Long story short

An illustration of a studious yet worried elephant in a lecture hall sitting among human students. The elephant has a pile of books in front of them. The elephant has imposter syndrome.
6 min 0 646

Long Story Short: Paving a non-linear academic path

Peak Web May 18, 2026

By: Marie Jen Galilo, Staff Writer Before starting university, my peers and I started planning our careers. Everyone around me had such big dreams — my friends wanted to be doctors, lawyers, or engineers. Having always cared about my grades and academic success, my teachers, friends, and family would comment on how I would likely establish a respectable career that reflected my intellect. I felt compelled to choose a career path which reflected my efforts and fit their expectations. Another factor for me was family — as the daughter of immigrant parents who left their homes, careers, and loved ones…

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Three women sitting together in a bedroom laughing.
5 min 0 853

Long Story Short: Romance is a sidequest but the prize is the friends I made along the way

Peak Web February 9, 2026

By: Noeka Nimmervoll, Staff Writer I have been in my fair share of serious relationships since I was a teenager. They’ve given me some of the most wonderful experiences — loving someone with your whole being and sharing a life…

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The interior of a living room with Santa bears on display next to a radio and bulky speakers on an antique coffee table. There is also a Pointesettia plant, and tropical art on display on peach-pink painted walls.
5 min 0 951

A summer Christmas in Costa Rica

Peak Web January 5, 2026

By: Maya Barillas Mohan, Staff Writer “Pura vida” is the unofficial national motto of laid-back, cloudless Costa Rica. It is the one-size-fits-all response to life’s greatest satisfactions: good food, weather, and company. Because Costa Rica is 10 degrees from the…

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A drawing of a person wearing a yellow sleeveless shirt. On the arm, they are wearing a continuous glucose monitor, a patch on the bicep. On their waistband, a small insulin pump is attached and tubing can be seen going under the shirt.
8 min 0 551

Life with type 1 diabetes

Peak Web December 18, 2025

By: Mason Mattu, Section Editor  In September 2019, I lay in a hospital bed at BC Children’s Hospital. A nurse hovered over me, poking my finger with a device I had never seen before. I winced. What was going on?…

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An illustration of a calendar in a planner open to September 2025. A phone is resting on top of the calendar open to the photo app with the date “January 2019” written.
8 min 0 229

A letter to first-year students, from a nearly graduated one

Peak Web November 8, 2025

By: Petra Chase, Features Editor Dear first-year students, You might have a concept of what you want your time at SFU to look like, or maybe you have no idea. Maybe you have friends by your side, or a sibling…

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A person face down on a desk fallen asleep with notes scattered all across the desk
4 min 0 2112

My perfectionism nearly ruined me

Features February 18, 2022

by Maya Beninteso, Peak Associate You knew my type in high school. I always sat in the front row and was a part of too many student councils and clubs to remember. I was a multi-sport athlete. I was the…

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A dimly lit room with a bed and a book open on top of the bed. The only source of light is coming from a small lamp on a bedside table.
6 min 0 2765

Unlearning shame around sex and pleasure

Peak Web February 15, 2022

By: Hannah Kazemi, SFU Student From a very young age, I could name all parts of the reproductive systems, explain how pregnancy happens, and tell you which phase of the menstrual cycle is best for conceiving. I was raised in…

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A girl with long black hair is sitting at a wooden desk writing on a piece of paper with a pencil. She is wearing a wrist-brace on her wrist while writing.
5 min 0 2577

Accepting my disability has been an empowering experience

Peak Web January 16, 2022

By: Michelle Young, Copy Editor Writing this piece from my desk, a wrist brace hugs my forearm. My elbows are at a 90° angle, and I’m trying to remember to stretch my fingers every once in a while. Among many…

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7 min 0 1562

How Dungeons and Dragons got me through 2020

EIC February 20, 2021

Written by: Alex Masse, Staff Writer Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is no stranger to popular culture, especially following a renaissance of sorts in the 2010s. Shows like Stranger Things referenced it eagerly, and actual play series like The Adventure Zone…

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7 min 1 3448

Getting comfortable with sex and intimacy

EIC February 13, 2021

Written by: Kelly Chia My journey to becoming comfortable with sex has been a bit . . . tenuous, to say the least. For a long time, I thought I didn’t have to think about sex. Fresh out of high…

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