Emily is one of our newest writers at Her Campus YorkU. It was my pleasure to interview her and get to know her. Emily shares some of her favourite artists, places she wants to visit, and how she manages to do what she does!
Name: Emily Moore
Program: Honors Professional Writing
Age: 21
Hometown: Richmond Hill
Born: Montreal, Quebec
Let’s start off with some interesting facts that many people don’t know about you. Tell us about yourself!
I did kickboxing and jiu jitsu for a number of years and actually wrecked my knuckle pretty badly, so I needed to take some time off. I also volunteered at a church which helped feed homeless people in my first year. I would walk there and get to cook and socialize with them. I learned a lot from them: about social justice and the plight of the homeless population. It is something I am really passionate about.
Originally, I went to Brescia at Western, and although I am very independent, I hated being away from home and my family.
That’s amazing to hear! You have been involved with spectacular things including giving back to the community. What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time is scarce nowadays. But, a passion of mine is painting and working with chalk pastels. I worked in a craft store for the past 2 years, so I love doing DIYs. In the warmer weather, I love exploring new places, going to the beach and going on picnics.
That sounds very productive & I can definitely relate with the exploring new places. What are your top four destinations that you want to travel to?
I would love to travel to Switzerland, Australia, Greece and Hungary in the future. There are so many other places I would love to explore – it’s hard to pick just four.
I agree, it is hard to pick only four since there is just so much to see! What’s your favourite place in Toronto?
I am not a huge city girl to be totally honest but I love shopping outdoors on Queen Street. One of my closest friends and I love walking around there and the Kensington Market area. Toronto also has this great restaurant called Wilbur Mexicana and I am a sucker for it because I love Mexican food. They have such good guacamole. I definitely recommend it if you haven’t been there already.
You can never go wrong with Queen Street! It’s always lively. What made you get into writing?
Funny enough, I was born in Montreal and moved here in Grade 2. When I moved here, I was immediately put into ESL. My spelling and writing skills in English were awful by second grade standards. Having that one-on-one attention really helped me grow and fall in love with English. I soaked it up like a sponge and by the time I graduated from Grade 8, I got the English award. That was a proud moment for me and it gave me a lot of confidence.
Wow! That’s really inspiring to hear. What specific topics do you like writing about?
In terms of blog posts, I really love giving advice. Just knowing that I can speak to someone’s heart and values really makes me happy. That being said, I really enjoy taking risks in my academic writing. Whether that is writing about an unpopular opinion, or an issue that is really close to my heart, I am all for it. Writing isn’t about being popular, it’s about expressing your point of view.
Yes, I totally agree! You should write about what your heart wants to express instead of always going for the popular option. What is your favourite genre of music? Can you list some of the artists you listen to?
Michael Kiwanuka’s songs are consistently good. I was invited to a Brad Paisley concert and fell in love with how wholesome country music was. I also love The Tragically Hip. But truthfully, I am more a pick-and-choose-my-favourite-songs kind of gal.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed with all the work you do? How do you cope with it?
Absolutely. I went through a period where I felt like I needed to do the maximum amount. Since I am fast tracking my program, I’ve realized the importance of taking breaks. I am a person who feels guilty if I am not doing ‘everything’ and I think it is important not to fault yourself if you know you can’t do something or if it is causing you undue stress. The trick to avoid being overwhelmed is having a planner, updating it regularly and taking it with you everywhere. Getting all your important due dates on paper takes the burden off of you and your mind. Working while in school really taught me time management and the importance of not waiting until the last minute. It is all the same amount of work whether you space it out or leave it to the last minute.
Do you have any siblings?
I have one older brother named Michael. He’s a graduate from computer engineering and working at a startup. Needless to say, his talents and interests are the exact opposite of mine. While growing up, I needed to learn that wherever he excelled didn’t diminish any of my talents. Once I realized that, it became less of a competition and more about embracing our own gifts.
What is one quote or motto that you swear by?
I stand by the quote, “Everything happens for a reason.” I truly believe that every experience you go through is meant to help you grow in some way. Everything that is placed in our lives puts us on a unique path that molds us into who we are. Sometimes what we are going through in our lives doesn’t make sense, but one day you’ll realize there was this greater plan for your life and certain things wouldn’t have happened if something else didn’t fall through.
Describe your friend circle and how you met them?
I would say I have a few friend circles. The first is a group of guy friends I have from high school. They are all hilarious and genuinely good guys. I also have a small group of girlfriends. One of my best friends is someone I met in Grade 2 and the other is someone I met while on exchange in Europe a couple years ago. York also has a great Catholic Chaplaincy (CCY). Everyone there is so welcoming and kind. There are so many people there I would call my friends!
Nice! They all sound like an amazing group of friends to have. What is on your bucket list for next summer?
I am working on trying to teach English in Spain this summer. On top of that I want to do a course abroad! I am realizing that this might be my last opportunity to travel before I graduate. I really believe the time to do these things is while you are young. Hopefully, I will also get a week in at the cottage and soak in some sunshine by the beach.
That sounds fantastic! You should definitely go on exchange, it will be a life changing experience. I’ve been on exchange myself, I totally recommend you to go! Last but not least, what intrigued you to join Her Campus at York U? What do you expect to achieve here as a writer and in the marketing department?
I was friends with Feimoon even before we were both apart of Her Campus (I wrote her profile, here). She was actually the one who texted me and told me they were looking for writers. I did some research to find out what it was all about and I really liked the vibe I got. So, I immediately applied and the rest is history. I loved the idea of getting more writing experience and building my own portfolio. Her Campus at York U is not only fun but it is great to put on a resume. It is something I can show to my future employer one day.
Interested in joining a group of amazing girls like Emily? Click one of our links below to contact us. We are always looking to expand our community and this could mean YOU!
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All photos are courtesy of Emily Moore.