Tag: 2024

Everyone Needs to Be a Santa

December 2024

Every year, I set aside a portion of my savings to fulfill a handful of children’s needs and wishes. For the past two years, I’ve participated in an event organized by Things of My Very Own, Inc. (TOMVO), a local nonprofit dedicated to providing crisis intervention services and essential resources to children in emergency situations.

This year, I picked up four wish tags to fulfill—gifts for a 16-year-old, two 14-year-olds, and a 4-year-old. Their wishes were simple yet profound: shampoo, hairbrushes, sanitary products—basic necessities that most of us take for granted. It’s heartbreaking to think that these are the things they wish to receive for Christmas, items that should be readily available to every child.

In addition to these tags, I learned for the first time that there is a group of children in my own school district in need of basic items like pants, warm hats, and bedding. So I volunteered further and help gather some of these essential items as well.

It’s a chilling reminder of how many children are in crisis—and how their numbers are growing. These kids aren’t asking for luxuries or toys; they’re asking for comfort, warmth, and dignity.

This holiday season, I hope we can all find it in our hearts to give back in any way we can, no matter how small. And more than that, I wish for a world where no child has to hope for shampoo or a warm hat as their Christmas gift—a world where every child has the security, care, and the opportunities they deserve.

When every stroke counts…

Shen Holiday Invitational

December 2024

The holiday competition for the New York Upstate Region, aka Section 2 high schools, was held at Shenendehowa High School on December 14th. With 19 regional schools in attendance, it was a festive day of fierce competition and fast lanes.

As one of the newer members on the team, just four weeks into training, I raced freestyle in the 50- and 100-yard events. In the 50-yard race, I placed 56th out of 125 swimmers—not too shabby for someone still perfecting their turns!

Here are the key takeaways from the day:

  • Flip and Turn Like a Pro: Flip turns are a game-changer. Every fraction of a second matters, and smoother, faster turns can make a huge difference, especially in longer races.
  • Start with Power: A strong jump off the blocks sets the tone for the entire race. It’s all about making that first move count.
  • Finish Like a Champ: On the final stroke, no stalling—just reach for that pad like the timer owes you money.
  • Every Stroke Matters: Whether you’re leading or chasing, the race isn’t over until you touch the wall. Keep pushing, because anything can happen in those last few strokes.

It was a day full of lessons and inspiration. With some tweaks and training, I’m excited to dive back in and climb up that leaderboard. Watch out, Section 2, this is just the beginning!

Breaking Under Pressure: A Concrete Guide to What Not to Do

December 2024

In our Civil Engineering & Architecture class, we explored the properties of concrete and its countless applications. Then came the hands-on part: creating our own concrete mixes and testing them in the lab.

We were provided with cement, sand, various aggregates, and water. With our own concrete “recipes” ready to go, we measured out the ingredients, mixed up our batches, and poured them into PVC pipe molds. Next step: waiting three long weeks for them to cure.

Once cured, we removed the casts and put our samples through compression testing to determine their maximum strength. My sample failed at 3,000 psi, falling short of our teacher’s benchmark of 4,500 psi.

Here’s what I learned from the experience:

  • This isn’t pancake batter. The mix doesn’t need to be overly liquid.
  • Hold your temptation to add water. Water is not your friend.
  • Don’t skimp on aggregates. They add crucial strength.
  • Mix thoroughly. Homogeneity is key.
  • Compact well. Air pockets ruin everything, and lowers your final grade.

Concrete may seem simple, but it’s all about precision, patience, and resisting the temptation to “eyeball it.”

How do you butter your bread?

December 2024

Today, I had the chance to chat with one of our Social Studies teachers, Michael Dickerson. He recently started hosting a series of table conversations during his free periods at school. He mentioned that some days he plans to invite guest speakers to join him, while on others, he’ll simply sit and chat with students about social studies and life in general.

Our conversation drifted toward senior year, college applications, and future plans. Amidst the stacks of social studies books on his table, I noticed a collection of Dr. Seuss books. Curious, I asked him about them.

He explained that Dr. Seuss often incorporates social lessons into his whimsical rhymes, crafting stories that entertain while teaching important messages. He handed me The Butter Battle Book to read, promising it would be worth my time.

What can I say? I really enjoyed it. The book is an allegory of the Cold War, illustrating the senseless escalation of a conflict between two groups over something as trivial as how they butter their bread. It depicts an absurd arms race that spirals toward inevitable destruction, with Zooks and Yooks divided by a wall and endlessly inventing more destructive devices.

It left me thinking—why don’t we make every politician read this book?

Making New Waves

December 2024

I’ve always been drawn to the water—whether it’s rowing, swimming, snorkeling, or even just relaxing in a tub. According to my parents, my first swimming adventure was at 7 months old in the Aegean Sea, and judging by the picture of me snorkeling at age 9, it’s clear that my love for the water has only grown.

During summers, my dad and I take this passion to another level. We swim 2.5 miles every day, starting with a jump into the sea, swimming to the next town, stopping for a quick breakfast, and then swimming back to our apartment. It’s become a tradition that combines endurance, bonding, and a deep appreciation for the open water.

This winter, I decided to push myself further. Instead of spending the season rowing indoors, I joined the swim team to try something new and challenge myself / make new waves. For the past three weeks, I’ve been practicing six days a week for three hours a day, enduring intensive drills that have tested my limits.

Today marked my first official swim meet. I raced in four freestyle events, finishing in the middle of the pack—3rd or 4th in each event. For my first time competing, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited to keep improving.

  • 50 meters free style
  • 100 meters free style
  • 4 x 50 meters relay
  • 4 x 100 meters relay

Imagination at Work: Designing a house

November 2024

I recently completed an exciting project in Civil Engineering & Architecture class, and I thought you’d enjoy seeing my final work! I designed a 1,000-square-foot house using Autodesk Revit. While the software felt overwhelming at first, I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned and can now accomplish with it.

Next week, our teacher mentioned we’ll dive into estimating the cost of a residential structure, which I’m really looking forward to. I can’t wait to share everything I’ve learned with you!




The Acrobats

October 2024

Before and after each race, we have to de-rig the boats—basically, we remove all the screwed parts and joints, leaving only the bare shells. Each part is carefully labeled and stored for the journey. Then, the team lifts the shell, and the “acrobats” balance on the trailer racks, securing the boats. We tie them down meticulously, adding colorful ribbons to each end to make them stand out in traffic.

When the trailer finally arrives back at our boathouse, we unload the boats and piece them back together, ready for our next practice.

We take great care of these boats, knowing full well they’re irreplaceable.

Head of the Fish 2024

October 2024

Come on, you can’t tell me you don’t adore the goofy fish logo for this year’s regatta—it’s like Halloween’s unofficial mascot with freaky teeth!

This year’s regatta ran October 26th and 27th, drawing a huge crowd as one of the season’s top fall races. We had 127 teams—mostly clubs—and a whopping 1633 race entries. Why throw around numbers? They help show just how competitive things got out on the water.

Representing our high school team, we raced in singles on Saturday and in larger boats on Sunday. And for once, the weather was on our side! A big step up from last year’s soggy, bone-chilling experience. Mornings were brisk while we rigged, but we warmed up with some trusty hot chocolate. By noon, it hit the 50s or low 60s—perfect racing weather, if you ignore the headwinds which couldn’t help but make things interesting.

I had my turn over the race course 3 times. Once on a single, once in a quad (4-person boat), and lastly in an eight. All in the U19 Varsity category, which makes me both proud and slightly disadvantaged, since I am actually still 16 years old.

Another weekend, another race…

October 2024

September and October are always busy months for our rowing team. We train intensively to sharpen our skills and regain our strength after the summer break. Coaches test us both on the erg and on the water, searching for the best combinations of teams and boats.

Most weekends during this time are filled with races, and on the rare free weekends, we have extra practices.

This weekend is the Head of the Charles in Boston, and I’m packed for a two-day trip. With three AP classes, two dual enrollment courses, and other electives, I have a lot of homework to tackle, so my laptop and notebooks are coming along.

In short, it’s another weekend filled with adventure and fun with my teammates, while squeezing in study sessions whenever possible. It’s all about carefully balancing and juggling everything I need to get done.

Head of the Quinobequin 2024

October 2024

Did you know that Quinobequin is the Native American name for the Charles River?

This year marked the 11th Head of Quinobequin, or “Head of Q” for short, organized by the Cambridge Boat Club along the Charles River in Boston. It’s an event exclusively for single rowers.

The race spans 3,000 meters upstream against the current, making it a challenging course.

This year’s race took place on a cold day, though luckily the rain held off until the race was finished. The course itself is difficult, with sharp curves forming S shapes, and the narrow width adds an extra layer of complexity. On top of that, it’s a head race, where boats start one after another with only brief intervals, requiring rowers to be mindful of passing rules and give way to faster boats.

Overall, rowing on an unfamiliar course, navigating tight spaces, and managing the crowded conditions threw me off, and I didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped. However, I took away valuable lessons on race strategy.