A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE

I had a great learning experience in a sport karate tournament recently. I had a lot of fun doing a hobby that I love.

I am a sport karate athlete, and I have a lot of fun competing in something called "forms," which is like a simulated fight where the competitor performs the routine solo. There are judges who score the form based on how well the performance is executed.

On November 5th, I competed at the Ontario Grand Nationals in London, Ontario.

The division I participated in was the Open Forms for male athletes aged eighteen to twenty-nine. It was great to be able to have fun competing, and I feel that I did a strong form. I earned a bronze medal.

I learned a lot about how to improve while competing at the Ontario Grand Nationals. It was my first time competing in that specific tournament. The experience of competition gave me a good idea of what the judges are looking for, so I can do even better at that tournament next year.

It's all a great learning experience.

RADIO IN MY BONES

For almost my whole life, I have had a passion for radio. This amazing communication medium has been part of my day-to-day existence for as long as I can remember. Whether it's been sports radio to stay up-to-date on my favorite teams and athletic headlines, or informative local radio that I listen to so I can stay informed about what is going on in my community and abroad, radio is something I feel is in my bones.

Growing up, I vividly remember listening to Toronto Blue Jays games on SportsNet 590 The Fan. I had a blast listening to Jerry Howarth conduct enthusiastic and informative play-by-play commentary of the games in such a way that I could picture exactly what was going on just by listening to the action.

I also have fond memories of listening to Hamilton Tiger-Cats games on AM 900 CHML in the car, on the edge of my seat with anticipation of what the next big play was going to be. In my opinion, there is nothing like everyone sitting in silence while the game is on.

If you have family or friends who have a passion for sports, then I would recommend listening to a sports radio station they enjoy.

There are radio stations that I am currently listening to as well.

Local radio is something I tune into as well. I currently listen to 98.9FM, a local radio station in Simcoe, Ontario. I love listening to Matt LeBlanc give his news, sports, and weather updates in the morning to start my day. His delivery, in my opinion, is both engaging and informative, while always keeping his local audience in mind when speaking on the air.

I also enjoy tuning into TSN 1050 to listen to a show called OverDrive. The show airs on weekdays from four o'clock to seven o'clock in the evening. Something I like about the program is that the hosts talk about their opinions on major sports in a very relatable way, which people who are enthused about sports can relate to. The host is Bryan Hayes, and the co-hosts are Jamie McLennan and Jeff O'Neill. My favorite platform to listen to OverDrive is on the TSN 1050 page on iHeartRadio at the end of my school day.

I really want to get involved in the radio industry to one day become an on-air radio sports personality. I want to give listeners the ability to escape reality and enjoy what I am delivering while I am on the air. I think that the Broadcasting - Radio and Creative Content program I am taking at Mohawk College will help hone my broadcasting skills.

In conclusion, radio has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether it has been listening to passionate sports radio to be entertained by live games happening at the moment and talk shows, or relying on local radio to find out what is happening in my local community and beyond, this devotion to the amazing communication medium has given me the tools to pursue my future passion to its full potential. That is why I have a true love for the medium of radio. I believe that radio is in my bones.