Hanika's Stories

  On March 27th, I sprinted out of the bus to my house to embark on my spring break holiday. After a stressful month of tests and activities, it was finally time to take a break. My family and I went to Seattle to visit my aunt and uncle after four years. We flew with Alaska Airlines. Once we entered the security line, we were done in 10 minutes. We arrived at our gate an hour early, and I just finished some homework and watched a few videos. I got to try the new Ube Coconut Refresher from Starbucks, and it was flavorful, however, it was a bit too sweet for me. Then we finally boarded our flight, and I was super excited to fly! After watching one movie, eating two sandwiches, and taking a three-hour nap, we finally reached Seattle. I can honestly say that this was one of the smoothest flights I’ve ever had. I was very excited to see my uncle at the airport, and then I immediately went to sleep because I was extremely tired from the long journey. The next day, I woke up to a wonderf...

Breathe… just breathe, I told myself. On February 14th, 2026, I achieved my first Junior Championship cut since 2024. When I came out of the water, I immediately asked for my time, and when I heard 31.25, I was in utter shock. 1½ years of hard work had paid off. That was one of the best days of my life. I was very fortunate to experience the Junior Championships once again. This season was a rollercoaster, and I am excited to share my overall journey and the challenges I faced along the way. In October, I was very excited to start my fall season with a meet. That was until I received some bad news — I had fractured my shin and had to keep my leg in a boot for two weeks. Those two weeks were some of the most painful of my life. I felt like I had lost my connection to the sport. Reflecting on this, staying away from the water for two weeks is a major setback for any swimmer’s progress. In November,...

    Hello readers, I am super excited to share my inspirational discussion with Mike Eastman. I got to know him as one of my coaches at the Race Club camp I attended. If you haven’t read that blog check it out!! https://www.hanikachhajer.com/2026/01/swim-sunscreen-oceanside.htm l. Mike is an experienced swimmer who swam at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and participated in many NCAA college meets. Right now, in my swimming journey, I am very close to achieving my goals, and this conversation has given me a deeper insight into what I can do to reach them. Here are the questions I asked him. Without further ado, I say, take your marks… GO!!! 1. What is your favorite part of coaching young swimmers? How do you set goals for them? Today, his favorite aspect of coaching is preparing future generations for success in water and beyond. When Mike sets goals for his swimmers, he follows a particular philosophy: “The person should come before the athlete.” He understands that ...

Hello readers, I am very excited to share my experience at the Race Club swim camp with you. For the camp, my family and I traveled to a city near San Diego called Oceanside. It is a beautiful city, and I would love to visit again. At the Race Camp, their mission is to transform your swimming experience. The coaches refine your technique to match that of elite swimmers. Before I share my Race Club experience, I want to give a special shoutout to my parents for making this experience possible. I am truly thankful for how hard both of you work to help make my dreams come true. On December 26th, I woke up to the sunny California sky. My parents and I went to a popular breakfast spot in Oceanside called Beach Break Cafe. Unfortunately, I only had the chance to visit this wonderful restaurant once during our trip. I ordered a waffle, and it only took me 10 minutes to finish it, leaving the plate spotless and clean. After breakfast, we went to Buccaneer Beach. As I was staring out into space...