Newcomer predicts Giants will win
By Jon Yaneff

Everyone takes their paths and tries to find their way in life.

My path has led me to the Caledon Citizen and the King Township Sentinel for the time being.

Part of my past has included attending Conestoga College in Kitchener for journalism - print and broadcast, where I enjoyed an illustrious college career on my campus paper, Spoke.

Since graduating in 2006, I've been involved with several different publications such as the Erin Advocate newspaper, SNAP Aurora and Biotechnology Focus/Laboratory Focus magazine, where I was an intern.

Now, I'm at another situation where it's time to make the most of the opportunity.

Just like in sport (one of my passions), opportunity is always in the shadows, waiting to rise above the rest. I do play sports from time to time, such as soccer or basketball, but I also like watching my favourite teams, which are the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball and the New York Giants in the National Football League.

And yes, my Giants (13- 6) are in the Super Bowl, and no one gave them a chance throughout the entire playoffs. But they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9- 7), the Dallas Cowboys (13- 3) and the Green Bay Packers (13-4), to advance to the Super bowl against the undefeated New England Patriots (18-0).

It's really perfect that I'm a fan of the Giants, because of the fact I always hear that they have no chance of winning, and they seem to be doing all the right things at the right moments to get the job done. I've only really been a fan of the G-Men since 2002, but I've stayed loyal.

Again, the Giants are given absolutely zero chance against the Patriots, who really seem like they are from another continent or world, with their walkingon water, can't-do-anythingwrong presence of an undefeated record. But, keep in mind the Pats barely beat the Giants by three, 38-35 in week 17 of the NFLregular season.

I'll just say one more thing about this: If the Giants not only say the right things, but their actions continue to speak louder than their words, sooner or later what they want will be achieved!

That statement about actions being louder than words definitely speaks to day-to-day lives. I hope one day my actions get heard as well (as I relate this column back to who I am).

I'm reminded of one of my favourite movies, Fight Club, where Brad Pitt's character asks, "If you could do one thing before you died, what would it be?"

I think a person's answer from that question can perfectly describe who they are or who they are trying to be in life. I would write a book if I could do one thing before I died, because I think with the pages that I'd fill each moment of my storied life would become one, as if everything that defines me would be buried with each simple word, sentence, paragraph and chapter.

Usually people describe their mission at this question. Writing a book would be something of a mission, but when I am done it's an accomplishment.

It's clearly more fulfilling to set your goals high when thinking of an answer to this question.

Every time I ask this to someone, I usually say, "good answer," just as Brad Pitt replies to his drones' answers of "building a house" and "painting a self portrait." Again, these are self-indulged, gaping goals that are time consuming, so the self-righteous accomplishment achieved is well deserved.

A chef told me once he'd like to meet several different famous chefs, such as chef Gordon Ramsey, which would be good for him to learn and relate to his profession.

A man separated from his wife said he'd go skydiving. To me, this would be a way of letting go of your fears and your past and standing up on your own with a purpose. So, this would make sense for this person.

One of my favourite answers that I heard was from a beautiful girl I know, and it probably was the most simple; on the outside that is. They would plant a tree. When you read more into this answer you might be able to compare the tree to the person and as the tree seed grows, so does the person who planted it. And just so you know the growing has already begun in this person and from time-totime I can start to see or hear the growing before my eyes or ears.

So the point I've just been trying to make is there is much that can be seen when one looks a bit deeper. As the Giants will try to defy all odds and win, I try to defy as I try to grow from this job. Just as from any job you expect to grow as a person and from this job I expect the same.

From the paths you take, remember if you want something in life grab it and if it grabs you back, encourage it!