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Projects

A Time to Fly - Anthology: 2022

  • Compiling many short stories over four years and my twin sister’s passion for poetry, we self-published our anthology on Amazon.com to inspire more youth to write. The anthology was then available to be sold internationally, with many residents purchasing a copy.

  • The book emerged among the top five poetry books on Amazon a few days after publication. Many high school and middle school libraries purchased a copy, circulating the book among the school network.  

  • https://www.amazon.ca/Time-Fly-Sabia-Irfan/dp/B09WPT8JL5

“Tough academic schedule is harming Ottawa students' mental health” - Ottawa Citizen: 2022

  • Near the end of the school year, many students were crumbling under the pressure of their ambitions and grades, particularly graduating seniors attending university. I had personally seen sobbing students in corridors. There were school resources, yet students refused to participate and were left unchecked by themselves. 

  • Rather than help one student at a time, I decided to write an article outlining the numerous effects on student mental health and how parents and students alike could play a part in aiding them. School resource links were added to assist troubling students in the Ottawa Citizen Article.  

  • https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/irfan-tough-academic-schedule-is-harming-ottawa-students-mental-health  

“Why Ottawa schools should implement a grade freeze” - Ottawa Citizen: 2022

  • Various school boards in Ottawa petitioned for a grade freeze of student marks to ensure they could not be lowered past their previous report card, given the new schedule changes. Some school boards had already implicated the grade freeze, giving an unfair advantage to a specific population of students while crippling the grades of others in contrast, particularly university admissions of that year.

  • The student activist organization, the Rideau Student Union, had launched a petition on behalf of students. I wrote an article outlining the advantages of grade freeze for students and the disadvantages of not moving forward with this step, attaching the RSU petition and many other school board petitions. The article was published in the Ottawa Citizen, with several teachers and OCDSB trustees claiming “they hoped the school board was listening.” 

  • https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/irfan-why-ottawa-schools-should-implement-a-grade-freeze 

“Local teen skier soars with Ontario competitive team” - Manor Park Chronicle: 2022

  • Aspiring to expand to various journalism styles, I wrote a profile piece on aspiring skier Kaia Rebane. She had recently won numerous awards and titles while being the only female member of the provincial Ontario skiing team. 

  • Driving to raise awareness of underrepresented issues, I turned my journalism skills to elevate this minority of rising teenage successful female athletes. Rebane explained in detail her journey from a beginner skier to a quick learning curve to near mastery of skiing and provincial champion within two years of playing the sport. 

  • The article was broadcasted in the Manor Park Chronicle and gave Rebane and skiing the spotlight it deserved.

  • https://manorparkcommunity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mp-chronicle_jan-feb-2022_final-copy.pdf (page 24)

  • Many school activities and clubs were closed under poor circumstances at the beginning of the new school year. Many students were disheartened as their high school experience was not ideal for their vision of their high school years, particularly first-year students who had to spend their first year miserably under these COVID conditions. As the high school had reopened physically, proof that COVID was no longer severe, some activities could be rejuvenated.

  • My article in the Ottawa Citizen outlined every issue and complaint the students had with their activities and expectations with solutions catered to the student mindset. Some days later, some activities in my school reopened. 

  • https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/irfan-shortcomings-in-covid-plans-are-making-high-school-a-struggle

“Shortcomings in COVID plans are making high school a struggle” - Ottawa Citizen: 2022

“School’s in—Here’s how the return to class will look like for high schoolers” - Manor Park Chronicle: 2021

  • Many schools had decided to re-open physically in the following year. The tumultuous changes between virtual classes, the scheduling system, and activities left many students uninformed about their new school year. The Ontario Ministry of Education had released a long list of new terms dictated upon schools. Students had not received this information from schools and were in store for many surprises instead of a smooth transition back to their typical high school lifestyles. 

  • After detailed research, interviewing many students about what they expected and thought of these new changes and perspectives incorporated from students across Ottawa, the article was published in the Manor Park Chronicle. 

  • https://manorparkcommunity.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2105-mp-chronicle-sep-oct-2021-final-low-res.pdf (page 32)

“Ottawa students should think twice about attending virtual summer school” - Ottawa Citizen: 2021

CBC Art - Studio K: 2021

  • Inspired by my high school feminism club, I co-sketched a piece of art depicting a woman warrior, a master of various fields. I aimed to display this feminist art on a large platform, then found an opening for youth art hosted by CBC News. 

  • The art was then selected and presented on an international CBC television show, circulating the ideals of feminism within the art to the viewers.

Teen Ink, Featured: 2021

  • A side hobby of drawing and sketching with charcoal pencils, I submitted my drawing of the Statue of Liberty to the Teen Ink website. Editors post visual art on the largest website in the world for teen-generated writing, art, and photography. 

  • The art was themed to represent dreams and goals that the world's children should still harbour during the pandemic - there was still life to live. 

  • https://www.teenink.com/art/charcoals/202150/My-Destination

Global Youth and News Media, Featured: 2021

  • A member and ambassador of a local charity in Ottawa, the charity was struggling to gain awareness and donations for their cause. I pitched the article to the Global Youth and News Media Organization as an aspiring journalist who had published a corresponding article in the school newspaper about this charity.

  • They featured my paper “Providing the Basics, with a Smile” as a World Teenage Reporting Project journalist on their international platform. The Smiles charity gained the spotlight and attention needed to earn more donations and members to grow their organization and charitable efforts. 

  • https://www.globalyouthandnewsmediaprize.net/project-stories-3

Canadian Youth Journalism Project: Featured: 2021

  • I recently wrote an article for my virtual school newspaper outlining the disadvantages and hardships forced upon virtual school students due to the delay of March Break in 2021. My school newspaper’s readership was limited to some virtual school students. The Canadian Youth Journalism Project was an independent organization that nationally broadcasts outstanding student journalism.

  • After pitching my published article to the organization, they selected it to be displayed on their website. The publication prompted me to again pitch to the organization to include my school newspaper website in their broadcasted section for student outlets. I decided to act as an ambassador to raise more spotlight and attention to the minority of virtual school board newspapers. My school newspaper featured its outlet in the Canadian Youth Journalism Project, my article, and many others. 

  • https://canadianyouthjournalismproject.com/2020-student-work/

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