meaghan
september 22, 2017
It took two pictures for me to know that Meaghan had definitely modelled before. To me, working with someone who is so comfortable in front of a camera always comes as a happy surprise and a luxury.
But the funny thing about Meaghan is the fact that you’d never be able to pin down her personality just by looking at her. Meaghan lived on my floor in our first-year university dorm, and it wasn’t until well into the year that I really got a grasp on who she is. I always thought she was unbelievably cool — a classy dresser, very artistic, passionate about social issues that also resonated with me. And she is, most definitely, super cool. What I didn’t realize until later, however, is that she is also endearingly wacky.
For this series, never before have I ever wanted to give up and post the audio of the interview portion instead of writing it out, but I found that Meaghan’s answers were kind of hard to transcribe. Her sense of humour, tone of voice, and the colour of her personality really doesn’t shine through merely in words. She is such a careful and amusing story-teller; a funny and warm soul who makes the smallest, simplest things seem outrageously entertaining.
In our first-year winter term, Meaghan also started “PRISM”, a Gender-Sexuality Alliance club at St. Jerome’s (a smaller community within the University of Waterloo.) This is something that meant a lot to people, even just having a club like this exist — being visible and supportive of LGBTQ+ people and issues. And I admire Meaghan for taking initiative; taking an idea that she was passionate about, and putting that into action.
Her shoot took place entirely on the St. Jerome’s campus — a place that means so much to us that we both decided to return to it as student leaders this year. I ask her about what she’d tell her younger self, what PRISM means to her, and the kinds of music she listens to.
foreword
Talk a bit about why you started PRISM and what it means to you.
When I was in high school, we had a really great GSA (Gender-Sexuality Alliance) program. It was Tuesday nights after school, we would all get together — all the little baby gays — and play board games, hang out and talk about things that mattered. Mostly it was chill. [But] There were a couple of nights where some people just got really, really deep and really personal about things in their lives — ways they’d felt depression and been discriminated against in school and things they felt they couldn’t tell most of their friends, family, parents. And it was really beautiful to see that. And when I got to university, to St. Jerome’s, I wanted to continue having something like that… you know, for myself — a little bit selfish! — but also, you know, for other people. All my friends were mentioning how it’d be something they’d enjoy and want to do. And I think that it’s done that to an extent. I think [I’d like to] continue to grow our group and make it more accessible and more based on personal experience. But I’m really happy with what it’s turned out to be so far.
Describe your sense of humour.
Vines!!! Like, it’s absolutely abhorrent the amount that I watch Vine compilations on YouTube. When I’m upset, the only thing that can make me happy is, like, watching kids fall over and watching people mispronounce words intentionally. And it’s the stupidest shit but it’s just so hilarious! Like, I dunno, people doing that, being stupid and knowing it… makes my heart happy. I… I also think it’s funny to just communicate with gestures and like, noises. And be like “hhnfnfjgkdng.” I [also] love “The Guide to Troubled Birds.” […] It’s not that funny but like… because they’re birds! They’re such like, beautifully-drawn birds and that juxtaposition of like “what a beautiful painting” to like “this bird is an asshole.” Like, there’s that parrot that’s like: “You’re a whore and that makes me sad.”
What’s something you wished you knew when you were younger?
I wish that I knew that it was important to take time for myself because a lot of the time when I was younger I would have friends who were upset, hurt, or needed something, and I’d be like, “Yeah! Let me give you all of me and all of my resources” — and that was like *deep exhale*… and then I ended up just like… not having a lot left for me and that was, you know, draining. Not that I didn’t enjoy helping my friends but it was just a lot. So now, like, self-care [is important]. Just make sure you’re happy with yourself. Even though I look like a burnt chicken nugget, I still love myself.
What’s something weird/quirky about you?
I love garlic bread! With cheese. So good. I have a devotion to… garlic bread with cheese on it… I… make it myself sometimes; sometimes other people make it for me… but every time I just love it so much. Okay, also, I feel like my weird/quirky thing is that I’m obsessed with too many, just, uneventful things. Like, I love trains?? Any kind of train. My mom is like “Meaghan, take the public transit” and I’m like “OKAY!” because that means I get to go on the train. And I love birds! So very much. I like ducks. I wanna have a farm! Like not a *laughs* big one! But just with some sheep and goats… and like, a cow that’ll lick your hand. And I want ducks on the farm and like, barn cats.
What song or artist means a lot to you?
(*Half sarcasm*) So I have excellent music taste, for the record. You can follow me on Spotify, my playlists are lit. When people ask me what kind of music I like, I say Indie and Folk. But people always think I’m saying “Indian Folk.” And they’re like “Oh, that’s kind of weird.” But I’m like “No, Indie and Folk. Like, a good banjo.” In terms of favourite bands, Bastille is my favourite band. I’m trash for them. I’ve seen them in concert twice and cried both times. I… like… (*Bee Movie voice*) jazz. Big, big fan of Glenn Miller. Hit me up with some light serenade — that clarinet, it sings.