Ilana Quinn
Bio
I am a student who loves writing about history, travel, faith and life experiences. Feel free to check out more of my writing at https://linktr.ee/ilanaquinn :)
Stories (33/0)
- Top Story - September 2021
It’s OK To Be RudeTop Story - September 2021
The first time I was harassed, I was barely thirteen. Standing outside the grocery store where my dad was helping my grandma choose some things to bring back to her apartment, I waited with our new puppy on the sidewalk. It was busy and hot, the sun battering the pavement and the exhaust from cars clouding in the air. A man older than my father approached, petting our new puppy without asking. He then launched into a speech about how pretty I was, followed by an onslaught of questions begging to know my address, my phone number, my age and whether my parents were around. I told him I was just thirteen. He laughed, but was not dissuaded. I noticed how his eyes lingered in uncomfortable places for longer than I wanted them to. As he leaned close to me, I caught a whiff of alcohol from his faded t-shirt. Eventually, I ran inside.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Viva
Why You Should Write on Wattpad
In 2006, University of Toronto graduates Allen Lau and Ivan Yuen founded what would become the world’s largest online storytelling platform. After founding several other companies, including Tira Wireless, Lau wanted to engineer an app he could use himself. As an avid reader, the concept of Wattpad seemed to be the perfect choice, connecting readers and writers across a single platform hosting as many genres and sub-genres as you can think of.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Motivation
The Biggest Lie Your Anxiety Tells You
When I was braving a crippling, seemingly never-ending tsunami of anxiety, I could not believe I would ever get better. It was my junior year of high school — a period of my life that feels like an eternity away and yet was very recent — when students were gearing up for university and scholarship applications. I was a conscientious student with promising plans on the horizon: to attend my dream school and become a teacher. I maintained a 4.0 GPA through hours of studying and writing assignments, surrounding myself with a wonderful group of friends who encouraged both my personal and academic pursuits.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Psyche
You Will Never Be Pretty Enough
On March 9, 1959, the Barbie doll was first introduced into the American market. Barbie was modelled after the German “Bild Lilli” doll, a racy figurine designated as the epitome of female beauty and often found at bachelor parties and in tobacco shops.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Viva
- Top Story - September 2021
I Left My Heart In Kerry, IrelandTop Story - September 2021
There’s an old Irish adage that goes: “There are only two kingdoms, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry.” The words appear on a shiny plaque in my grandparent’s guest room. Whenever I see it, I am reminded of the rugged cliffs, salt-laden breeze, emerald fields and ancient, oak forests of southwestern Ireland.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Wander
The Exploitative Nature of the Dr. Phil Show
In 2017, Todd Herzog, a former contestant on the reality show Survivor, opened up about his traumatic experience with Dr. Phil. Herzog won Survivor in 2007, earning $1,000,000 in prize money at just 22. After his rise to fame, he began struggling with alcoholism — prompting a visit to the Dr. Phil Show in 2013.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Psyche
My Grandmother’s Eyes
People say I have my grandmother’s eyes. Hers were hazel, with a ring of gold circling her pupils. Mine are much the same. When they catch enough light, they appear moss-green — like the forest surrounding the place I grew up in. Other times, they look almost blue, like my mom’s.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Families
The Dark Side of the Porn Industry
Rose Kalemba was just fourteen when she was raped. She had been out for an evening walk in her Ohio hometown when a man appeared from the shadows, forcing her into his car at knifepoint before assaulting her. Her attacker — who was joined by another man — then showed her videos of the rapes of other women.
By Ilana Quinn3 years ago in Filthy