Assal R

The Covid-19 pandemic has made me appreciate all the little parts of life that I always took for granted. I forgot how privileged I am to be able to go to school or hang out with my friends. Many of the things I now desperately long for were invisible to me because they were always within my reach. Simple activities like hanging out with friends, playing sports, going to school, and having dinner at restaurants are activities that I never appreciated, but now I see how important they are to me. I have always been an introvert: I don’t dislike being around people, I just find it more comfortable to be alone. Therefore, I thought it would be easier for me to stay at home. At first, I didn’t feel lonely, and I believed that this was a great opportunity to relax and spend more time with myself, but as weeks turned into months, I became desperate for human interaction. I sometimes have conversations with my friends over the phone, but it's hard to make connections. I was shocked t...

As the tensions around the spread of COVID-19 increase, people are taking greater precautions by staying at home. Gyms and parks closed, which makes it hard for people to exercise. At times like this, people must stay physically active. Daily exercise can help improve one's mental and physical health, as well as keep their immune system strong. Due to these reasons, many are choosing to jog or cycle outside to keep active, but this too has been starting to raise some concerns. A recent study by Dutch and Belgian engineers suggests that people should keep a minimum of 10m distance between a runner or cyclists. This is because the droplets from coughing or sneezing travel faster in the wind tunnels when someone is travelling at a faster speed than usual. When asked if the droplets in the study can cause infection, Dr. John Presvelos, a physician with the sports medicine clinic Athlete's Care said, "I personally don't think so." (cbc.ca) Although nothing has be...

They say, "love at first sight" does not exist, but I truly fell in love with Ultimate the first time I touched the disk. I was first introduced to Ultimate by my fourth-grade teacher. Our school wanted to start an exciting new program known as the Elementary Ultimate Leagues. They gave us a brief demonstration, and the second I let go of the disk to throw a backhand, I was hooked to the sport forever. I was lost in the grace of the disk; the way it flawlessly spun and cut the air as if defying gravity; it hypnotized me. That day, I ran home as fast as I could to tell my parents about my amazing new discovery. I gave them the sign-up forms, but as they read the forms, I saw their smiles turn into frowns. I knew why they were upset, on the last page of the forms there was a small paragraph warning us about the risks of play Ultimate. The risks were too high for my parents: broken teeth, collar bones, and figures were only minor injuries, but that is why I loved it. The risks w...