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Hello everyone! My name is Shobhit Sinhmar. My mother gave me this name, and it holds a very special meaning for me. “Shobhit” means someone who spreads happiness, which is something I try to live by in my daily life.

The pronunciation is straight forward “Sho” (like show) and “bhit” (rhymes with bit). Most people call me simply by my first name, Shobhit.

I feel grateful for the thought behind my name because it’s more than just an identity it’s also a reminder of the values my family wanted me to carry with me.

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Hi everyone. My name is Max! But I also go by Meir. Meir is short for my complete Hebrew name, Meir-Gedalya. Which means Meir (The Bright Light in the Darkness) and Gedalya the Hebrew translation of my legal name, Maximiliano, "The Greatest."

My Father wanted to name me something that meant something great, and he thought of Maximilian the Great, thus, named Maximiliano. I grew up Christian, and it wasn't until a 3 years ago now, we discovered I had Jewish roots on both sides of my family. After this, me, who had been suffering from immense guilt and confusion as not feeling like I was meant to be Christian, decided to learn more about Judaism, thus, at 15, I told my family I wanted to become Jewish. At first they weren't thrilled, but they accepted quickly.

When it was time for me to pick my Hebrew name last year, I called my friend group (All Jewish), to help me pick. They all pushed me to pick Meir and Gedalya. I thought they were beautiful and didn't think much. When they told me their meanings, I cried, because I Judaism, Jewish children are named after relatives who passed and/or the meanings of them names are what they parents hope their children will be. In a way, my family and community see me as this little bright Great light in the darkness. And after the year I experienced, I feel that way too.

Now, for the pronunciation: Maximiliano (Mahk-see-mee-lee-AH-noh).

Meir-Gedalya. (MY-er) + (geh-dah-LYAH).

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Hello, my name is Gurleen kaur and It’s a Punjabi name of Sikh origin. The word “Gur” means Guru or spiritual teacher, and “Leen” means absorbed in or immersed. So, my name means one who is absorbed in god and my name’s pronunciation is “Gur-lean” More over, this gif can describe me a lot (haha). I was born and raised in India. I came here 2 years ago as an international student. My parents gave me this name, but i would go by the name “Ganeev”.

I’m so excited about this course and i can’t wait to see you all in next class :)

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My name is Beerkamal singh given to me by my father. It is pronounced Beer-kah-mul. In Punjabi, “Beer” means brave and “Kamal” means lotus, so together it means a brave lotus, showing strength and purity. “Singh” means lion, which stands for courage. Most people call me Beerkamal, but sometimes I go by kamal

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My name is Harmeet Kaur. My family given me this name. It has a very special meaning. It belongs to Punjabi Language. It is the combination of two words that is HAR and MEET. Both words have different meaning in Punjabi language. HAR means God and MEET means Beloved. So, HARMEET means Beloved of God. I just love the meaning of my name that connects me towards God. I am very glad that my family has given me such a beautiful name with the mesmerising meaning holds to it.

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Hi everyone, my name is Jagjeet Singh. I’m from india and I’m currently studying buissness management. I got this name from my parents. and its a two word which simply translates to - "JAG"= "WORLD" + "JEET" = "WIN" . My friends call me jaggi.

i don't mind if anyone call me by this name.

Some of my main interests are cars and traveling. BTW this is a picture of Mamquam falls.

its a great view with park and little walk.

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Hi everyone, I'm Kels. My full name is Kelsey, which doesn't have any significance to me or my family, but I believe it was originally a surname and comes from the name of a place in Scotland. How I got it is at least slightly interesting, my mom got it from a coworker, who would go on to be Justin Bieber's grandmother. Do people still know who that is? Anyway, I just go by Kels, because I can't be bothered to change it (or because I don't have any idea of what to change it to anyway).

Instead of a photo of me, this is a photo of something important to me: one of my (two) cats, Hypatia. I'm blind and he seems to think that he's my guide dog and hardly leaves me alone, so he'll definitely be getting in the camera if I Zoom from home. His name comes from Hypatia of Alexandria, an Egyptian philosopher, astronomer, mathematician, etc. who was murdered because she was too cool and likeable, basically.

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hey everyone, a bit about myself:

I was born and raised in Mexico. I’m also now a Canadian citizen, at the moment in San Francisco for work, so here you can see me visiting the famous bridge yesterday. I studied acting for two years after high school and now I’m getting a bachelor in education to be a teacher. I teach Spanish freelance. I discovered I love that, also cooking, painting, biking, watching movies 🥰 I don’t know the meaning of my name, (FEHR-NAANDAH) it’s not like some names that have an obvious meaning in their language. Google says “adventurous, bold journey”. I agree haha. My last name Lobo means Wolf in Spanish. I am interested in knowing about the indigenous and history from where I’m from, specially being far away now. I still visit every year though and I’m very close to family 🥰

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I used to be that well-fed man...  minding my own business and living in my comfortable ivory tower...

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I am also taking other political science classes this semaster. This cartoon was brought up by one of my instructors. It somehow shocked me deeply inside of my heart. I was just having a reflection on how I used to be. Anyways, my journey of transformation began with my Spanish classes here that got me interested in Latam history and politics. The moral of the story is... don't let personal greed blind your perception. What seems to be choatic has its root cause. Without understanding, we would fall into that role as this well-fed man who is out of touch of the reality.

About my name... I was named by my ESL teacher from Spain. I was often confused by how people calling my "real name" (sounding like "Highway" most of the time, sometimes... Hiwi??!! lol). So, my teacher named me "Isabella" because I somehow reminded her of Queen Isabella. Anyways, I prefer go to by Isabela instead because it sounds more Latina! Me gustan Latam y espanol !!!!!

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This picture was taken at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet. The art explains alot about togetherness.

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Kamalpreet Kalkat, a name given to me by my grandparents with love. My pronouns are she/her. It has a special meaning because it carries their hopes, blessings, love, expectations, and family traditions. In punjabi tradition, Kamal means “lotus”, a symbol of purity and spirituality. Preet means “love or affection”. Together Kamalpreet means “one with a pure and loving heart”. Kalkat is my family name connecting me with my family heritage.

When I learned the meaning of my name I felt so proud. My name always reminds me to stay calm and be kind to everyone, despite the situations.

The name given to me is more than just a word - it is a blessing and a guide for the person I am growing into.

Some of my interests includes, long drives, nature, sunsets and sunrises, cooking, and volunteering.

I work as an Esthetician and a skin therapist. I also volunteer in NGOs. I believe in being available if somebody is in need, and always try my best to put smile on someone’s face.

As my granny use to say, “ Instead of being a model, Be a role model”. Be a kind of person who inpire others.

Nice meeting you all. Looking forward for a great semester ahead.☺️

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My name is Riho. It is pronounced “Ree-ho.” I don’t know the exact story of how my parents chose it, since they never told me directly, but I understand the meaning from the characters. The first part means “village” or “hometown,” and the second part means “to walk” or “steps.” Put together, it suggests moving forward while cherishing one’s hometown as a place of comfort. I like this interpretation because it reflects how I want to live my life, taking steps toward the future without forgetting my roots. I usually go by Riho.

I am originally from Japan and came here about two years ago.

This photo was taken on an airplane when I returned to my hometown of Japan. It turned out beautifully, and I like it.

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Hi everyone! My name is Ariadna, but I typically go by Ari.

For some context to my name, I was born in Spain. There, they have a 'Legal Names Book' that is shown to expecting parents to find the "right name" for their kids. This is done so that there is no confusion on it, pronunciation errors, and/or a name that can be used to make fun of. My name was originally Arianna (to go matching with my older sister, Adrianne). However, this name was not found in the book! The closest one was Ariadna, with a D! Long story short, I have a VERY spaniard name. My last name is a super Venezuelan last name, Marcano. It is from the Italian ancestors our country's history holds.

My parents are both born and raised in Venezuela, with immigrant parents/grandparents from Italy and Lebanon (they are all very proud Venezuelans, however).

We moved to Venezuela when I was 3 and lived there until I was 8 in the most beautiful island, called Margarita!

I have now lived in Canada for 11 years, but am still very proud of my heritage and culture. My family and I travel back to Venezuela almost every year since we have the majority of our family there.

I'm super excited about this class because it feels like another way to be proud of my roots and share them with the rest of the world as well as learn about other peoples cultures!

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Hii.. Everyone. My name is Noor. The meaning of my name is light, it means brightness and glow. I'm from India and this is my last semester at Langara. I love playing table tennis and I am also a readoholic. I love reading novels. This is me in the picture you see, I love travelling and trips. I am also excited to take this course and I am looking forward to it. Cant' wait to see you all in the next class:)

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Hi my name is Aaron. I'm not sure what my name means, but I do know that my mom wanted to name me Angel if I was a girl, but I am not, so she chose Aaron. A couple random facts about me is that my favourite movie of all time is Batman :The Dark Knight. And my favourite genre of food is either Mexican or Asian food. I look forward to this semester with y'all!

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The name Daksh originates from Sanskrit and holds a very positive meaning. It translates to skilled, capable, and competent, symbolizing someone who is intelligent, precise, and efficient in their actions. In Hindu mythology, Daksha was a revered Prajapati, the son of Lord Brahma, associated with creation, responsibility, and the performance of rituals. Because of this, the name also carries spiritual and cultural importance, representing discipline and leadership. Overall, Daksh reflects qualities of wisdom, responsibility, and the ability to excel in different aspects of life, making it a name that conveys strength of character and respect.

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Hi! My name is Pooja. My parents were between the names Pooja and Kiran, and they chose Pooja because, unbeknownst to my mom, my dad's aunt was named Pooja and she was his favourite family member. I believe my name means worship. It's pronounced poo-ja. I don't have other names I go by. A random fact about me is that I used to have a One Direction fan account of twitter until March 26th, 2015 and I used to do daily updates on what the band members were upto for 3 years. So technically I have been a journalist for 13 years. I'm excited for this class and hope everyone has an amazing semester!!

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My name is Joshua, deriving from the word Hebrew word/name(?), Yeshua, which I believe means, "Jesus saves". My parents are Christian and picked biblical names for my sister and I.

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Hi my name is parvinder kaur. I am from Punjab . I an enrolled in last semester in diploma in general arts.I like to read books. Currently i am working as sport manager in walmart.

I am interested to learn about diversity in terms of culture and about indigenous people

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Hi, My name is Alejandra and I was born and raised in Ecuador. My name is from Greek roots, coming from "Alexander the Great", a well known Greek military leader and its meaning is "defender of womankind". My father gave me this name as he both liked the meaning and its Greek origin, and its usually given to someone destined for greatness. Honestly I don't think I would go by any other name if this wasn't my name. :)

As for the picture is me with my cat as he's one of the most important things in my life.

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My name is Dylan, and its a Welsh name that means "great tide," "son of the sea," or "born from the ocean." Prior to looking up the meaning of my name, I didn't know much about it. My cultural heritage is Sikhism, but since my parents and I are from Canada and only speak English fluently, it explains why I received an English name, and not a Sikh one. Additionally, my name is very popular, as its a top 100 name in North America. I think its a cool name and I'm content with it. As for the picture I chose, its a T-Ball trophy from 2012. I selected it because it was the first organized sport that I ever played. Playing T-Ball with my friends helped me develop a massive passion for sports, (basketball in particular), and now I've been watching and playing sports for 13 years now !

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Ridham Jethi is a proud individual from India, deeply rooted in the country's rich cultural and religious heritage. Coming from a background that believes in the values of Hinduism, Ridham places great importance on tradition, spirituality, and the practices passed down through generations. The vibrant culture of India, with its diverse customs, festivals, and rituals, is an integral part of my identity. Growing up in an environment that cherishes the teachings of Hinduism, I am not only follows the spiritual principles but also actively participates in cultural celebrations that bring together family, community, and faith. The deep connection to religion and culture shapes a sense of belonging and pride, which I carries forward in everyday life.

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Hi! My name is Mariana, I’m from Peru. I’ve been living abroad for a while now, and I really enjoy getting to know new places and people. I love talking about food and culture (especially Peruvian food!), and I’m always up for learning something new.

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My name is Karmandeep Kaur. It is said like Kar-man-deep Core. My parents gave me this name when I was born in India. In Punjabi, “Karman” comes from karma which means actions, and “deep” means light. So my name means light of good deeds. The last name “Kaur” is given to all Sikh girls and it means princess.

Most people call me by my full name, but sometimes they say Karman for short. I like my name because it shows my Punjabi culture and reminds me to do good things in life.

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Hi everyone! My name is Samreen Kaur (pronounced Sahm-reen), and it comes from my Punjabi/Sikh heritage, meaning “precious” or “valuable.” My parents chose my name because they wanted it to remind me of my worth and to encourage me to stay true to myself no matter what. I go by Samreen, and I’ve always felt that my name carries a story of identity and connection to my culture. To me, my name is like a small treasure I carry with me, full of meaning and history. If I could represent it visually, it would be a lotus flower floating on water, growing through challenges but always blooming beautifully, or a key that unlocks stories, memories, and connections with the people I meet. I also think my name reflects a sense of curiosity and openness I like learning about others’ names and what makes them special. Names are like tiny windows into our personalities and histories, and sharing mine feels like sharing a little piece of who I am. I’m excited to see all your names, hear your stories, and celebrate the meaning behind them together!

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Hello everyone! My name is Raghvi, from India—pronounced RAH-gha-vee, with the emphasis on the first syllable. My grandmother gave me this name, which refers to Goddess Sita (the wife of Lord Rama) in Hindu mythology. At home, I usually go by Charu, a Sanskrit name given by my father, meaning “beautiful” or “radiant,” and often used in praise of Lord Rama. I enjoy reading books and love spending time with my two cats, Zoey and Snow. I may be a little shy at first, but once I feel comfortable, I truly enjoy having conversations and connecting with people.