Parnika Juneja
Turning Her World Right-Side Up
When I stepped off the plane from New Delhi at 17 years old, I carried more than just a suitcase—dreams, fears, and a determination to make something of myself. Alone in a new country, I quickly realized the road ahead was far steeper than I had imagined.
The first hurdle struck: the crushing weight of international tuition fees. In Toronto, where I first landed, I juggled odd jobs and countless hours of study, but no matter how hard I worked, it felt like I was barely treading water. The loneliness was deafening. I sometimes wondered if I had made a mistake leaving everything behind. But giving up was never an option.
I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Edmonton. It was a chance for a fresh start. Over the years, I worked in diverse roles—from Alberta Registries to automotive sales—while striving to achieve Canadian permanent residency. This milestone marked a turning point in my professional and personal journey and fueled my passion for building meaningful connections and helping others navigate their own paths.
“Own every step, even through challenges.”
This drive is at the heart of everything I do, from my work as a Real Estate Professional to my community involvement. Whether guiding clients through life-changing decisions like finding their dream homes or volunteering at local festivals, I’m deeply motivated by the chance to impact people’s lives positively.
My commitment to community extends beyond real estate. I actively organize events that empower and celebrate those around me, striving to create spaces where people feel supported and inspired. As a Bollywood dance enthusiast, I’ve also found a way to bring people together through cultural appreciation. Teaching and performing dance at local events have been a way to connect with my roots while fostering community engagement.
Through it all, I’ve pursued my International Business and Finance degree at the University of Alberta. Balancing school, work, and volunteering is a challenge, but it’s one I embrace wholeheartedly. My journey has taught me that resilience, purpose, and community are the cornerstones of success.
Looking back, I see how far I’ve come—from a scared teenager alone in a foreign country to someone who has built a life full of purpose and possibility. My story is far from perfect, but it’s mine, and I own every step of it. Because when life feels upside down, the only way forward is to just own it.
Lessons from our December Rising Star
Resilience in the Face of Challenges
No matter how difficult the journey, resilience is key. Even when faced with financial struggles and loneliness, Parnika pushed forward and never gave up, demonstrating that perseverance can overcome any obstacle.Embrace Change and Take Risks
Sometimes, starting fresh and stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to extraordinary growth. By moving to a new city for a fresh start, Parnika found new opportunities and began to realize her potential.The Power of Community and Connection
True success isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about lifting others along the way. By actively building connections through work, volunteering, and community engagement, Parnika created a supportive environment for both herself and others.Own Your Journey and Stay Authentic
The path to success is never perfect, and that’s okay. Parnika embraced her unique journey, learned from her mistakes, and constantly stayed true to herself, proving that authenticity is a powerful tool in personal growth.Connect with Parnika at linkedin.com/in/parnika-juneja-2363b1132
My name is Carmelita Santana, a fourth-year Business Management student specializing in Marketing at Concordia University Edmonton (CUE). My vision is to launch my own international makeup line. Alongside my studies, I’ve served as Vice President of the CUE Management Union and as a Student Ambassador, guiding new and prospective students as they adjust to university life.
For the past decade, I have been deeply committed to community service. I have mentored at the Boys and Girls Club and tutored children in English as a Second Language (ESL), helping them improve their reading and homework skills. My passion for youth development led me to establish the Youth Group at the Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural Association, now 53 members strong. I organize leadership workshops and environmental initiatives like school pollinator gardens and growing vegetables for local food banks.
My dedication has earned me titles such as the Outstanding Girl of the Year in 2017 and nominations for Outstanding Youth of the Year at the Chamber of Commerce Awards in 2017 and 2019.
Looking ahead, I am eager to connect with other businesses, learn from them,and collaborate in ways that will enable me to become a philanthropist. My goal is to make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of children and women in impoverished communities in Canada and worldwide. I believe that we can create a brighter future for all with passion, purpose, and perseverance.
My name is Fasika Hidug, and I’m a 10th-grade student passionate about art. From an early age, I’ve been captivated by the power of art to express views, feelings, and the world around us. Through my drawings and paintings, I strive to translate my unique perspective and life experiences into art that inspires others.
Art has always been my way of evoking emotions and conveying profound messages, prompting people to see the world differently. Despite my challenges, the fulfillment I get from sharing my art makes all the obstacles worthwhile. I’m committed to continuing this journey, growing as an artist, and expanding my reach to touch many lives.
Art isn’t just a passion; it’s my voice and way of making a difference. Art has the power to change hearts and minds, and I aim to use my work to foster understanding, empathy, and connection in a world that often feels divided.
My name is Makayla Oldenburger, a high school graduate. Being in elementary school is like navigating a maze of uncertainties. I used to feel shy and nervous, especially around other kids. Sometimes, it felt like I was invisible, just watching everyone else have fun from the sidelines. It made me wonder if something was wrong with me if I was just not good enough for anyone to notice.
But then, something changed. I found friends who saw me for who I am, even when I couldn’t see it myself. They showed me that I’m not alone and that I matter. Slowly, I started to believe in myself more. I realized that I don’t always have to listen to those doubts in my head.
High school brought its own set of challenges and opportunities. I decided to take a chance and try things that scared me. Getting my first job at 16 felt like a huge accomplishment, something I never thought I could do.
Then, one day, my teacher asked me to help with our school’s open house. It was a big deal for me. Being chosen as a leader made me feel like maybe I have something unique to offer.
However, the real turning point was joining the EmpoweredMe leadership program. It was like a safe space where I could learn to be more confident and face my fears. They taught me that I’m capable of more than I think and that what others think of me doesn’t define who I am.
My journey with EmpoweredMe has been transformative. I’ve shed the label of a shy kid and emerged as a strong, capable individual with immense potential. Because of this experience, I’ve discovered that we are capable of more than we know, and other people’s opinions of us do not determine our worth.
It’s a powerful realization that has filled me with hope and inspiration.
Delaney Youngson, our Rising of the Month, has faced a lifetime of struggles with insecurity stemming from a rare genetic disorder that set her apart from her peers. Born with this condition, she endured criticism and negativity, leading her to develop a deep-seated obsession with comparing herself to others. The divorce of her parents at the age of 8 only intensified her insecurities, leaving her feeling unworthy and isolated.
In coping with her struggles, Delaney turned to the world of rap and Hip-Hop music, initially borrowed from her brother. Amid self-hatred and loneliness, she discovered solace in poetry, making it her therapeutic outlet. As she entered adulthood, she pursued higher education, ultimately finding her passion through journaling and volunteering at a yoga studio. Her dedication and ambition caught the company’s attention, leading to a formal invitation to join their team.
Delaney acknowledges the profound connection between self-perception and one’s thoughts, emphasizing that there’s no quick fix for how we feel about our looks. She has found joy through her journey, treating herself with kindness and redirecting her once upside-down thoughts toward confidence and success. Today, she actively spreads inspirational messages on social media, advocating for the importance of finding passion and not letting others’ opinions define one’s reality.
Delaney Youngson’s story exemplifies resilience, character, and leadership, showcasing her transformation from an insecure young woman to a thriving and confident music professional. Today, we celebrate youths like Delaney who demonstrate these qualities in their communities.
Purchase or stream Deleyni’s music. Links below:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FXPQvfEkiXJOhdejgVMUf?si=kWWo6DlCQZ6fuKTSBya_bg
SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/y6S9hh1Mq4McBD748
Apple Music/iTunes: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/deleyni-youngson/1668899900
TEEN SELF-ESTEEM – AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR SUCCESS
The teen years are a turbulent and confusing time. It is also often when self-esteem is determined. Self-esteem can create confident successful adults when developed properly, or it can wither under lack of confidence during the crucial move into adulthood. Whatever path a teenage takes during these next few years can define how they live the rest of their life. Many teens today are experiencing low self-esteem and is it a natural part of finding their way. The real question is, how can you rise above this?
Self-esteem improvement is obviously easier in theory, but it is well worth the hard work to make this happen. Low self-esteem usually comes from comparing yourself to other people and believing that you do not measure up. Additionally, it arises from not having the accomplishments or not having a pathway and future clearly laid out.
Taking steps to build your self-esteem is one of the best things you can do for yourself. As you start to improve your feelings of self-worth, your life, attitude and outlook will improve.
Developing high self-esteem can help you to:
• Build confidence
• Take the first steps and appropriate risks to achieve goals
• Surround yourself with people who are positive, respectful and supportive
• Believe in your own abilities
• Have stronger friendships and empowering relationships
• Faces challenges and handle life’s problems.
• Be happy with who you are.
15 Signs Your Child Is A Victim of Bullying
Bullying rates in Canada are two-thirds higher than other Western countries1. In over ninety percent of these situations, bullying could have been put to an end by an innocent bystander2. In today’s technology and connected environment, teenagers are more likely to pull out their cellphones than attempt to assist a fellow student that is being subject to bullying behavior. Parents need to stay educated and help guide their children on appropriate ways to deal with these difficult situations.
Bullying can occur in many forms and situations. Cyber bulling takes place over the internet and often experienced by the child while in their own home. While cyber bullying is the new trend, physical and verbal bullying are just as common3.What parents should acknowledge is that children will often not vocalize to their family that they are being victimized.
During the “Empowered Me” Stix and Stones workshops, my students and l dedicate much of our discussion time on the topic. It is a safe environment which allows students to be open and let out the hurt. There is clearly a high level of anxiety and emotional pain. When asked why they don’t discuss this victimisation with somebody they trust or their caretakers, the response from most of them has been “The stuff my parents tell me to try won’t work” or “ I am too embarrassed to tell anyone” It’s so heartbreaking to listen to those responses and how the students keep this pain close to their chest.
Bullying can cause serious harm to a child’s self-esteem, and will often lead to depression and anxiety. Victims are more likely to commit suicide or participate in criminal activity as an adult4.
The WITS (Walk Away, Ignore, Tell Somebody, Seek Help) program has had a positive impact in bringing together families, schools, communities to create conversations that help with children with bullying and peer victimization.
If parents know the signs of bullying and actively look for these, they can intervene and help their children minimize or put an end to the harassment before it’s too late. There is helpful information available from many sources5.
Here is one of the more comprehensive list of signs:
- A child’s refusal to talk about their day at school or a consistent expression of severe hate towards attending school.
- Sudden mood changes, such as being withdrawn, angry, sad, or anxious.
- Unexplained damage to or missing school supplies, books, toys, electronic devices, or clothes.
- Comments about feeling lonely or having few friends.
- Frequent visits to the nurse’s office with complaints of a headache or stomachache.
- Sudden drop in grades and interest in afterschool activities.
- Problems sleeping, nightmares, or bed wetting.
- Unexplained marks, cuts, scratches, or bruises on your child’s body.
- Sudden change in appetite, either an increase or decrease. Binge eating after school may be a sign that their lunch or lunch money is being taken. A decrease in appetite may be a sign of depression.
- Your Child frequently creates excuses to stay home from school.
- A sudden change in group of friends or loss of friends.
- Your Child might get into trouble more often and start acting out in class.
- He or she avoids using the bathroom at school, and waits until they’re home. Bathrooms are often left unattended, and bullies will use this as an opportunity to harass classmates, knowing there’s no adult supervision.
- Signs of low self-esteem or comments which reflect a feeling of helplessness.
- Your child demonstrates fear of walking to school or taking the bus, and demands that you be there at dismissal time.
If your child is a victim of bullying, do not let them push it aside. Speak to a school administrator and seek help immediately.
Self Esteem and Being Bald
I shaved my hair last month for a United Way fundraising event. Since then, the reaction has ranged from comical to interesting. Appearance and image is important to many of us and hair plays a vital role in this. Hair, especially long, flowing styles, are associated with vitality and youthfulness. Hairstyle can alter one’s looks either positively or negatively. To have one’s hair thin out can be a very difficult situation to deal with and impact the very essence of who we are and how we believe others will perceive us.
Positive self-esteem together with confidence drive our self-perception of being attractive. Hair loss will often lead to lower self-esteem. People faced with baldness are susceptible to psychological and emotional stresses, especially if it is coming at the early stages of their lives. A young adult who experiences hair loss will often be perceived to be an older individual, regardless of how young their face might look.
Frustration and helplessness is arguably the most common reaction associated with bald individuals. At the beginning, the person resorts to using shampoos, hair vitamins and other hair care or hair replacement products. Many, if not most of these solutions, will be seen as a poor substitute for natural hair and this can lead to depression and sometimes, anger issues.
Having just shaved my head, please be assured that being bald is not the end of the world. Attitude and how you carry yourself has far more to do with how the world perceives you than does your hair. Most women might not find this easy. However, consider that a good number of men feel comfortable with bald heads and carry these with pride.
Firstly, focus more on the positive aspects of it rather than the negatives. Ever since l shaved my hair, I have added an extra 40 minutes to my sleeping time, eliminated salon expenses, discovered an entirely new and exciting hair accessory world, and permanently removed the discomfort of hair in my face. I have even improved my running times. My friends now call me “The Bullet” and had l known this could lead to running faster, I would have gotten rid of those curls years ago! I find people now focus more on my facial features and eyes than before. It has made me stand out from the crowd and have used this effectively in drawing people to engage them in conversations when promoting several charity events.
For me, being bald has meant using my image as a bald woman to communicate to people to love themselves unconditionally. And I know that I will never have a bad hair day!
Two Major Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem to Have a Better Relationship
Likely you may have heard that you have to love yourself in order to have a successful and loving relationship with someone else. But what does it mean to love yourself, and how do you achieve it? Self-love is a contemporary term that is related to understanding yourself, having confidence. This requires independence. The two methods below are tied and true to help you maintain the independence that is important to reconnect with yourself and gain self-esteem:
Take a Break: These might be dreaded words in relationships, but taking a break has gotten a bad reputation. We need vacations from work, we move away from our childhood homes, so taking some time off from a relationship only makes sense. A break doesn’t have to mean your relationship is broken off temporarily, it can mean taking a few days away from each other to recharge, reconnect with family, or go rediscover some of your favorite activities. Getting some space is important for developing your ability to see things from a different perspective, maintain friendships and family, and for maintaining your sense of self as an individual.
Take Care of Yourself: It can be as simple as giving yourself a manicure or as complicated as finally getting to the doctor. If you are spending all your time taking care of others, you may see your worth only as your ability to make them happy, better, and healthier. If you expect others to take care of you, you may end up disappointed or feel helpless if they don’t. It is important to know you need care, and there is no shame in taking opportunities to put yourself first. Taking care of yourself builds your confidence and independence, and this will make you more effective in supporting the ones you love and building a stronger relationship.
Dalai Lama quantified that tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength. Having been faced with a tragedy, I was naturally compelled to ask- why me? So I reverted to what many told me to do. That is, ‘Be Positive.’ I realized that this ‘Be Positive’ attitude which is widely broadcasted and is successful as well, is exactly what prevented me from staying knocked down and from getting knocked out. The utmost wonder in living exists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. At times, we don’t realize how strong we are until we are faced with tragedy.
Life is like a game of dodgeball. Sometimes we can avoid getting hit, other times you never even see the ball coming that knocks you out. To my friends and every one affected by the fire outbreak in Fort McMurray, this is the time to be resilient. This is the time to be strong. When you put together a jigsaw puzzle you do it piece by piece. You will rebuild your lives again. When you lose something, it comes back in another form.
I cannot say l know how you feel – l don’t. I cannot imagine the tragedy you have been through. Things you lost do not define who you are. How you respond to the things you have lost, is the part you have to make up as you go. But I encourage you to display your positivity by remembering that mental breaks and relaxation will help keep stress chemicals at bay, reducing the likelihood of feeling, or becoming overwhelmed and reactive.
Above all, no matter what sort of difficulties we encounter, how painful the experience, if we lose hope, that becomes our real tragedy.