For as long as I've known her, Kat and basketball always belonged in the same sentence. As a grade 8 on the senior team and a Team BC member, she was well-recognized for her talents and hard work in basketball. However once she stopped playing, she says it felt like a big part of her was suddenly missing. We talk about how she first got introduced to basketball and what motivated her to train so hard. She reminisced on her training, what it was like at tryouts and practices and her favourite things about the sport. From there though she talks about how she found a sense of belonging within her business club and how her competitive nature has helped her. She talks about how she was able to apply certain mindsets that she learned from basketball to overcome obstacles within business. She also explains the other side of things where she learned how to be more vulnerable and really assess her values. She describes how her views have changed and the way others have had an impact on her. 

To support Katrina, check out her Youtube channel where she shares insights on what it is like as a Sauder student at UBC and other interesting things within her life: https://www.youtube.com/c/KatrinaKwong

Blessy has the unique experience of not only growing up in a family of four daughters, but also going to an all-girls school. She explains what her house dynamic was like having three other sisters and their shared similarities. She gives her thoughts on her schooling and also talks about her particular university program that allowed her to study in UK for the first year. She talks about the contrast she faced and some of the challenges about suddenly living abroad on her own. As one of the best singers and dancers that I know, I asked her how she got her start and her passion for music. I also got to learn about her other big passion which was travelling. Having not spoken with Blessy since grade 4, I really enjoyed this episode and learned a lot about how she's grown and her journey over the years.

Ryan has an absolute passion for physics and people. He has been a part of some cutting-edge physics research such as detecting dark matter and I wanted to learn more about his journey. He told me how his interest for physics sprouted from unusual places such as the popular sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." He continues explaining how his passion for it grew and how his hard-working nature helped him achieve the things he wanted. I got to learn more about dark matter, the things he has researched, and how he felt during the process. 

To support Ryan, check out his Tik Tok channel @thephysicshouse where he explains physics concepts in short and simple videos.

With an elo of above 2300 and a title of national master, Dezheng is the best chess player that I personally know. He told me about his accidental introduction to chess and how with the support of his teacher, he felt it was something he could pursue seriously. We talk about what has kept him interested in chess for such a long period of time and what tournaments are like. Having primarily played and watched chess online, it was interesting to hear how over-the-board chess games are like. It was also cool to hear about some of his goals, such as how he hopes to become a grandmaster in chess some day. 

To support Dezheng, check out his Youtube channel "CasuallyChess" which is dedicated to chess related content: https://www.youtube.com/user/galacticconquers

This episode is part two of Adin Kwok's story, so if you haven't heard part one, check out last week's episode. This episode we talked about the things he has been able to accomplish despite his concussion incident. He talks about why he applied to the business and computer science program he is currently in and continues by explaining how fortunate he is to have gotten some internships. We also talk about his mixtape that he recently dropped and how music has been a new outlet for him. It was also really interesting hearing throughout the episode some specific examples of how he has been able to apply his life lessons throughout his life. 

To support Adin, check out some of his different projects including his phone app Doteos and his music under the alias Bonny B.

Doteos: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dev.adin.doteos2&hl=en_CA&gl=US

Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5STtNYOyTyEuAVm0ceLiEQ?si=CnGAmf8_T6KJef9Q3fXFFA

Before this episode I had only spoken to Adin once and it was because he had written a short blog post about an assault he experienced as a kid resulting in a life changing concussion. I wanted to dig deeper into what that traumatic experience was like for him and how he managed to bounce back from an incident like that. He explains the impact the incident had on not just him but the community around him. Besides physically changing him, he started to have a new outlook on life and it was cool to hear how he views the world around him and the relationships that he forms. This was a crazy story for me to hear and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too. This episode is just part one of his story and next episode we'll be hearing about how he is doing now and the things he has accomplished since the incident. 

To support Adin, check out some of his different projects including his phone app Doteos and his music under the alias Bonny B.

Doteos: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dev.adin.doteos2&hl=en_CA&gl=US

Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5STtNYOyTyEuAVm0ceLiEQ?si=CnGAmf8_T6KJef9Q3fXFFA

Diana's finishing up her time in physiotherapy school at Western University, which is a career path I considered after high school. I wanted to hear about why she went into the program, the process, and how she's enjoying it so far. She talks about how she transfers into the faculty of kinesiology and the different processes each university has for physio school. We also talk about how there's more than what meets the eye with physiotherapy, and that there is also an emotional aspect to it. Since we met through the dragon boat community, it was also fitting to discuss her experiences with the sport and what she enjoyed about it. If you want to learn more about Diana, you can follow her over on Instagram @physiopham where she posts physiotherapy related information like exercises to do when you have lower back pain!

Jacqueline's one of my older cousins and not just any cousin. You know those cousins that your mom will always compare you to? Her and her brother were those cousins for me and rightfully so. They’re making their family proud as her brother is currently in med school to become a doctor while she’s currently in law school at UBC. We got to discuss her path into law school, how she got to where she is today, and different values she's kept along the way. In addition, I learned a lot more about the law school system and how it works. Jacqueline has also grown her high school relationship for almost 10 years now and I got to hear about how they've maintained their relationship for so long. 

I met Kevin at a climbing gym almost two years ago when I moved to Edmonton for a coop and had no friends there. Luckily, we got along really well and we ended up climbing and hanging out multiple times a week. Since moving back we haven't really had a chance to catch up so I thought this was the perfect opportunity. We started off with a little more small talk, just seeing what we've been up to, how we've been navigating quarantine and how we miss climbing. Part way through though I got to hear his experience with raves and drugs because both are things that I have never tried, and I learned about how open minded Kevin is and the positive influence his mother had on him. He also shared information about his past relationships, how he has analyzed them and how it has helped him change for the future.