Author Archives: Ethan L.

My Favorite Stories from US Swimming Olympic Trials

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With the conclusion of the US Swimming Olympic Team Trials in June, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics seems closer than ever. Since over 700 swimmers competed at trials, I decided to recap just a few of my favorite stories.

Caeleb Dressel

One of the best comeback stories at trials this year was Caeleb Dressel’s return. After completing the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with 5 golds, it seemed as though Dressel was unstoppable. However, due to overwhelming stress, he took a 9-month mental health break in the middle of 2022, withdrawing from all competitions.

While many were unsure of his return, Dressel would resume training in early 2023. Since then, he has slowly returned to the top, taking first in the 50 Free and 100 Fly at the Olympic Trials.

Katie Ledecky

In swimming history, few athletes have come close to the longevity and dominance of Katie Ledecky. With 21 world championship gold medals (surpassing Michael Phelps in 2023), she was, once again, one of the most anticipated swimmers going into trials this year.

As many viewers expected, Ledecky won all 4 of her events. She also extended her reign on the 1500 Free; she now holds the top 19 times in the event globally. 

Lily King

Lily King, the world record holder in the 50 and 100 Breaststroke, is now the first American swimmer to qualify for the 100B and 200B in 3 straight Olympic Games. In addition to King’s impressive performance at trials, she is now engaged; her boyfriend James Wells proposed to her moments after she clinched her spot in the 200B.

Alex and Gretchen Walsh

Finally, Alex and Gretchen Walsh have become the first sibling duo to qualify for the US Olympic Team since 2004. Alex Walsh clinched her spot in the 200 IM, which qualifies her for her second Olympic Games. Gretchen Walsh, the younger of the two, qualified for the 100 Fly, while setting a new world record in the process.

Photo Credit: Grace Hollars

The Fall Guy

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Similar to his work on the Deadpool films and Bullet Train, David Leitch brings comedic energy and intense action in his new movie, The Fall Guy. Starring Ryan Gosling as Colt Seavers and Emily Blunt as Jody Moreno, this new film brings emotional moments along with “dumb-fun” action sequences.

The Fall Guy is a must-watch for all audiences, whether you are looking for a break from “superhero fatigue” or just want to experience something new.

Spoiler-Free Synopsis from Rotten Tomatoes: He’s a stuntman, and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?

While the standout performances by the main actors Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are the main draws to watch the film, other characters also shine. Personally, I believe that the character of Dan Tucker, played by Winston Duke, was a clear standout. Duke’s character stole the show whenever he was on screen. His role as Seavers’ “wingman” and reliable partner made him a very likable character. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the film also includes detestable villains. Their unlikability encourages the viewer to root against them, making the ending much more satisfying.

In addition to the stellar score, 2 song choices in particular stand out. The song “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” is included in many scenes in the movie, performed by both KISS and YUNGBLUD. Additionally, I enjoyed the inclusion of Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) performed by Phil Collins.

A review of this film would not be complete without recognizing the stunt work. The car “cannon roll” included early on in the film has broken the world record for most rolls in a car with 8.5 rolls (previously held by the film Casino Royale with 7 rolls.

There are many other notable stunts, but I believe that those should be watched and not spoiled.

(Image from the right extracted from an article by ign.com)

Overall, the combination of record-breaking stunts, music choice, and characters makes The Fall Guy a must-watch. I highly recommend viewing the movie in theaters before you watch it on streaming services.

The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story

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THE SPIDER WITHIN: A SPIDER-VERSE STORY is a newly released short film that is based within Sony’s animated Spiderman universe.

While many believed that the film would simply promote Spiderman: Beyond the Spiderverse, the third entry in the series, the film is entirely separate with its own story and themes. 

In the climax of the film, Miles sees his torn mask across his room and becomes overwhelmed with his past failures. His anxieties eventually become too great, and physically manifest themselves into a giant spider. The color palette shifts to a red tone as Miles attempts to battle his stress head-on in a stunningly animated sequence. The combination of the constant clicking noises from the spider and the dark music also helps create a tense atmosphere. Like the previous two full-length movies, this short film shares the same style of bright cell-shaded animation.

Throughout the film, Miles’ anxiety is represented in a variety of ways. In addition to the physical monster, Miles’ spider-sense accidentally triggers, even though there is nothing that poses any danger to him. This false alarm was directly caused by Miles’ current state of uneasiness. 

Even as Spiderman, Miles Morales is not safe from the daily stresses of being a good student and son. The film promotes mental health awareness by showing that everyone can become overwhelmed. Miles resolves his issue by opening up to his father about his problems.

Many who struggle with similar mental health issues often do not seek help, whether it’s due to fear or pride. However, the example of Miles shows that even “strong” people can benefit from help. Less than a week after the short film’s release, it has already raised over  $5½ million dollars to the Kevin Love Fund.

Improve your Study Planning!

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With AP exams a little over two months away, it is never too early to start preparing. Rather than cramming the night before, having an efficient plan may be extremely helpful.

When memorizing vocabulary and key terms, flashcards are a great method. Even though many opt to use online resources such as Quizlet, making physical flashcards may be the better option. While making paper flashcards can be time-consuming, physically writing down the information could help the memorization process. Additionally, you can sort the flashcards into piles based on what you need to work on. 

In addition to the materials you are using to study, the environment in which you work is just as, if not more important. If you are having trouble focusing, consider working in a different place than normal. Also, focus on eliminating possible distractors by keeping your technological devices out of reach. Studying with peers is a personal choice. While some may find it distracting to work with friends, others find that it helps keep them accountable. 

Another important factor in your success is the method you are using to study. While there are many effective ways to work, two popular methods are Pomodoro and the Feynman Technique. 

The Pomodoro method involves creating intervals of focused time to study followed by rest. This method focuses on moderate amounts “deep work” rather than long hours of review. By having rest, students are able to better focus during their study time. However, the break time should be treated as a mental break rather than a moment to use your phone. Using technology during this time could potentially break your focus. 

The Feynman technique emphasizes teaching others to help themselves learn. In order to teach others, you are forced to break down concepts into simple ideas. This could help you better understand the core ideas of what you are studying. Condensing information can help you create your own study guides.

Overall, your materials, environment, and method, are the most important aspects in having a productive study session. Hours of cram sessions may sometimes be helpful, but studying a little each day with these plans can be a great start for anyone. 

Additional Sources:

The Feynman Technique: Master the Art of Learning

Todoist: Pomodoro Method

Never Finished by David Goggins

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Never Finished is yet another memoir by David Goggins. While this autobiography can be enjoyed as a standalone book, it assumes that the reader is already familiar with David Goggin’s story and his first book Can’t Hurt Me.

In his first book, Goggins describes how he overcame a traumatic childhood, mental disability, and health issues to defy odds and more. He is now a retired Navy SEAL, accomplished endurance athlete, Advanced Emergency Technician, public speaker, and wildland firefighter.

It enhances the previous book by elaborating and providing insight into earlier overlooked events. There is a great balance between introducing new topics and improving old ones.

In his previous book, Goggins introduced tips after every chapter to improve yourself such as journaling, compartmentalizing your day, visualizing, and using an “accountability mirror”. Unlike these more straightforward “Challenges” that Goggins used, this book provides “Evolutions”. These are not simple quick-fix habits. Instead, they present ideas for you to question yourself, and change for the better. Some of these ideas are summarized below:

  • “The Winners Mentality” – Find strength and energy in everything, even in defeat
  • “One-Second Decision” – In the moment of suffering, we often forget our goals and feel the need to quit. No matter how long you have been working, moments of weakness and strength are counted in seconds. So, take a knee and evaluate the situation.
  • “Trained Humility” – Be humble enough to accept that you will never know everything, and let that fuel you to grow more.
  • “Foxhole Mentality” – Small minds and weak people kill dreams, so surround yourself with those who support and push you to be your best.

While small habits are the key to getting started, deeply improving yourself through your mindset and values is the next step.

One of the final ideas that I enjoyed was the idea that there are no “part-time savages”. Many might work hard hoping that when they achieve their goal they can finally rest. Goggins says, “When you are always on the grind, you think there will come a time when the rough road…will smooth out, but that is never the case.” When you finally reach the top of the mountain, there might be another taller one waiting for you.

Goggins makes it clear that while he has achieved great success, his journey is still not over. Shortly after the success of his first book, he had a heart scare which forced him to take another break from endurance events. Even though he had done so much, and his heart condition gave him a reason to stop, Goggins knew that he could do more.

Overall, Never Finished by David Goggins is another amazing read, fit for anyone who would like to improve themselves in any aspect of life.

Never Finished by David Goggins is available to checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

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The novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque portrays the events of World War I from the perspective of a German soldier named Paul Bäumer. This shows a new point of view of the war that is often neglected in media.

While the narrative is mostly fiction, the author’s personal experiences in the war heavily influenced the story. So, the book was very accurate in portraying the development of the soldiers and their thoughts as time progressed.

For example, at the story’s beginning, Paul and his comrades, motivated by their school teacher to join the army, are extremely elated at the idea of joining the military. However, by the end, they begin to question what they were fighting for in the first place. A powerful quote reads, “I think it is more of a kind of fever. No one in particular wants it, and then all at once there it is. We didn’t want the war, the others say the same thing and yet half the world is in it all the same”, (Remarque 152).

In addition to the well-developed characters, the figurative language effectively describes the scenery. The claustrophobia and violence in the trenches are displayed through the author’s use of imagery. With the release of the 2022 Netflix film adaptation of the book, it will be interesting to compare Remarque’s descriptions with what has been portrayed on screen.

The scale and perception of time in the book were sometimes difficult to process. Paul and his regiment often traveled to different areas and missions in between chapters, without a clear transition.

Additionally, from Chapter 11 to the end, the story’s pacing begins to increase dramatically, jumping from event to event. However, the main character Paul states that time passes differently on the front lines. So, this critique may have been an artistic choice by the author. 

Overall, the imagery and a well-written ensemble of characters make All Quiet on the Western Front a very enjoyable read.

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven

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The book Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe The World was written by and uses personal stories from Admiral William H. McRaven, a retired member of the US Navy. He served as a Navy seal for 37 years, with his highest ranking being Commander of all US Special Operations Forces; a four-star admiral.

Throughout the book, McRaven uses his personal experiences, through both his training and his time during service, to teach you how to better live your life.

The book is a more in-depth explanation of McRaven’s speech he gave during the University of Texas Commencement Ceremony in 2014. A major positive of the book is that it is short but sweet. It is only 125 pages long, with lots of empty space and large font. By cutting out the unnecessary information, the author makes the lessons more digestible and easier to understand.

Each of the 10 chapters focuses on a different life lesson. A similar formula is used throughout: McRaven begins by explaining his personal challenges and relating them back to the lessons.

For example, the first chapter begins with a story of how he and his fellow trainees were always required to make their beds during Seal training. This simple habit spread to other areas of his life and promoted overall organization and cleanliness. He explains that the act of making your bed helped him start the day off with a task completed.

Finally, the lessons taught in the book can be applied to every aspect of life, whether you serve in the military or not. McRaven emphasizes teaching others with respect and building connections with others. He believes that “it takes a team of good people to get you to your destination in life. You cannot paddle the boat alone. Find someone to share your life with. Make as many friends as possible, and never forget that your success depends on others.”

He asserts not only ideas of discipline and perseverance but also not judging people for how they look and standing up for yourself. No matter what your background or goals are, this book is a must-read for anyone who would like to change themselves for the better.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe The World by Admiral William H. McRaven is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

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Many self-help books encourage complete changes in lifestyle. While these can be helpful for some, many find it overwhelming, and often do not know where to start.

The book Atomic Habits by James Clear defines atomic as “an extremely small amount of a thing.” Unlike other books, the author emphasizes small changes to make big differences.

In the opening of the book, James Clear describes how he overcame his extremely painful baseball injury by improving his habits. Eventually, he started publishing online articles and launched his “Habits Academy” training program. The combination of his extensive background and inspirational journey build his credibility.

Clear often explains the false assumptions made about habits. One of my favorite ideas he presented was the “Plateau of Latent Potential.” He explains that many expect progress to be linear, but in reality, results will not appear until a breakthrough occurs. He uses analogies and illustrations to better help the reader understand.

Another one of my favorite ideas presented was making habits easy. He explains that relying on motivation will make it difficult to complete your goals on harder days.

Explains that making habits easier will “reduce the friction”. Preparing your environment by laying out everything you need beforehand is a great way to make things simpler.

Other helpful techniques include habit stacking, making scorecards, and using habit trackers.

In addition, the author explains that you have to change and reinforce your identity. This way, habits will be less focused on what you want to do, and more on what you want to become. This also involves surrounding yourself with a culture/community with similar goals.

Not only does Clear explain how to build new habits, but also how to break bad ones. He uses many of the same ideas, but in the opposite manner. Some methods of breaking bad habits include increasing friction, reducing your exposure, and finding an accountability partner.

Moreover, the author includes a chart of the 4 Laws of Habits. The chart slowly fills up as you progress through the book. The final version of the chart is shown to the left.

Finally, Clear provides insightful summaries and key take aways at end of the chapter. This makes it easy to refresh on older concepts.

Overall, this book is much more accessible to a general audience and makes the process of building habits less overwhelming. Summaries, analogies, and graphs/illustrations, make the book more interesting,

Atomic Habits by James Clear is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant

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From behind-the-scenes insight to life-changing advice, Kobe Bryant’s autobiography is a great motivator for young athletes and a memoir of his style of play.

The book opens with a foreword from Pau Gasol, a longtime teammate of Kobe and a member of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class. Pau opens with a story about when he first got traded to the Lakers. When Pau arrived at his room at 1 AM, Kobe was there to introduce himself. On page 15, Pau says, “To me, that was a tremendous demonstration of a true leader, and our meeting had a huge impact on me, instantly.”

These short anecdotes throughout the book show both Kobe’s development and mindset. While these stories are great, there are some points in the book when the topic changes without warning. For example, Kobe talks about his 2013 Achilles injury, and how it could have been career-ending. Immediately after, he talks about his signature 2008 sneakers. These sudden transitions can be slightly off-putting at first, but it is the style of the book.

An overwhelming positive of the book is the photography by Andrew D. Bernstein, the official photographer for the Lakers and Clippers. Photos span from Kobe’s rookie headshot to his final game.

The formatting of the book is also extremely unique. Instead of just pages of text, many portions of the book are dedicated to full-page images. Quotes and other titles are shown in different fonts and colors to stand out even more. This helps separate pieces of information and makes it easier to digest information.

Overall, the imagery and formatting of the book are more than enough to make it an interesting read. If you are not a basketball player or an athlete, Kobe’s “Mamba Mentality” still applies. He preaches that the mindset is not “about seeking a result-it’s more about the process of getting to that result. It’s about the journey and the approach. It’s a way of life” (pg.93).

Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Incoming Freshmen: Join a sport!

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With summer coming to a close, it is time to consider classes and extracurriculars for the upcoming school year.

If you are an incoming freshman or an upperclassman looking to be more active, you should join a sport. It will help you make friends, promote team building, and help you stay active. Sports are a worthwhile investment for any student, even if you are nervous about high school or unconfident in your abilities.

High school can be an exciting experience, especially if you do not know anyone. Besides joining clubs and classes, another option for making friends is sports. Sports often help you meet new people with common interests. Working hard and training together can help build strong relationships. Teammates can also ensure that you do not slack off and may help keep you accountable.

Personally, before I joined my high school swim team, club swimming was much more about setting personal records and getting certain time cuts. But in high school, the focus is winning as a team. Depending on how you place in your race, you gain a certain number of points. The winner is decided by which team has the most combined points overall. Even if you are not getting as many points as your other teammates, every single point counts.

The outcome of a meet or game is decided by the team as a whole. This may motivate you to work harder and dedicate more time to your craft. In team sports, everyone has to work hard in order to win.

Finally, sports give you a much-needed break from more educational classes. No matter how good of a student you are, you will eventually be subject to burnout. Getting outside and enjoying the fresh air gives you a break from the classroom. This exercise could be beneficial for you both mentally and physically. Sometimes in media, athletes are portrayed as having lower grades. But, as long as you are managing your time wisely, you can succeed in both sports and education.

Whether you are looking to make new friends, get a break from the classroom, or better yourself, joining high school sports is a great option. Remember, no one is great when they first start, but all it takes is hard work and practice.