Zaeeda-SLJ-Day 5 (Against The Odds)

Week 1: Physical Limit
Day 5: Against The Odds
This week we have been learning about amazing people who have fought for what they believed. Most of this has been people who got fame and opportunities to achieve there goals through sports and physical activities. This is the last day and some of these activities we heaps of fun. Let's start!

Activity 1: National Treasures
For this task we must name 3 things that are important to us and why we treasure them. I enjoyed this task even though I do treasure many things in my life.

Sofie Pascoe is a Para-Swimmer. She was born here in New Zealand, unfortunately when she was 2 years old Sofie as run over by a lawn mower. She did survive but this misfortune lead to her having her left leg amputated.

But, even after the lawn-mower incident, Sofie still pursued her dreams. She became a competitive and amazing, Para-swimmer. She won many medals, and also got the Halberg-Award for Disabled Sportsperson, 3 times. Sofie Pascoe was a real role-model and a great example of people who continued to pursue there dreams no matter the obstacles they must face.

Activity 2: Swimming To Safety

For this task we were asked to listen to a podcast telling us about Yusra Madini's story. We then had to re-tell this story in our own words. 

Once upon a time there was a girl. She enjoyed swimming and it became her occupation hobbies and dreams. But before that she went through some tough times. This is the story of Yusra Madini.

Yusra was like any other girl, she grew up in Damascus Syria and went to school there. However despite what happens later in her life, Yusra didn't swim. Whilst the other kids swam she would stand at the edge of the pool. Staring into the deep end's mysterious waters. Yusra could barely see the bottom and even if she could, a slight nervousness would overcome her. The water excited her but fear still took control.

One day whilst Yusra was staring at the water she decided to something a little bit unexpected. Yusra, jumped into the pool and submerged herself into the water. For just a second, before she came up for air. Before she knew it Yusra was swimming. Yusra became a very talented and competitive swimmer. And she surpassed everyone's expectations.

A couple of years later a problem arose, as some of the public were not happy with the government. Brave people, and Protests that spoke their mind got shot by the government. This was a large problem didn't affect Yusra as first. But at the age of 13 the conflict had gotten so bad it turned into a civil war. Large protesting groups assembled around Syria together they fought the government to conquer cities.

Yusra and her family were safe at first. As they lived in a quiet part of Damascus, the capital of Syria. But soon, the fight closed in on them. Bad news was heard everyday and it continued to get worse. One day whilst Yusra and her dad was walking to the pools to train. They saw that the pool was left in ruins front the bombing and Gun fights. Yusra couldn't train anymore, her dreams had been ruined. After a while when things couldn't get any worse, it got much worse. Yusra house was also destroyed they had nothing left and nowhere to go. Innocent people were being killed and lives were ruined!

Yusra's family we were forced to go into hiding and each day they lived in fear. No knowing if they'll be able to live to see the next day. At age 14 Yusra, saw only 1 way out. They had to leave Syria, in search for a better life. Yusra's parents said no to the idea of leaving, as it would be too difficult. Especially with a Yusra's little sister who was no older than a toddler. After a while Yusra's mother made a plan to send Yusra and her older sister, with her 2 cousins on a risky trip to Europe. They had no other choice, it was unclear if the rest of the family would make it, but for now it was the best path.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusra_Mardini#cite_note-Refugees-2

Yusra would travel to where many other Syrian refugees had fled, Berlin Germany. There they could start a better life, and Yusra might be able to start swimming again. In Germany, she'd be able to train better and along-side many other great swimmers. Yusra left Syria, with some clothes a cell phone, and a small amount of money. The money was going to be used to pay the smugglers, as most countries don't allow refugees. Yusra left one her dangerous journey to Europe.

They first traveled to Lebanon then Istanbul Turkey. As they went on their journey they dreaded the fact that they may get caught by the police. The police would surely send them back to Syria, where the war was still happening. From Istanbul, they went south to a coast in Turkey, which was close to a Greek Island called Lesbos. At the coast, the smugglers awaited, for the right time to get them on board a dingy, which would then take them to the island. It took 2 tries before they finally pushed the dingy out to sea at nightfall. 

They landscape shrank as they quickly speed away into the darkness of the Mediterranean sea. Less than 20 minutes after they had left the coast. The dingy's engine started to clang louder and they started to slow down, until finally they came to a halt. The dingy started to sink, It was only supposed to carry 6 people but the smugglers had fit 20 people on instead. Everyone panicked and started throwing any belongings overboard desperate to keep afloat. None of it helped, as they continued to sink in the middle of the Mediterranean sea.

Out of the 20 people on the dingy only 4 knew how to swim. They tried many other ways to save the dingy, but nothing worked. The four swimmers including Yusra and her older sister, jumped into the water and started pulling the dingy. Yusra was at the front using one arm to hold the rope and the other to help her swim. They started moving slowly but surely. They continued swimming the dinghy was heavy and Yusra was tired numb, and her eyes burned from the salt water. She continued to swim, she knew that if she didn't do her and the rest of the refugees would die without a doubt. Yusra was determined!

After 3 and a half hour Yusra and the other swimmers sighted land and gained a burst of determination. There was no way they were giving up now, especially with the finish line in sight. Yusra and the refuges finally made it too land, the two other swimmers pulled the dinghy onto land. Yusra and the refuges hid in the cornfield where they waited for nightfall to make their move.

As they started they were sadly caught by the police. The police took them to a refugee camp not far from where they had arrived. As they were being transported Yusra and her sister started laughing. The police demanded to know what they found so funny. Yusra stated in her head" we were going to die in the sea, and now the police think we should be afraid of them".  

Yusra and her sister escaped the refuge camp, the first chance they got. Yes they had made it to the island, but they hadn't reached their destination. They continued on their journey and crossed 9 more countries. Yusra and her sister arrived in Berlin Germany after a month. Things weren't the best, and Yusra had to work hard.

She slept on the floor at the refuge camp, but she did join a swimming club. When she first tried out she was out of shape and didn't do her best. But the Coach saw some good potential in her. Yusra's technique was good and with some training Yusra could be amazing. So she started. She is training she'd wake up at 6:00 am so she could train before school, and then go back after her classes. Yusra was determined to reach her goal.

In the 2016 Olympics Yusra was asked to join the first refugee Olympics team. She competed in the 100 meter butterfly race and she won. Yusra is now training for the 2020 Olympics an at this rate, there is nothing stopping this girl from achieving her goals.

This is the story of Yusra Mudini, The End!

Activity 3: Own Choice

For this task we were asked to chose someone we look up to and has done something I admire. They could be a sports-person or explorer, that we admire and I am going to share with you someone I really admire.

Name: Jessica Watson

Age: 26 Years Old

Born: 18 May 1993

https://www.mbanews.com.au/jessica-watson-reflects-aim-mba-2/

Jessica Watson became the youngest person to journey alone, around the world at the age of 16. Jessica spent 210 days alone at sea, to receive her title. Once she completed this voyage, she received fame from the prime minister. Who met her in person give her the title of Australian hero. But Jessica humbly declared that she was no hero, but instead and ordinary person that dreamed. And then made that dream a reality!

Jessica struggled with dyslexia but soon became a story-teller. First on her popular blog and then with her internationally published best-selling book True Spirit. The Documentary Jessica filmed at sea was narrated by Sir Richard Branson. The producers of Oscar-nominated movie Lion, are working on a film version of Jessica’s story.

Jessica went on to do many other great things. She was named Young Australian of the year in 2011 and lead many other project. One of the things she did was lead the team that became the youngest to ever compete in the Australia’s notorious Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Jessica was awarded the Jane Tate trophy for the first female skipper, after the project saw the youth crew finish second in their division.

That conclude the last day of the first week doing the summer learning journey I had fun and can't wait to do the next few weeks. Stay tuned for more!