As a grade 12 student, I can clearly remember the stress of having to decide where I was going to apply to university. Would I apply to schools close to home, or to schools far away? Maybe even outside of Canada? It was a busy time, but one area in which I didn’t have any stress was what major I was going to apply for. I knew very clearly that I was going to study engineering.

You see, I had been told since I was young that I’m good at math and science, and therefore, I should go into a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related field. I took great pride in the fact that I planned to study engineering. However, there was a negative side to this STEM encouragement. The praise for my early success with math and science courses often went so far as to mock those who excelled in English, sociology, or art.

Yes, Anjulie is a Juno-award-winning, platinum-selling songwriter and producer. It’s true that she’s worked with stars like Nicki Minaj, Icona Pop, Kelly Clarkson, Diplo, Zedd, Boombox Cartel and Benny Benassi. But when she was younger, she went through back to school jitters just like many other young girls may be experiencing this month. Now she wants to share what helped her in the hopes that it helps another young girl feel confident inside and outside the classroom!

Make Friends with People in Different Groups and Grades

One thing that was good about not being a popular girl in high school was that I had to be more creative with my friendships. Instead of trying to fit in with people who weren’t awesome enough to want to hang out with me, I found people that had common interests in other areas like the chess club, drill practice, and student council. The more motley your crew, the better you’ll be at making friends as you grow.

It’s back to school season! The thought of a new grade or even a new school may be a little daunting for many children, but there’s the usual excitement to see that old friend again, say hi to their favourite teacher, or go shopping for that cool back to school item with parents or guardians. However, for far too many of our children, back to school means back to body shaming and size- and appearance-based discrimination on a daily basis – and that’s not including cyberbullying which never takes summer break.

According to PREVNet, Canada’s authority on research and resources for bullying prevention, 75% of people say they’ve been affected by bullying and 78% of Canadians say not enough is being done to stop bullying in their community. And unfortunately, when it comes to cyberbullying, we know from a recent Canadian Women’s Foundation study that Canadians aren’t optimistic about the future: 87% of Canadians believe the next generation of women in Canada will be just as or more likely to experience online harassment. The effects of bullying online and offline can include lowered self-esteem, habitual school absenteeism, poor academic performance, and heightened risks for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, engaging in unhealthy relationships, criminal activities, and even suicide.