Activity

January 28, 2025

Today, I walked with my younger brother around the hills of San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Not only was this a great activity for us to do, getting exercise in while exploring and learning about a new place, but it also served as a valuable bonding opportunity. Our relationship has long been strained, as I have often taken an authoritative role around him due to his difficulty in following directions and frequent tendency to turn violent when he does not get his way. However, I am shifting towards the strategy my mom suggests, where I redirect him rather than confront him. Thus, I decided to steer him in certain directions in San Francisco as needed, while still giving him a lot more agency to choose where to go as he wishes. This proved valuable, as it clearly strengthened our relationship.

This demonstrated the value of collaboration. By collaborating with my little brother instead of comanding him, I was able to explore much more of San Francisco with him, while also having a better time while doing so. Thus, we both learned more, and got more activity in. (Learning outcome 5)

January 24, 2025

Today, I decided to push myself to attempt chutes at a level of difficulty I had never attempted before in poor conditions, even though I didn't anticipate such poor conditions in California. Generally, I would only attempt a near vertical, straightline chute with mandatory air like this if there were good powder conditions. Such conditions would give me optimal control. Additionally, while almost any fall in a fifteen-foot chute like this would be severe, in better powder conditions, such a fall would likely not be fatal as the powder would cover up any rocks or hard surfaces near the bottom. These conditions were particularly risky, and had discouraged me from attempting terrain like this in the past. Nonetheless, to further progress as a skier, I needed to be able to handle difficult terrain regardless of the conditions, and I gave it a shot -- making it through without a problem. This was only after practicing on a variety of other chutes, and spending five minutes at the top working through my nerves so that I could truly commit to the run, as people generally fall when they try to take a run like this too cautiously. It worked, and it made me far more confident on my skis in general.

Here, I demonstrated my willingness to overcome challenges, such as the poor conditions, and do what was necessary to have the highest chance of succeeding. In the process, I dramatically improved my skiing skills, particularly on technical terrain in poor conditions. (Learning outcome 2)

January 3-5, 2025

Right after returning from Mexico, I decided to go to Vermont with my girlfriend, Silvia, and my family to celebrate my birthday. On the first two days, I had a fantastic time skiing while Silvia visited Middlebury College and worked on her college applications for other schools. I was at Killington, so there was a vast expanse of terrain available to me. Better yet, it was snowing for the duration of our trip, so the snow was soft, fresh, and fun to ski on. I was able to explore the woods, and had a great time doing so even if it was a real workout for my legs. On the last day, I then took Silvia to Pico Mountain to teach her how to ski. I had already spent a day teaching her at Blue Mountain, so she made a lot of progress on this second day of learning. Ultimately, it was a fun trip where I did a lot of activity by skiing.

Here, I demonstrated my perserverence in continuing CAS efforts, as I was keeping up my regular skiing to stay in shape, while continuing the lessons I had been giving Silvia. (Learning outcome 4)

December 14, 2024

This afternoon, after finishing a debate tournament, I played in a two hour game of pickup volleyball with my fellow debaters. This was very fun and rewarding, even if it was challenging as I was still wearing a full suit. Eventually, I took my tie off, but I was still stuck playing in my dress shoes. Nonetheless, my fellow debaters wearing formal heels impressed me as two of them were able to play volleyball really well despite wearing literal heels. I, of course, am not very good at volleyball, but it was still extremely impressive to even be able to run in those. The whole impromptu event was really fun and exhilerating, and I am glad it happened even though I did not anticipate doing that in the slightest. I got home that evening at eleven after a long drive, and immediately fell asleep.

Here, I demonstrated my willingness to overcome challenges and engage with my teammates to support the team and its growing culture, demonstrating that I undertook a challenge of playing volleyball and improved my skills at volleyball in the process. (Learning outcome 2)

October 12, 2024

Today, I hiked up Mount Tammany in Northwestern New Jersey with my girlfriend, SIlvia. First, parking was a nightmate -- we essentially had come on the busieset day of the year. I eventually parked on the grass shoulder of the interstate, along with a bunch of other Pennsylvania drivers, concluding that the highway authorities could not tow us all -- I turned out to be right about this. The two-mile hike was easier on me than it was on her, but it was exhausting nonetheless. That said, the view at the top was well worth braving the crowds and the hike. And the hike was beautiful. We saw some incredible waterfalls on the descent, and the trees all around us were gorgeous. I am very glad we did the hike at the end of the day.

Here, I demonstrated my perserverence in continuing CAS efforts, as I worked to maintain my hiking strengths by going on this hike. (Learning outcome 4)

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