The Dream Job

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I've always wondered how people knew what they wanted to be when they grow up. 

I've guessed things I could do and planned ways to be an artist or a photographer but never gone through with them. We all had career ideas as small children. Some wanted to be a vet or an astronaut or ballerina. I knew from grade school that I was talented at art and writing because my teachers told me I was. They used my work as examples often so I figured this meant I should have a career in that field. Just because you are talented at a certain thing, does that necessarily mean you should do it for the rest of your life? 

I ask myself what my passion in life is a lot recently because nearing the end of my college program, I should have a plan for after graduation. I still have no idea. I'm 22 years old, have completed grade school, high school and most of college and I have no clue what I want to do in life. There's things such as health, fitness, photography and caring for others that make me happy but none of those things I can picture myself doing every day for the rest of my life. 

A huge fear of mine is that I may never find that thing that I love and fit so well with. I wonder if I'll go from crappy job to crappy job or expensive college course to expensive college course in a never-ending circle. 

My dream is to travel and learn about new cultures with enough money to afford my expensive makeup and fashion tastes as well as a nice car. One doesn't simply get handed the finer things in life unless one is royalty or a Kardashian. 

All I know is that I want to learn and to have money. People have suggested I become a teacher, just because it'd easy or to become a sports journalist just because I like watching basketball but it takes more than a fondness for a subject to commit your life to it. 

I compare it to relationships. Would you marry someone if you only liked a few certain traits they possessed? I know I wouldn't want to spend my life with someone unless everything about them was perfect for me. Maybe finding the perfect career is like finding a soul mate. Maybe I just have to wait and let it find me rather than pull my hair out trying to fit myself into a job description. 

Tanya Shukalova is a 22 year old, Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. She aspires to be a sports journalist or to work for the government. She would like to write for a basketball team in the NBA and is also interested in photographing the games. 

Websites I follow: Canada Basketball | NBL Canada | Toronto Raptors

Buckets of Cash

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     Basketball isn't just for fun. It is a worldwide business. Europe makes lots of money off of it, which is why many players prefer to play there rather than North America. A lot of my friends that play basketball either aspire to play basketball in Europe or have already moved to play there.

     When I went to a few games this past year, the announcers always made time between plays to give a shout out to community sponsors. These sponsors also help with the give-aways that are held during half-time. Businesses in the community help pay for the use of the indoor court, the cleaning and set-up and advertisement. In turn, the players go to fundraisers or events that these businesses have and fans get a chance to meet them. They also do speeches or presentations at schools in the community. It is a business.

      If more people simply bought tickets and went to games, the business would grow in Canada and more jobs would be created. There would be more revenue. People from not just America but around the world could travel here to watch our games and support our athletes. In the National Basketball League (NBL) of Canada, the Ottawa Skyhawks were eliminated this year from the league because the team couldn’t pay to stay in it. They didn’t have enough supporters or people coming to their games so now the players have to go elsewhere.  I was incredibly sad when I found this put because there is no other professional basketball league in Ottawa and I was really looking forward to going to the games this season.

     Things like this shouldn’t happen. I’ve been to games where all the seats were full and the fans were screaming with excitement and I’ve been to games where hardly fifty people were in the audience. I was almost embarrassed to be in the audience. I feel the reason for situations like this is just that people simply don’t know the opportunity exists. So if it’s one thing I ask of you, pick up a basketball, or some night that you don’t have plans, go to a Canadian basketball game. You will see the fun and passion the players have and it will make you want them to achieve their dreams. This is what happened to me the first game I went to and this is why I made this blog to share my love with other people. 

Tanya Shukalova is a 22 year old, Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. She aspires to be a sports journalist or to work for the government. She would like to write for a basketball team in the NBA and is also interested in photographing the games. 

Websites I follow: Canada Basketball | NBL Canada | Toronto Raptors

Canada's Got Game Too

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Why is hockey Canada’s national sport? Not everyone finds it interesting. In fact, I can’t figure out what anyone finds interesting about it… Perhaps someone should make a blog about why they like it to help me understand. My point is, I'm sick of seeing hockey games on every channel in the winter time. I've noticed that some nights, while I cruise through the channels on TV, I am just looking for some relaxing show or movie to watch yet I can’t avoid a hockey game on every other channel. But during basketball season, I can’t seem to find a single game on any channel. You have to specifically order channels in order to be able to watch the games. Online, also, I have tried to watch games on random websites online but they are not broadcasted live. It was the most frustrating thing to sit there on my laptop and Google “watch Raptors game live” for an hour, when the game was almost over. I found links to sites that supposedly show live games but you have to pay for a membership there too.

The following video is an example of something that should be showed on TV, yet only aired on the Raptor's Youtube channel. I personally, would be extremely interested in watching a show like this on TV. I feel like it could also show more natural pride in the country's basketball team.

Open Gym, Presented by BlackBerry: Episode 9, Extended Cut. The Season 2 finale looks back on the 1st round NBA playoff series vs the Brooklyn Nets.

I can’t be the only person that has experienced this frustration before. The whole nation can’t be addicted to puck and stick wielding hockey players. Almost everyone that I know personally has played basketball at some point in their lives and loved it. Most of them still play it. Hell, I myself would love to play and become great at it. If only I wasn't afraid of judgemental looks from others when I’d miss a basket. Give me a private court in my backyard and I’ll play the game all day, every day. It is something that one can get lost in; something one can start out of boredom one afternoon and before you know it, it’s dark out.

Sure there are gyms you can play at and nets from Wal-Mart that you can buy but what is needed is the same attention and passion that hockey is given in this country. With more support from communities for the Canadian leagues already out there, and building of new ones, there will be more media on the sport. More reporters and cameras will be brought to the games and people will talk about it more. They will want to go to games or start playing themselves. This would give Canada versatility to not just be known for hockey and syrup. 

Tanya Shukalova is a 22 year old, Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. She aspires to be a sports journalist or to work for the government. She would like to write for a basketball team in the NBA and is also interested in photographing the games. 

Websites I follow: Canada Basketball | NBL Canada | Toronto Raptors

Dunk Dreams

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Not only is going to a basketball game fun for the whole family, it helps support a player’s dream. There are kids all across Canada that may not identify with the Canadian hockey image and prefer basketball. They may have a particular interest or talent for it. They may have come from a rough childhood and basketball might have been the only thing there for them growing up. Most of the basketball players I know are in love with the sport and it comes first before anything else to them. They give it everything.

When I go to basketball games, even though they may not be NBA games, I can still see how seriously the men take the sport. It shows how much it means to them and how much they enjoy it. In a way, I am jealous of them because for the life of me, I can’t find anything that I am that passionate about. In my mind, there is nothing better that you can do for someone than support their dreams. In a country focused on hockey and lacrosse, basketball is harder to get recognition for, so the players on any Canadian team need even more support.

My friend, whose game I went to for the first time, revolves his life around basketball. He has moved to many countries around the world for years at a time just to play. If I had something that I was that passionate about, I would definitely want the support from my community and even the whole country behind me. Just like we all have things that help us get through rough times, basketball might be that one thing for some young people. For this reason, I believe it should be fully supported by every community and positively encouraged.

Going to games, cheering your child on, buying them their first basketball, taking them to practice can all be ways to support the sport. Even if you are just looking for something to do on a Friday night, there are always games going on in high schools, universities, indoor gyms and courts or pick-up games on the streets in every city. To support a basketball player is to support a son, daughter, grandchild, brother, sister, father or mother with a dream. 

Tanya Shukalova is a 22 year old, Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. She aspires to be a sports journalist or to work for the government. She would like to write for a basketball team in the NBA and is also interested in photographing the games. 

Websites I follow: Canada Basketball | NBL Canada | Toronto Raptors

For the Love of Basketball

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Although I don’t have many hobbies, one thing I love to do in my spare time is go to basketball games. I have been watching basketball on TV for many years and have always had an interest in it but only started going to games about a year ago.

I was surprised, the first time I walked into a big, indoor court in Brampton, Ontario, at the excitement of it all. The moment that I walked in, I saw the NBL (National Basketball League) players focused in the game, with a huge crowd filling the seats and cheering loudly. I knew a player on the team, and when he invited me to one of his games, I was expecting some old high-school gymnasium. Canada doesn't have many places built for an indoor basketball court so most games here are played in high school gyms. So I was shocked that I actually had a hard time finding a seat to watch the game. I thought it would be just the parents of the players who would be attending the game but since most of the players weren't from Canada, none of their parents were either.

People of all ages and cultures were around me, watching the men run around on the court, doing what they love. Little kids stood on their seats to get a better view, holding up signs with players’ names on them. There were cheerleaders on the sidelines, waiting to show off their choreographed dance numbers, and even reporters sitting court side waiting to talk to the players. During half-time, contests were held for kids to shoot baskets and win a signed jersey, and when the game was over, they announced the winner of a cash draw.

Before I went to the game, I always figured basketball game tickets were just sold to friends and family of players but when I went to one myself, I felt like I was part of a small community. We were gathered together to cheer and support our teams and none of us knew one another. It was freezing out on that November evening, but inside, the warmth could be felt during the game and after. There was an autograph session after the game and a chance for pictures with players, even though they weren't that well known. It’s the experience and excitement that people go for. 

Tanya Shukalova is a 22-year-old Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. She aspires to be a sports journalist or to work for the government. She would like to write for a basketball team in the NBA and is also interested in photographing the games. 

Websites I follow: Canada Basketball | NBL Canada | Toronto Raptors