Bassma Al Atrache

I am a first-year student in the Health and Life Sciences program with a strong passion for a career that merges healthcare with humanitarian advocacy. I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Jay Shea and Professor Gregory Polakoff for their dedication to providing insightful and thought-provoking material in the World as Stage and Screen Reflections class last fall.

Throughout history, certain strands of Western philosophy have contributed to hierarchical thinking, reinforcing the idea that some individuals or groups hold superiority over others in relationships. However, by analyzing Beckett’s play Endgame, my essay argues the opposite: human relationships are far more complex, and whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all deeply interconnected. We are, in essence, parasites bound to one another—a reality rooted in both biology and psychology.

Eden Atlas

While my field of study at Dawson is the sciences, I have always been fascinated by how artworks (especially cinema) can have contradictory interpretations. This essay was an attempt to break down the challenging techniques Paul Auster uses to build his “detective story” in City of Glass. I approached the analysis with a playful parody of Auster’s postmodern, metafictional style—never expecting to get away with it! Special thanks to Professor Alexander Flamenco, the English Department, and the English Journal for encouraging creative and contrarian approaches to literary content and form in our coursework.

Noémie Bélisle-Gervais

As a political science major, the Marxist idea of class struggle resonates strongly with my understanding of  systemic oppression. I was introduced to class struggle theory through the anti-capitalist and feminist nonfiction literature assigned in Felix Fuchs’ class, notably the Combahee River Collective Statement and the manifesto Feminism for the 99%. “Polarization of the Oppressed: A Marxist Critique of Identity Politics” is my first literary review on the relationship between class and identity politics from a Marxist perspective. This essay and Fuchs’ class remain significant to me because I found through them an intellectually fulfilling area of study to which I want to dedicate part of my future academic research.

 ”Struggle is a school, and an opportunity”

– Feminism for the 99%

Gregory Chae

I am an Arts and Culture student in my last semester of studies at Dawson. I had only a mild but sustained interest in the horror genre before taking Jay Shea’s Reading the Classic Horror Film. Ever since, horror theory irrevocably ‘haunts’ the lenses through which I read any media, and even the ways I have come to contextualize my queer and social identities. I believe there is an incredible emotional intelligence and philosophy behind understanding the tools and effects of horror, especially as a means of resistance. I hope to pursue scenography and theatre studies in university, and further explore my newfound fascinations through my artistic practices.

Meaghan Gagnon

Hi, I am a first-year Enriched Health and Life Sciences student with plans to pursue a career in the field of dentistry. I’ve always been passionate about social issues, and I’m so grateful to be able to explore them through my writing. I wrote this essay for my Introduction to College English course because I wanted to bring awareness to the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Western society through the perspectives of Alicia Elliott and Thomas King. Thank you to Lorne Roberts for his support throughout the writing process and to the Dawson English Journal for publishing my work.

 Zafir Hassan

Hi, I’m a proud graduate of the Class of 2024 who is passionate about examining the ties between social justice, public policy, and the law. My academic path has been driven by personal experiences and observations that have prompted me to challenge conventional thinking, particularly regarding civic duty and the need for careful legal reform. This motivation led me to create “Public Safety vs. Individual Rights: The Gun Laws Dilemma,” an essay in which I analyze how governmental choices affect the health and safety of communities and their progression. I’m currently enrolled in law school in order to learn more about these pressing issues and contribute to effective advocacy.

 Melissa Jabrayan

I am an 18-year-old Armenian-Canadian English Literature student who’s currently enrolled in my last semester at Dawson. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with her two older sisters, watching the Montreal Canadiens play, and reading character-driven novels. In my essays, I attempt to fuse together my interest in political and social issues and my literary analysis. I plan to continue to study literature in university, and hope to become a professor one day. 

Maya Kaci

I am a Dawson Pure and Applied Science student in my second session, and I recently arrived in Canada from Algeria. While my academic pursuits revolve around STEM, I have always nurtured a deep passion for literature and the artful play of language. My Amazigh heritage gives language a deeper meaning not just as a means of communication but as a connection to history and identity. The Amazigh language, with its rich oral tradition and unique script, has shaped my appreciation for the power of words, both spoken and written.

Sydnie Letourneau

Hi, I’m Sydnie, a fourth-semester Enriched Pure and Applied student and a Dawson Rugby team athlete. I wrote “The Theme of Isolation and Fate in ‘The Wanderer’” in my second semester for Jessica Cadieux’s Old English Poetry class. Initially, I had no idea the course focused on Old English, and to be frank, I almost dropped it, finding the language daunting and quite intimidating. However, it turned out to be an eye-opening experience, deepening my appreciation for English literature, history, and culture. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a career in Biomedical or Chemical Engineering.

Kamila Shome

I graduated from Dawson College in 2024 and now attend McGill University in Biomedical Sciences. I wrote this essay on Ling Ma’s novel Severance as a summative assessment for Professor Liam Lachance’s course Anti-capitalism in Fiction. Essentially, this essay explores the significance behind the author’s strategic employment of flashbacks throughout her novel, as well as how she utilizes this literary tool to include the reader in the events of the story to further the underlying message of the novel itself.

Ashley Simo

Although I am a second-year International Business student, I am greatly interested in the arts and its relation to social science. This led me to take an art history humanities class two semesters ago which made me aware of the importance of giving space to silenced voices within the art world. I took a lot of pleasure learning about an artist who creates a bridge between people and time in such a powerful manner. Special thanks to Professor Leanne D’Antoni for encouraging me to submit this paper for publication but mostly for opening my eyes to the lack of representation in academic curricula.

Maura Tepperman

I am a graduating literature student, and I plan on studying acting next year. If I’m not tap dancing, playing piano or running, you’ll find me banging my head against a wall trying to find the perfect word to use in my essay or novel. Written in my class called The Novel, this essay is heavily inspired by my Literary Theory and Criticism course, which introduced me to the convoluted wonders of poststructuralism and beyond.

Lilian Yates

I am a second-year Psychology student at Dawson. Even though I am pursuing a career in psychology, writing has remained an important passion. I was clearly excited, then, to take a class on poetry since it is something I love and have never studied. From a group of topics, I chose to discuss time and space because they are both abstract and fundamentally a part of our lives. It was quite a challenge to structure an essay around such intangible concepts, but I believe it worked out in the end. Enjoy!

Christopher Boa “The Proto-Indo-European Origins of Mélusine” 

I am a Dawson Health Science alumnus studying Chemical Engineering at McGill University. Despite my affinity toward STEM-related fields, I have always had a side passion for the study and clever manipulation of language. The inspiration behind this analysis of the iconic Mélusine was an in-class debate organized by Dr. Charlotte Hussey, challenging us to determine whether she was a demon or deity using the knowledge we had acquired from her unique Arthurian Romance class. This essay aims to settle that debate from beyond the hackneyed binary of good and evil. 

Author Bios 2024 Edition

Christopher Boa  “How Cultural Barriers Are Overcome in Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring”

 I am a Dawson Health Science alumnus studying Chemical Engineering at McGill University. Despite my affinity toward STEM-related fields, I have always been fascinated by the geopolitical realities of our world and the interactions between different cultures. This curiosity prompted me to take Rebecca Million’s class on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a novel notorious for its masterful world-building. This essay aims to capture a snapshot of the delicate and complex diplomatic relations fabricated by Tolkien – and how they mirror those of our world. 

Clara Frey “A Psychoanalytic Reading of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver” 

Clara Frey is an 18-year-old Dawson literature student from Montreal. Her pastimes include watching and discussing films with her psychoanalyst mother, writing poems on the metro and battling the urge to use Chat GPT for fear of losing the beauty of the written word. Clara’s work has previously been published in the Encore Poetry Anthology, Dawson’s 2024 Annual Writing Contest as well as in the Plant News, where she is a staff writer. 

Alex Hadley “Art Critique Assignment: The Magic of the Mythic Montreal Canadiens” 

I am a hockey-loving, aspiring author in my second year of General Social Science at Dawson. I am the President of Dawson’s Model UN delegation, a die-hard Habs fan, and I like lugging around thick, back-pain-inducing Stephen King books wherever I go. I do my best writing in the journal gifted to me by my wonderful girlfriend, which I carry with me and write in whenever I am struck with inspiration. Next year, I intend to pursue my studies at Bishops’ University in Philosophy. 

Zachary Inzlicht “Analyzing Empathy in Graphic Memoirs: Persepolis and Fun Home” 

My name is Zach, and I am a second year Health Sciences program student with a passion for life sciences. In my essay, I explore the theme of family dynamics in Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” and Alison Bechdel’s “Fun Home.” Through the lens of family portraiture, first-person narration, and violent imagery, I delve into the empathic potential of the graphic memoir medium. Furthermore, my overarching goal for this essay is to bring attention to this unique medium and to advocate for the incorporation of graphic memoirs into the learning environment. 

Isabelle Kemp “Review: A Child Who Became Enormous” 

Hi! I’m Isabelle, a Social Science student in my last semester. Although the plan is to go into management in the fall, I’ve always been one to look forward to my English classes. In my second semester, I hesitantly chose a poetry class — mainly because it fit nicely into my schedule — but also because it intrigued me. After a couple of classes, I found myself enjoying the material and appreciating my professor Bryan Sentes’ enthusiasm. With his kind words of encouragement, my professor convinced me to send in one of the poetry reviews I had written during the semester.   

Julieta Lozano-Ramsay “Passion vs. Responsibility in ‘Wulf and Eadwacer’” 

Thanks for reading! My time in Environmental Studies would be for naught without emphasizing that Dawson lives upon, for instance, unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory (native-land.ca). I wrote this essay in Old English Poetry in Translation. This class filled me with fun facts, featured one of my many Dawson teachers who was receptive to my challenges, and introduced me to this uniquely charming and striking poem. As a future geographer-writer-person, I especially appreciate its natural imagery. Otherwise, I highly recommend reading the elegy alongside a modern fantasy story featuring the ‘wolf man vs prestigious guy’ trope. Twilight wasn’t out of nowhere… 

Dorlicas Buyibu Makuikila “Afro-Pessimism: The Interplay of Racism and Double Consciousness in Get Out and Between the World and Me“

I am a second-semester Congolese student in the Law Society and Justice program, and intend to become an attorney in the future. I wrote this essay for my first semester Cosmic Pessimism class where I was introduced to the concept of Afro Pessimism. This essay is not meant to be seen as a symbol of hope for us but as a way of expressing dread and the bleakness of the Black Experience. Read this and be uncomfortable by our pain and suffering. Read this and keep your eyes on The DRC and all other Afro nations. 

Ahmad Mousattat “The Dichotomy Within: The Conflict between The Civil and The Primitive in The Epic of Gilgamesh ” 

I am a first-year Enriched Health Science student. This text was written in the Story of Us Reflections course as an analysis of the immortal Epic of Gilgamesh. I would like to extend my gratitude to professor Rebecca Million for asking me to submit it for publication. I am currently studying with the plan of doing Field Medicine in the future and working in the international Humanitarian efforts, in which I am heavily involved currently. 

Ihsane Sarif “Unmasking Bill 21: Discrimination Behind the Veil of Secularism”

Hi, I’m Ihsane, a fourth semester student in Enriched Pure and Applied Sciences. This essay was written within the framework of my second semester’s humanities class Public Stories: Journalism, Democracy and The Media taught by Joseph Rosen.  I have always been passionate about communicating on social issues and debates and so when an open-topic essay was required, I already knew I had to write about bill 21. I would like to study medicine or law in the future, wherever future events lead me. 

Tamila Varyvoda  “The Clash’s Lyrics: A Bouquet of Critiques of Capitalism”  

I am a fourth-semester student in Health Science and am someone who takes pleasure not only in delving into scientific curiosities but also in getting creative with writing and music. Hence, an English class dedicated to Punk Rock piqued my interest; this was my final essay for it, and I hope that as you read through, a vision for a more altruistic society blooms in your mind. Thank you to Professor Andrew Williams for persistently encouraging a deeper exploration of ethical considerations in our writing and the Dawson English Journal for the privilege of seeing my work in print!
 

Mike Wabo “Analysis of Tolu Oloruntoba’s Poem ‘Medical Séances'” 

I am in my fourth semester of the Pure and Applied Science program. After I graduate, I will head towards engineering to fulfill my passion for innovation and development. This essay was written in my Poetry Now class taught by Bryan Sentes where I discovered a newfound interest in poetry by reading Tolu Oloruntoba’s poem “Medical Séances”. When analyzing his work, I enjoyed dissecting the poetic language in the medical field highlighting the inextricable link between science and literature.   `