Hello!

Hope you're all keeping warm, it's cold in Winnipeg and as I update my blog, I'm rubbing my hands to keep them warm!

I wanted to touch upon an issue that I am very passionate about. It's about getting involved in your community. From a young age, I was very active in student politics. My belief was, and still is, that if you want change, then you have to be willing to take action to make that change possible. It's so easy to complain about things that seem unfair. The challenge is to actually take action.

It doesn't matter how you decide to get involved. It's your choice. But I have had a chance to speak to many youth on my past and how I got to where I am today. I was heavily involved in student politics and volunteering with various charities but once I finished University, I suddenly couldn't be a part of student groups. So I ended up going to India to travel for 4 months and my experiences there changed me.

I saw first hand how life is for a girl living in India. Things that seemed normal here were seem as luxuries in India, especially in rural India. Things like ensuring every child have access to basic education is an issue. I saw many children who were not in school. My experiences in India made me realize how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to go to school and have access to affordable post secondary education. Education is so important, especially to females. An educated female is a powerful female as she now has the tools to make better decisions regarding her family.

If you have an opportunity to travel to a foreign country, I would strongly recommend it. Travelling to a place so different from where you are from will give you an opportunity to see first hand how people live around the world.

Even if you can't travel, you can still get involved in your local community. Try volunteering with an organization that you identify with. Try to join a student group. Trust me, it will be an amazing experience for you. You get an opportunity to meet some amazing people, learn new skills, and best of all, you have the opportunity to make a difference.

In Canada, especially in Manitoba, I have always been concerned about our University tuition fees. I was able to put myself through school by working in the summers and working part time during the school year. When I hear about some of the tuition that is paid in other places, it makes me think of how people can afford to get an education. If you're wondering the same thing, you can do something about it. Get involved, be heard, and most importantly VOTE.

Did you know that every year, the vote turnout from youth is low? If you can vote, you should! Having the right to vote is something many people around the world do not have. Voting is a right that was hard fought for, especially for women. Exercise your right to vote. If more youth voted, believe me, the issues you find important like access to affordable education would be a big topic with our elected government representatives.

In closing, I strongly encourage you all to have your voice heard. Get involved and vote and you'll soon see the positive difference your involved will make. Take a moment from your busy life to read about a topic affecting the world. Volunteer with an organization that interests you. Believe me, you'll only benefit from it. As a side note, employers always love to see that you're involved in the community on resumes!

If you have any questions about getting involved in your community, email me at contactus@amindhillon.com or add me on Facebook and send me a message there.

Best of luck!

-Amin xoxo