Every summer for the past five years, I’ve challenged myself to learn or accomplish something new while raising money for health-related causes. Whether it was a basketball shooting challenge, learning a piano piece, filming cooking tutorials, completing a weightlifting challenge, or creating a short film, each project has been about more than the activity itself. They’ve reminded me that growth comes through perseverance, gratitude, and a willingness to keep going when progress feels slow.

This year, I decided to return to golf.

After graduating, I spent some time on vacation before returning to Toronto near the end of June. During my senior year, many of my friends had started golfing again, inspiring me to give the sport another try. It had been over eight years since I last golfed, so I bought my first set of beginner adult clubs and committed to learning again.

Since then, I’ve been to the golf simulator nine times, sometimes with friends and sometimes by myself. The statistics and swing analyses have been especially helpful in tracking my progress.

My goal isn’t to become an amazing golfer overnight; it’s simply to improve a little every time I go and eventually make it onto a real golf course.

During my first session, my driver was all over the place. Most shots sliced badly to the right, and my best drives travelled only around 160 yards. I wasn’t even sure what tee height to use. On my second visit, I focused on making solid, straight contact. Once I became more consistent, I shifted my attention to distance. By my sixth session, I had hit a personal best of 235 yards, dead straight. Along the way, I learned from my friends, practised through repetition, and even picked up a few helpful swing tips from TikTok.

My irons followed a similar journey. My 7-iron initially travelled around 100 yards and often missed left or right. After learning the fundamentals and putting in more practice, I started reaching the 120-yard range consistently, and now I’m regularly hitting 140+ yards with a much straighter ball flight.

My wedge has been the most difficult club to learn. It took longer to understand the technique, but with advice from my friends and continued practice, it’s slowly becoming more comfortable. I’m also beginning to understand the purpose of each club, when to use it, and how each requires a different approach.

Golf has reminded me that improvement is rarely dramatic. It’s built one swing at a time. Most shots won’t be perfect, but each one is another opportunity to learn, adjust, and try again. The same is true for so many journeys in life, especially for those facing health challenges. Progress often comes in small steps that aren’t always visible, but each step still matters.

That’s the message behind this year’s fundraiser. Every swing represents another chance to improve, another reason not to give up, and another reminder to be grateful for the health and opportunities we have.

Thank you for following along, supporting this cause, and helping make a difference.