Creative non-fiction by Anna Shubina
Learning is like a puzzle. Each piece is part of a continuous journey. Be patient and trust it. And get ready for the upcoming.
Imagine moving to a new country at a quite grown age and learning something that the vast majority of your generation there fought for since they were children.
This is what has been happening to me. And here are my insights.
PUZZLE #1
The mission of each generation varies from place to place. Coming from a country that had been continuously on the edge of attacks or shellings – we fought for our safety and just appreciated each minute of being safe and alive. In Ukraine, geography topics on climate weren’t introduced in depth to me. So knowing where was the closest bombing shelter and “the further you move from the equator the colder it gets” were some of the things that stuck in my brain.
But Canada broadened my knowledge and showed me how else we can take care of our land besides defending it. Starting from Canada’s impact on world history to current global living conditions. The cross-over of international and intersectional experiences all in one place. Together with everyone, you apply your knowledge and advocate for something that affects human well-being. You realize the power of young minds and actions. The power of studying at world-ranking universities playing huge games in economies and politics.
PUZZLE #2
Modern technology is cool but are you aware of its implications? Usually, you expect from a media degree something very creative and being involved in exciting projects. This is true but let’s also add climate depression on top. As a student new to climate conversation – mandatory Media History courses, ENGL 232 and ENGL 332, were those triggers to encourage my action and learning. You know when there’s something that you are deeply interested in and would like to connect your future with – but simultaneously it is something that destroys our world.
Media evolution was a huge focus of these classes. First, we start with nature alternation: the computer’s capability to recreate natural sounds (e.g. bird songs) to listen to within the comfort of our homes. Then the more comforting and accessible we want our experiences to be, the more digital users appear around the world. And what this means? E-X-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N. Would like a new iPhone? Sure! Have you heard it takes thousands of years for e-waste to decompose? But you really need to elevate the quality of your marketing with that new device, so.. what do you do?
Something clicked in my mind like a toaster. As an emotionally sensitive person with intense visual imagination – the climate future did not look good to me.
PUZZLE #3
You’re assigned a presentation about an art exhibition which you had to visit. You expect nothing more than to see some pretty paintings and yawn a few times. I hadn’t visited Belkin Art Gallery before – so to make it less anxious, we gathered a little student group.
“Elemental Cinema” was a series of films about four elements – water, earth, fire, and air. Artists reconstructed the colonial framework of linear existence and present new approaches to thinking about our living. “What does it mean to disorder Western thinking?” The art pieces challenged categorization across the notions of nature.
This exhibition made you openly speak about climate change in class. It fascinated you to the core that you could not sit still anymore.
I noticed this parallel in how mathematical thinking resulted in huge consequences for our understanding of the universe. Instead of living all as one whole – we see nature as separate items. But in reality, water is a part of the air, the air is a part of the earth, the earth is a part of water and so on. Without the existence of one or another, our planet cannot function the way it was created.
PUZZLE #4
Learning about global warming in scholarly articles and exhibitions is one thing but when you feel it on your own skin – that’s when you remember it the most.
Last summer my day and even week plans were completely shuttered by orange smoke in the air. (I don’t remember moving to Mars?) Vancouver was literally like a cutlet on a frying pan.
“AIR QUALITY ADVISORY FOR METRO VANCOUVER,”
“EXTREME WILDSMOKE,”
“BURNING WILDFIRES,”
“URGENT: AIR QUALITY WARNING”
… were blowing my phone with notifications across platforms.
You’re struck. The freshest air was only within the four walls of your apartment which pressured your physical body from all sides.
All the courses and assignments on corporations, monopolies, and conglomerates rapidly scrolled through your eyeballs.
Why this is all put onto our young shoulders? Feeling such an enormous burden simply due to somebody wanting to increase their profits.
How my sustainability peers are dealing with that?
PUZZLE #5
I asked the universe and She answered me. The Media Studies department dropped an email about a course on climate change.
“Wanna sign up together?” I asked my co-worker as he wasn’t a climate advocate and knew everything about that.
So I went.
First class.
Doing introductions.
Biology, Ocean Conservations, Environmental Sciences. Protested since they were a child.
Woow, Anna, you have to catch up on things. You know you want to be like them, so you have to work on this. I know, this is why I’m here.
I brought up my outcomes from Media History classes on any occasion I could. I just wanted to be relatable to them. And it made me proud.
This course made me realize that fighting for a cause had various solutions by approaching from the field you’re a professional in – (such a slay).
The thrilling feeling when you make connections with passionate and dedicated students that you’re admiring.
The motivation you have to do readings and watch other students speak about something they care about or are overwhelmed about.
All together in this journey.
PUZZLE #6
As somebody who was hired to work in the governing body of our student community – you had to absorb a lot of information about those who advocate for us on a regular basis.
This was my first time fully participating in and promoting AMS Elections. Relationship with RBC was a hot question for almost every candidate running. Before it never crossed my mind that such a financial institution, I saw an ad on every single street, was actually destroying us and our land behind our backs.
You realize how many justice groups are on campus and memorize their names. You get to know their worries and demands. And learn how people in power act upon those.
It was a difficult feeling when you read about your university, the place you call a second home, investing in human rights violations.
Especially where a country’s name, which oppresses your people back home, was on that list. So you grab a piece of a carton, attend a divestment protest, and join a unison of young powerful voices.
The number of students who came for the March for Divestment was a sign of hope. The more I educate myself, the better job I can do in supporting people and fixing terrible things.
A figure of myself before entering UBC and today showed growth, and I was excited about further development.
PUZZLE #7
[This user is typing at the moment…]