Hanika's Stories

    I’m excited to share my fascinating conversation with Karlie Marlatt, a really close friend I’ve known since I was three years old. Karlie’s current role as an Admissions Counselor at The Ohio State University-Marion is inspiring, and I was eager to write about her journey!! 1. What were the different types of jobs you did when you were in school and college? Karlie was a remarkable multitasker during her school years. She juggled a variety of responsibilities, including babysitting, lifeguarding, teaching swim lessons, working as an intern for a roofing company, and even holding a position at OSU campus. At The Ohio State University, Karlie conducted campus tours for prospective students and organized various events for the university community. 2. What inspired you to become a lifeguard and what lessons did being a lifeguard teach you? Karlie's swimming career, which began at the age of four, inspired her to become a lifeguard. She continued swimming through high school ...

    On July 27, 2024, my parents and I embarked on an exciting vacation to the Smoky Mountains. Our journey began with a six-hour drive from our home in Columbus to the beautiful town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. As we ascended into the higher elevation of Tennessee, I could feel my ears popping due to the change in altitude. We stayed at a delightful Airbnb nestled on a sloping hillside. The highlight of the rental was the hot tub, which offered breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. There was a pool table as well which my dad & I played a couple of rounds as well. Our vacation was filled with adventure. We embarked on a couple of exhilarating outdoor pursuits: hiking and white water rafting. The white water rafting experience was undoubtedly my favorite. If you’re unfamiliar with white-water rafting, it is an experience where a group of 7 navigate a river in a large inflatable raft, encountering a thrilling variety of rapids ranging from gentle to heart-pounding d...

    Every lap is a lesson overcoming challenges. Every race, a chapter in the ongoing narrative of self-discovery. Hello readers, today I am going to be sharing my 5 lessons that I learnt through my 2024 long course swimming season. 1. Mental preparation I struggled to grasp the concept of mental preparation. To me, it meant strategizing about my upcoming swim meet, focusing on potential time drops, and developing race plans. Previously, I only started preparing 2 days before a competition, relying on my dad's reminders about stretching and tracking my times. Unfortunately, my last swim meet resulted in slower times across four events, mainly due to lack of mental preparation. This taught me that you have to think, revise, change your strategies. 2. Reflection By conducting a thorough self-evaluation of your race performance and seeking feedback from your coaches, you've taken a first step in the reflection process. After my swim meet I really didn’t think much about my race. ...

    I'm thrilled to share my conversation with Varun Bhatia, co-founder of Acton Academy, a private school dedicated to making learning fun. Varun and his wife Nadia have brought the Acton Academy model to Columbus, Ohio. His inspiring journey sparked my enthusiasm for writing this blog. 1. What inspired you to start Acton Academy? Varun grew up in Columbus and had a negative experience attending public school because he didn’t like the way the school presented the learnings to the students. He moved to a location with better school options. Columbus boasts of two highly-rated districts, Dublin and Olentangy, but after two years of searching, Varun discovered the Acton Academy model which was based on making learning fun and applied. It was unique, it was something that he could relate to. 2. Being a school that is different from any public school, were there any challenges that made enrollment difficult? When Varun initially established his school in Dublin, enrollment was qu...