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Policies are made to help regulate behaviour and keep the grounds civil. Many school policies have been implemented over the years to ensure students have a safe and strong environment to grow. Some of these policies include dress codes, school suspensions, and restorative justice. Amongst these ways to manage behaviour among students, I believe suspensions are the most effective option when used correctly. Suspensions help students evaluate their actions and learn from them, enforce accountability, and keep school grounds a safe and respectful place to be. While some argue that suspensions are too harsh a punishment, when used to help teach a student where they went wrong instead of punishing them as a whole, it helps build character. 

Firstly, suspensions help give a student the chance to rethink their actions and understand where they went wrong. Persistent warnings and conversations could only do so much in terms of regulating behaviour within a child, but when a student is sent home, it gives them time to revisit the situation, point out the behaviour they had and why it deserved such stern punishment. The majority of schools do not just give suspensions as a way to get rid of the problem temporarily; they use this action to help bring out the best in a person without causing any more disruptions for other students who have the right to learn in a respectful environment. 

Secondly, suspension enforces accountability. Although schools are a place of learning, they also serve as places for students to develop real-life skills such as responsibility, accountability, and teamwork. If a student were to break the rules, such as acts of violence, repeated absences or vocal harassment, and the only punishment handed out was a conversation or warning, other students may begin to view rules as optional, as there are no harsh consequences. This causes a domino effect leading to a school filled with students who do not have respect for others, the environment they are gifted to be in, or even themselves. Suspensions help relay the message that certain actions are unacceptable, leading students to understand what is expected of them to maintain a safe school environment, while also understanding what is unacceptable in the world after school. 

Lastly, offering a respectful and safe learning environment is a duty that schools must fulfill for the students and their parents. One student's behaviour has the ability to disrupt an entire class. Repeated acts of disruption, violent outbursts, and bullying make it difficult for other students wanting to participate and learn, causing them to become unfocused and unsafe. In situations like these, I believe removing the student allows teachers to continue their lessons with no distractions. While the student is temporarily removed, other students can return to their studies with no negative feelings or unwanted pressure on them. Educational facilities are made for treating students equally while prioritizing their learning. The removal of the student works in everyone's favour as it gives them the chance to reflect and learn, while everyone else can resume studies. 

Canada is a beautiful, multicultural country, with many communities that can teach me their ways. Growing up with a Mexican mother and an El Salvadorian father does not mean that my culture is something I feel disconnected from; it is what I experience in my everyday life. Who I am has been made up from a blend of Latin American traditions and Canadian culture, which is displayed by the clothes I wear, the food I eat at home, and how I spend my free time.

The food I eat is one of the most meaningful ways of embracing my culture at home. My mother introduced me to what people back in her home country ate. From a young age, I ate tacos with many twists, pozole, tamales Mexicanos, and my favourite sweet treat, conchas. My mother was never ashamed of her culture and took pride in exposing my siblings and me to it, with her speaking Spanish with us at home and showing us how to cook these ethnic meals to bond over. I remember being 7 years old and helping my mom shred pork for tacos al pastor and seasoning the meat with a blend of various Mexican chiles. On the other hand, my father's side of the family introduced me to the El Salvadorian culture, with my grandma making tamales, pupusas, and yuca frita whenever a younger me would tell her I was hungry. At the same time, growing up in Canada with friends from different countries helped me expand to different cultures, such as my Indian friends introducing me to butter chicken and naan, Somali friends introducing me to Sambuusa, and Canadian friends introducing me to Poutine. The mix of cultures has made me open-minded to learning about different cuisines and the significance behind them. 

Fashion is another area where culture has impacted me. On an everyday basis, I wear clothes that have a blend of European designers and North American fashion trends. For casual errands, I would wear sneakers, hoodies and jeans, and when I am going out somewhere nicer, I like to blend European designers such as Balenciaga, Zara, and Acne Studios, to make my outfits stand out, and these brands were introduced to me by European peers. When it comes to family celebrations, my outfits are made up of traditional pieces like suits handmade in Mexico that my mother brought over, scarves made in El Salvador, and charros (Mexican sombrero). One of my favourite pieces I was honoured to wear was a suit made by my grandfather in Mexico that was for a cousin's quinceañera, as I was selected to be a Chambelán. Chambelanes and damas are selected from family and friends to honour the girl entering womanhood, with my cousin's ceremony containing 14 of each to display the 14 years of age that is now behind her. We danced and ate cultural foods with a mariachi band playing beautiful music to end the ceremony. Other times, I have worn cultural clothing that was not my own, such as when I was invited to Eid dinners and was gifted my very own thobe. Muslim men wear thobes to honour Islamic principles of modesty and covering the body Allah has gifted them with. Even beyond my own culture, fashion is one way that I have been impacted throughout my life. 

Throughout my life, I did not think much of the architecture I grew up around, yet visiting my parents' neighbourhoods has made me realize how different it is in Canada from those countries. In Canada, I am surrounded by tall modern buildings, quiet suburbs, and closed-off neighbourhoods. Yet when I am in Mexico or El Salvador, houses are colourful with open yards and beautiful plants creating shade to cool off in during the heat. I am glad to be able to visit both of my families' ranchos and see the livestock that they care for every day and barter with. There have been multiple occasions where my grandfather has taken me fishing in El Salvador and taught me how to catch a fish with just my two hands and fry it up, creating a delicious meal to eat with tortillas and frijoles. Although the architecture is different here in Canada, there are still sprinkles of back home, with shops in Kensington Market having the vibrant colour scheme and treats I would find at the corner stores in Mexico. 

What I do in my leisure time is heavily impacted by my culture. I like to spend my time playing soccer at the park with my family, and watch soccer games with them, all while having a carne asada. Soccer has remained a key part of my life, as growing up, it gave me something to look forward to at school, and at soccer camps, it connected me with more kids from my culture who ended up becoming lifelong friends. One of my favourite memories is from 2014, when my family would rush home after Sunday service and tune in to watch Mexico play. It still crushes my heart how their run ended due to the Netherlands team. At the same time, growing up in Canada has made me want to try new things, such as basketball, which I loved to play throughout high school as the school's starting point guard. Family gatherings are another way I like to spend my time, which are more centered around my own culture with Latin music blasting, Coronas being shared, and jokes being laughed over. These activities have shown me how I am impacted by a blend of cultures. 

Entertainment is another aspect I am very influenced by daily. From the music I listen to to the movies I watch, I am able to see how all cultures within me come out. I enjoyed listening to reggaeton from a young age, cumbia, as well as Mexican corridos, which tell stories about life in Mexico and the hardships they face. One of my cumbias is the song “Desvelado” by Bobby Pulido, which speaks about the love he has for a woman he has never met, and has only heard over the radio. Other music I listen to is British rock, such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Eric Clapton, who I credit as a major influence in my love for guitar playing. Other forms of entertainment would be the movies I watch, with the majority of my favourites being from North America, and the usual watching of a Mexican telenovela. I enjoy watching telenovelas with my mother, as it gives us something to bond over and practice my Spanish. The mix of entertainment has helped me stay connected with my roots. 

My life is shaped by a mix of cultures, and that is something I take pride in. Being a Canadian-born child with Latin American roots has gifted me with a blend of beautiful traditions and influences. Instead of feeling divided by my cultures, I see this as a blessing, with the ability to learn about other cultures outside of my own, giving me a deeper understanding of diversity. Culture is not something I am born with, it is something that I feel in my everyday life and use to shape who I am.

I live in the borough of Etobicoke in Toronto. I have lived here for two years now and already feel as if I am connected with my community. Unlike other boroughs of Toronto, Etobicoke feels more like a quiet suburb with years of stories rather than a city filled with nightlife and living on the edge. Etobicoke is a rapidly changing community that keeps up with the demographic trends of Canada, while maintaining its years of self-identity and community. According to the 2021 Census, Etobicoke’s population stands at roughly 559,110, growing 2.7% more since the 2016 Census. While the growth has helped grow the cultural, economic, and social well-being of the community, there have been various challenges that have affected the lives of immigrants coming into Canada. As we become a more diverse community, we need to find solutions to help keep our home as inclusive and positive as we can. 

One area of demographic change in Etobicoke would be a shift in its cultural diversity. Historically, Etobicoke was very European-dominated and was far more heterogeneous than it is now. Immigrants from all over the world make up half the borough's population, with 288,725 residents identifying as immigrants (Statistics Canada, 2022). Of this number, 4.3% are Indian, 3.9% are Filipino, 2.9% are Italian, with other countries making up the rest (Jamaica 2.7%, Vietnam 2.2%, Guyana 1.6%). This shift in change comes from the change in immigration policies that prioritize multiculturalism (Bloemraad, 2017). With this population change, Etobicoke has become a place where the colour of your skin does not determine the life you live, and everyone pulls their weight to make up a piece of the community. With fusion restaurants combining Somali-Jamaican food and Latin-Asian grocery stores, the change is noticeable from when my parents lived in Etobicoke, where there were mainly white European stores

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This change in culturalism is pleasant to see, but it does not mean it doesn’t pose its own challenges. The labour market reflects the problems the community suffers in today's society, such as language barriers and credentials from one's birthplace not being as recognized. These barriers lead to immigrants being forced to deal with underemployment, stuck working a job they are overqualified for, and receiving barely enough pay to survive. An industry that displays the social dilemma of underemployment would be the Construction Industry, with immigrants from Latin America, such as Mexico, Guatemala, and Brazil, making up half the construction sector (Roy, 2025). These economic inequalities are tied to higher rates of poverty among immigrants and a rise in reliance on rental and government-assisted housing. 

Another common issue in Etobicoke's community is the aging population. The median age is 40.4 with residents aged 65 and over making up approximately 18% of the community. This falls in line with trends in Canada overall, as the life expectancy is rising and birth rates decline (Statistics Canada, 2022). Residents of working age (15-64) make up over 65% of the population, but the birth rates do not seem to be getting better with only 91,495 residents being aged 0-14. An aging population poses a barrier because of the reliance they carry for our healthcare system and system infrastructure. They need community support and government funded programs to help maintain an adequate level of life, meaning those of the working age must support these programs through their tax money and economic productivity. 

Housing costs are another social issue prevalent in Etobicoke's community. Rising house costs across the GTA have made affordable living difficult for immigrants and low-income households. The high demand for rental units contributes to higher poverty rates and limits access for residents to obtain adequate living standards for a low price, which as discussed, is all they can afford due to economic inequality. 

Although these challenges are difficult for residents and newcomers, Etobicoke’s community has implemented different services to combat these problems. Examples of programs for newcomers would be language programs and employment training to help boost their chances at getting a job that is fit to their needs and standards. These services combat the dilemma of underemployment and language barriers, making Etobicoke multicultural and aiding in avoiding cultural conflicts. 

There are also efforts to support the rise in the aging population. With residents not being fit to work after 64, services have been set up to ensure they have suitable healthcare services, recreational programs, and affordable accessible housing options when they do not have a reliable source of income. City transit also is set up to help senior citizens move around without needing a personal vehicle and license. Government assisted housing and programs such as welfare and income support help aim to reduce poverty and assist families in need. Another way that this is being combated is the rise in literacy relating to poverty and engagement opportunities to help support the community. 

In conclusion, Etobicoke is a multicultural community that aims to support the newcomers who help build and advance our society. With the increase of diversity in my community, it also brings its challenges, such as underemployment, rising living costs, and the aging population. Through government-funded programs and community engagement, Etobicoke continues to address any issues arising and remain inclusive, with its ability to adapt to trends, setting the way for a future of success.