Hanika's Stories

After my last swim meet, my dad and I were driving home. I had an overall poor season and didn't perform to my potential. I was disheartened and feeling low. During the ride, we were listening to this song by this band called “Fort Minor” and the chorus caught my attention. It was: “This is ten percent luck Twenty percent skill Fifteen percent concentrated power of will Five percent pleasure Fifty percent pain And a hundred percent reason to remember the name” I was very curious and asked my dad what this meant. He told me a story about Nora, a talented basketball player who put in a lot of hard work every season. Nora’s goal was to participate at the state championships. She knew that reaching her goal wouldn’t be easy. Nora went to every single practice. All of the reps and shots she made that season were different than the previous seasons, it was just harder. He said that Nora told herself, “If I keep practicing everyday I’m sure I will be able to get the techniques into my mus...

On March 21, 2025 my parents and I were so excited to explore the beautiful country of Italy. Our journey began from a 2 hour flight from John Glenn Airport to Newark International Airport. Once our flight landed my family and I went to the United Polaris Lounge. This place was not like any other lounge I have been in before. There was a buffet and a restaurant! We had lunch in the restaurant and the food was just delicious! Then I dove into all the food I could get from the buffet. After 3 hours my family and I headed to our gate. I was so excited to go to Italy I couldn’t stop smiling. The business class flight was an experience I would always remember. As soon as we reached Milan international airport we took a taxi to our hotel. I noticed how the Italians don’t care if they are speeding. A lot of our taxi drivers were driving 110 mph! I later checked and my dad told me that it was not mph but kmph. Duh!! Our hotel, Villa Torreta, looked like a palace. As we walked in we saw the lov...

Hello readers! Today, I’m excited to share a poem I wrote that was inspired by the incredible book REFUGEE . If you haven't read it yet, I recommend diving into its pages. It's a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! One of the book's most interesting facts is how each chapter leaves you wanting more. The poem I’ve written focuses on Mahmoud, a Syrian refugee whose story deeply moved me. His journey from a dangerous refugee camp in Hungary to the safety of Germany is remarkable. Despite facing overwhelming challenges, Mahmoud had resilience and hope, never allowing challenges and obstacles  to defeat him. His determination serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. I hope you find the poem connects with you, just as Mahmoud's story connected with me. Enjoy! Walking with Perseverance Soldiers taking me and my father (A) Our new home, a prison cell awaits (B) It’s like my whole life is been scooped by a swather(A) The Hunga...

    I am excited to share insights from my conversation with Ryan Lingo. He is an Applied AI Research Engineer and Developer Advocate at 99P Labs. Our discussion was very engaging and inspiring, and I found myself asking a lot of questions and having high spirited discussion! Here are some of the questions I asked him. 1. I read on your website that you discovered a passion for software engineering, data science and AI. What kept you excited and busy before that? Ryan pursued studies in philosophy, embracing the idea “thinking about thinking." Although he didn't enjoy school, he had a passion for learning, especially in making websites. That was his transition from a college instructor to being a website designer. As a young person, he developed websites and even earned money by making them for others. Websites involved data, which sparked his interest in data science. Over time, he discovered AI and began exploring it and its tools. As a young kid, Ryan always loved puzzles a...