In the spirit of Thanksgiving, its the time to reflect on thankfulness and gratitude. Appreciating all aspects of life, friends and family is what I enjoy most about this time of the year. 

To begin with, I am grateful for my family. They are my support system, and the source of unconditional love. My family brings me love and happiness in my life. On this Thanksgiving holiday, I am mostly looking forward to eating a great meal, and getting to see family members that I haven't seen in a while. Alongside family, I am grateful for my friends. They fill my life with humor and happiness. My friends are just like my second family. Whenever I'm looking to go somewhere to have fun, I know that I can always turn to them. The last top thing that I am grateful for is my health and well-being. Having the ability to wake up each day, and engage in the worlds activities is simply a blessing. 

Parents & Support For Their Student Athlete

Being actively involved with their child's athletic journey is crucial for parents. They can support their student athlete by providing practical strategies for balancing academics and athletics, and by having open communication.

    The first way of supporting a child as a parent is to actually be involved with their child's athletic journey. Support and involvement as a parent can have a significant impact on their child's overall development. By being present and engaged, parents can provide encouragement, guidance, and motivation to their child. Additionally, parents can help their child have a healthy balance between their academics and the sports they may play. The strategies that parents may use to achieve this includes: encouraging effective time management, have great communication between teachers and coaches, and emphasizing the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition. Lastly, to support your child during athletics & academics, you should always  remind the child that academics should always come first, and encourage them to seek help if they are ever struggling.

    Parents can foster a supportive and communicative relationship with their child about their athletic pursuits by being their biggest support system. It is important for parents to show genuine interest,  listen to their child's challenges and dreams, and celebrate different achievements made. 

    Parents should always watch out for burnout in their child, such as noticeable decrease in enthusiasm, enjoyment for their sport, or physical pain. If these signs are present, parents can intervene by encouraging their child to take breaks, and prioritize rest and self care. Parents can strike the right balance between celebrating achievements and encouraging continues growth by acknowledging and celebrating their child's accomplishments, while also emphasizing the importance on improvement and personal growth. They can do this by setting goals with their child, and by providing constructed feedback where areas need improvement.

    Parents should always be there for their children for support, when possible. Rather it is providing support, or showing up for competitions (etc), parents should always try to be their kids number 1 fan!

   The True Nature Of Sports

When participating in sports these days, it may  feel as though there can sometimes be too much emphasis put into winning sports. Winning sport competitions is something that everybody loves, but sports aren't always just about winning all the time. 

Sports shouldn't always be just about winning; it should be about the true passion, and love for the game. It's about the adrenaline that occurs when a player steps foot onto the field or court. Besides winning all the time, sports should be about friendships and the people that you meet along the way. Sports should be a place where we can challenge ourselves and maybe even push past our limits. So, while winning is great, too much emphasis put onto winning should not overshadow the true nature of sports. 

 Challenges Faced By Female Athletes

In today's blog, I'll be diving into the topic of whether female athletes have it more difficult than male athletes. As a female athlete myself, I understand that unfortunately, there are some stereotypes and biases that exist, leading to challenges for female athletes.
To begin with, rather its support, or audiences (etc), I believe that people around the world today tend to think that women are weaker and less athletic  than men, and this is what makes female athletes have it more difficult than men. For instance: a softball & a baseball. Softballs are initially used for females, and baseballs are initially used for males. Females uses softballs because it is said to be "softer and safer" for females, whereas men use smaller and much rougher baseballs.

     There's often a lack of media coverage and financial support for women's teams compared to men teams. This can make it harder for female athletes to gain recognition and opportunities. According to Sports Articles, "due to the absence of coverage, women teams not only get less attention from spectators, but also much less financing than their male counterparts. Also, a lot of analysts and journalists have supported gender preconceptions regarding female players, which furthers this imbalance." With this quote being stated, it shows the difficulty of female athletes.

Additionally there are physical differences between men and women that can impact performances, however it is important to keep equality for female and men athletes. 

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Defying Limits Of A Student Athlete

In today's world, being a student athlete may come with some challenges. One of the biggest challenges that student athletes may have is managing their time effectively. Having practices, games, and competitions alongside schoolwork can be overwhelming. Student athletes may find themselves with limited time for studying, homework, and extracurricular activities. 

Participating in sports requires physical effort, and student athletes sometimes find themselves physically exhausted. Hours of practice, intense workouts, and frequent competitions can take a toll on their bodies. This physical exhaustion can impact their ability to concentrate in class and complete assignments effectively. Student athletes often have to make sacrifices when it comes to their social lives. They may miss out on social events, parties, or gatherings due to their practice or competition schedule, so it is important for student athletes to make adjustments to this. 

    Being a student athlete comes with its own set of challenges, from managing time effectively to dealing with academic pressure and physical exhaustion. However, with proper planning, support, and a positive mindset, student athletes can overcome these challenges.

       "There's No Place Like Home"

"There's no place like home." Let's talk about a place that holds special meaning. The place that holds special meaning to me is my home. My home is filled with many great memories and happiness. From the cozy living room where conversations flow, to the kitchen where the meals are prepared, to the back yard, where our basketball court is, every room and part of the  house tells a story of togetherness & happiness. Not only is my home where I live; its a place where I can enjoy the good times with my parents and three siblings. 
 A home that holds special meaning is not just about physical space and the memories it holds; It's about the abstracted qualities that makes it unique. It's where the feeling of safety and security is located. My home is a place where I can seek love, guidance, memories, and meaning.

As my mother always says, "nobody can love you like a mother can". On today's blog, I   would like to express my deep admiration and gratitude for my mom, who has an   immeasurable impact on shaping me into who I am today. Her continuous love, g    guidance, and support makes her one of my biggest influences, and role models. 

    My mom's support has always been a constant part of my life. Her unconditional love has provided me with a sense of security, giving me the confidence to pursue my reams, and overcome obstacles that may be in the way. Beyond her love, my mom's guidance has been incomparable. She's  always been there to offer advice, whether its about school or just life in general. As a role model, my mom has taught me the importance of hard work and determination. Her work ethic and dedication has motivated me to strive for excellence in all aspects of my life. She has inspired me the values of setting goals, working diligently towards them, and never giving up. 

    Above all, not only is my mom the mother that everyone in this world needs, she is my best friend. Her and my dad have created a safe place for me to live, and to seek support. Knowing that I have someone to turn to for anything is something that makes me very much proud! 

         Passion & Purpose

When I think of the word passion, I tend to think about what compels my emotions, or  feelings to make me happy. I believe that everyone in the world today was born with a  purpose, which is to follow our passion. There are many things that I could say I am passionate about, but I am going to only talk about one. 

      The one thing that I am most passionate about is sports, preferably basketball. Basketball has been something that I have been passionate about since I was in kindergarten. Because I was my grandparents only granddaughter at the time, I  grew up playing outside with the  many boy cousins that I have, and my older brother. Everyday we would go outside after school, and play basketball. Ever since then, my passion has been basketball. 

          Media & Sports

Are you looking for a way to promote your sports events? If so, media is the right thing for you! The media comes with various amounts of benefits. It can extend exposure for players, audiences, and can produce the promotion of teams. Referring to athletics, the media helps athletes to become a more engaging person to society, and brings connections, as well as audiences; which makes the media so important. As shown to the left, star running back for the Houston Roughnecks, Max Borghi, has conveyed how he uses the social media platform to further advance himself. "I believe the passing of name, image and likeness will help me reach my goals as it will allow for me to use my platform to build than on the field, and off the field opportunities for my future", stated Borghi. Picture from the left source : https://welcome.comperemedia.com/blog/omnichannel-marketing/college-athletics-a-new-world-of-influencer-marketing/