Updates and Life

I took the first semester of university as a transition period. I hadn't known what work load to expect or how hard the material covered would be. It turns out that not everything is hard and overwhelming and that most things are manageable provided I put the time into them.

This week I have noted the changes in lifestyle that I appreciate.

1. Attending debates. I had posted that I attended a debate on Christianity last week. Since then I have made a commitment to not only attend debates but also to debate and speak myself. I have never been a great speaker as my heart raises when I go to speak and I find myself unable to say what I want to.
This week I attended a debate on whether or not press leaks or a freedom of information act is a better way for the public to receive its information. The opposition, pro freedom of information act, presented a better and coherent argument saying that if the press can't release information then making it legally mandated to be published would be better. The pro press leak side failed in its continuity and structure. The speaker who presented the introduction ailed to stay relevant to the argument and rather argued if press leaks were valid at all (against his own team). Smart man.

2. Sports. I got lazy my first semester of university. After swimming, running, and weightlifting over the summer I slacked off and didn't exercise much. After inter-semester break I changed my habits. I now do badminton, run, yoga and more. These are all big time commitments in my week, but they pay off quickly.
When I first started badminton here I realized that I was not as good as I thought I was. Badminton at CJHS is not like badminton abroad. Kids here have been playing and competing in badminton since they were seven. Some members I play with are ranked equally to the third ranked man in the USA. Given that I was now in a badminton society I took it as my personal goal to make it to a competitive level. I am still working on getting there and I have confidence that I am making progress.
I have learned that I know I am getting better when in stead of watching a shuttlecock fall, thinking it is out of reach, I do my best to get to the right position to hit it and shuffle back to be ready to block a smash that may be traveling at me at over 120mph. It feels good to see my abilities to increase and to be able to give someone who has been playing for years a fair fight.

3. More friends. Living in halls the first years means that in order to hang out with someone I never have to go more than a few feet. Due to this I hadn't made as many friends as I would have liked to. Now that I know I will be living with fewer people next year I have made sure to branch out and make more friends.
Friends come from all over the place. You have people you play badminton with, people you take classes with, debate people, lunch people, baking people, pool society people, Jewish society people. These are all made through balancing and reaching out.


Just some updates. :)