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Laps & Lessons

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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,...
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Ready, Set, Coach Mike!

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    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 ...
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(S)wim, (S)unscreen & Ocean(S)ide!

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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...
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Learning in the Skies with Aadarsh Teli

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    Today I am super excited to share my interview with Aadarsh Teli. He has a fascinating passion for flying planes. We talked about his journey into aviation, and some of the amazing experiences he's had so far. During our discussion I really connected with him! Here are some of the questions I asked him. 1. Before we get into discussing your passion for flying, I would love to know about your educational background? Aadarsh went to high school in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Olentangy Liberty High School in 2017. It was very exciting to learn that Aadarsh had attended the same high school I will be enrolled in the near future. After high school, Aadarsh enrolled in a program called NEOMED, which is a program for students aiming to secure a spot at medical school. When COVID-19 hit, Aadarsh decided not to make a commitment to medical school. A few months later, he transferred to Ohio State University and took up a degree called PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics)....
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The Power Of Play with Shweta Chari

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    I am excited to share my discussion with Shweta and her colleague Jonita, who shared their story with me! I would also like to congratulate the Opentree Foundation on celebrating 21 years as an organization. Here are my learnings from the offline discussion. 1. What inspired the founding of Toybank? Toybank is the flagship company of the Opentree foundation whose mission is development through play. When Shweta was 21 years old, she volunteered at a children’s home where she observed how playing with toys lit up the children' s faces and gave them joy and freedom to learn and explore. Through this experience she asked herself, what would happen if the kids grew up without the joy of being able to experience playing? This idea stuck with her and later in life she realized that play isn’t just about fun; it shapes people as they grow into adults. That idea was the initial inspiration for Toybank to form, with a belief that every child deserves the right to play. Personally, ...
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