wrap up this little gift.

An editing process for any piece of work is never easy, but the task of editing over forty submissions is quite daunting. Editors will have opinions that the others will disagree on and we need to make the tough decision to eliminate a student’s hard work from the final pile. However, the students look to us as editors to dress up their work to the nines and represent our college in the most positive light. Our differences can easily be set aside for this purpose, wouldn’t you agree?

The students have to be especially commended. Putting one’s work forward for criticism is not an easy task, especially with the risk of rejection. However, all who submitted are brave souls who were willing to take the risk and submit their best work to this journal. That is enough to make them winners for our college.

If anyone reading this is a student with big ideas and an essay to match, take your courage in both hands and send it to us. You may have the pleasure of seeing it online or in a hard copy in your hands!

Having said all of this, on behalf of the 2014-2015 editing team, I’d like to extend many thanks to those who submitted and all those who continue to support Rebecca Million’s endeavors to show off our top-notch writers.

Sara Capanna, Editor