Working 52 hours or more each week harms people’s memory and problem solving - and disrupts their emotions, a study suggests.
Experts found that being ‘overworked' alters the structure of the brain in areas linked to thinking and social skills and mental health.
They looked at the impact of overwork on specific brain regions in health workers who regularly clocked up a 52-hour week or more.
The researchers drew on data from a long-term study looking at worker health and used MRI scans to examine brain structure.
Some 110 workers were included in the final analysis, published in the journal Occupational And Environmental Medicine. Most were clinicians.
Of these, 32 worked excessive weekly hours, while 78 worked standard hours.
Those putting in long working hours every week were significantly younger, had spent less time in work and were more highly educated than those clocking up standard hours.
The researchers, including from Yonsei University in South Korea, said: 'Overworked individuals exhibited significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation.’
Analysis showed a 19 percent increase in left caudal middle frontal gyrus volume in the overworked group compared with the non-overworked group.
This part of the brain has a major role in various cognitive functions, particularly in the frontal lobe. It is involved in attention, working memory, and language-related processing.
Other areas involved in attention, planning and decision-making were also changed according to the scans, plus regions involved in emotional processing, self-awareness and understanding social context.
The team concluded: ‘This study provides preliminary evidence that overwork is associated with structural brain changes, particularly in regions linked to cognition and emotion.
Ruth Wilkinson, head of policy and public affairs at the charity the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: ‘Global analysis from the World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation has found that working long hours is on the increase and is responsible for about one-third of the total estimated work-related burden of disease.
Our YouGov survey, last year, showed that nearly a quarter of UK workers regularly work more than the legal maximum people should work in the UK (48 hours a week), while 44 percent said working more than your contracted hours is part of the culture in their organisation.
More than half said they regularly check work emails and messages outside of working hours.
‘We want to see employers strip away the “small print”, identify and tackle psycho-social risks as part of risk assessment processes and become more transparent in how they treat their workers.’
Two simple diet changes could reduce the symptoms of debilitating mental health conditions, a study suggests. A major review by researchers at Bond University in Queensland, Australia, found that calorie restrictive diets may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. The research–which included 25 studies involving 57,000 adults–also found that low fat diets may help relieve anxiety. Researchers found that the benefits of a low fat diet on mental health were primarily seen among people at ‘elevated cardiometabolic risk’. This included those suffering from conditions like obesity or insulin resistance the latter considered a potential precursor to type 2 diabetes. A calorie restrictive diet is an eating pattern where you limit the amount of calories you consume per day in a bid to lose weight, usually around 1500 calories total. Dieters are also advised to avoid processed foods and products high in sugar. On the other hand, a low fat diet is considered getting less than 30 percent of your energy intake from fats, a level recommended by the World Health Organisation. Publishing their findings in the journal the Annals of Internal Medicine, the experts said while calorie restrictive and low fat diets may help combat depression and anxiety the quality of the data supporting this was low. As such they recommended any patient suffering from these problems discuss potential dietary changes with a health care professional beforehand. The authors didn't speculate on how diet may help combat mental health issues, but previous studies have established a link between food and mood. In 2017 Australian researchers, published a study in the journal BMC Medicine, where 33 people with major, drug resistant depression were put on the Mediterranean diet for three months. They were then compared with 34 people with the same condition who continued with their usual diets. The Mediterranean diet group experienced 'significantly greater improvement' in symptoms than the control group. Additionally, last year data from 3,000 adults showed that, after six years, those who followed Mediterranean diet had a 16 percent lower risk of developing depression than people who didn't. The Mediterranean typically involves focusing on fresh produce, lean meat like fish and chicken, and whole grains, while eating less red meat and sweets.Professor Felice Jacka, an expert in nutritional psychiatry and director of the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University in Geelong, Australia, previously told Mail Online she is convinced there is link between diet and depression. 'Where mental health is concerned, our gut microbes are running us,' said Professor Jacka.She said that a diet rich in unprocessed foods with lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, pulses and grains is the key.Professor Jacka said this fibre-rich diet richly supports a healthy gut microbiome, the population of bacteria, viruses and fungi that naturally live in our digestive tract.Fibre is a type of complex carbohydrate found in plants that our bodies cannot easily break down.This means it passes through the digestive system all the way to the large intestine where it helps feeds trillions of micro organisms.Fibre's mood benefits have been demonstrated in a review of 18 previous studies, published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience in 2023.The University of Adelaide researchers found that, for people deemed at risk of depression, each additional 5g of fibre they added to their diet was associated with a 5 percent reduction of their risk of developing symptoms.The NHS recommends aiming for at least 30g of fibre per day. Experts also warn that a diet in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can have a negative impact on mental health.Professor Jacka co-authored a study in the journal Clinical Nutrition which concluded that a person's risk of depressive symptoms goes up 10 percent for each additional 10 percent that their diet is comprised of UPFs.'If you do just one thing to improve your mental health through diet, completely cut out soft drinks, ice cream and crisps,' Professor Jacka told MailOnline.While multiple studies have established a link between what we eat and mental health, other experts caution the relationship might not be as clear cut as it seems.They highlight that for UPFs and depression there is no clear cause and effect.Additionally, they note that patients who eat a lot of UPFs are also more likely to be obese, exercise less frequently and more likely to smoke, all of which could influence their mental wellbeing.Mental health charity Mind estimates that one in six Britons are suffering from a common mental health problem like depression and anxiety at any one time.Symptoms of depression range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains.For anxiety they say that common symptoms include feeling restless or on edge being irritable, getting tired easily and having tense muscles.The NHS recommended seeing a doctor if you have symptoms of either condition.Mail Online
Introduction Social media is a big part of youth culture, offering both opportunities and challenges. Imagine using social media not just to connect with friends, but to learn, grow, and express yourself creatively. This article explores how social media impacts youth and provides tips for navigating the digital world responsibly. Positive Effects of Social MediaSocial media helps youth stay connected with friends and family. A Pew Research study found that 81 percent of teens feel more connected to their friends through social media. It offers educational resources, like online courses and study groups, and is a platform for creativity, where youth can share their talents and passions. Consider Emily, a high school student who uses Instagram to showcase her photography. Through social media, she connected with professional photographers who provided feedback and mentorship, helping her improve her skills. Negative Effects of Social Media However, social media can also have downsides. Cyber bullying and online harassment are significant issues. A study found that 34 percent of students experienced cyber bullying. Social media can exacerbate mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and FOMO (fear of missing out). The APA reports that more social media use correlates with higher rates of mental health issues. Excessive screen time can also lead to addiction, affecting physical health and school performance. Take Jake, who found himself constantly comparing his life to others on social media. This led to feelings of inadequacy and depression. By taking a break from social media and focusing on real-life connections, Jake was able to improve his mental health. Social Media and Identity Formation Social media plays a crucial role in identity formation. It can boost self-esteem through positive interactions but also negatively impact body image and self-worth due to unrealistic beauty standards. A study found that exposure to idealized images on social media can lead to body dissatisfaction. Developing digital literacy and critical thinking skills is essential for navigating these challenges. Sarah’s story is a good example. She struggled with body image issues due to the perfect images she saw on social media. By following body-positive accounts and learning about digital manipulation, Sarah developed a healthier self-image. Privacy and Safety Protecting personal information online is crucial. Only 40 percent of teens use privacy settings on social media. Understanding data usage and recognizing online predators are critical components of staying safe online. The FBI reported a rise in online exploitation cases involving minors, highlighting the need for awareness and caution. Consider Mia, who learned the importance of privacy settings after a stranger tried to contact her. She adjusted her settings to be more private and shared her experience with friends, promoting safer online practices. Balancing Online and Offline LifeMaintaining a healthy balance between online and offline life is crucial. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to less than two hours per day. Strategies for reducing screen time include setting limits and prioritizing offline activities. Encouraging physical activities, hobbies, and face-to-face interactions promotes well-being. Think about Alex, who realized he was spending too much time online. He set daily limits on his screen time and took up hiking. The physical activity and time spent in nature significantly improved his mood and overall well-being. Parental and Educational Roles Parents and educators play key roles in guiding responsible social media use. Studies show that teens who discuss online activities with parents make safer choices. Schools can implement digital citizenship programs, teaching students about the ethical and safe use of technology. For instance, Lucy’s school started a digital literacy program that taught students about online safety and responsible use. Lucy found the program helpful and shared what she learned with her younger siblings. ConclusionSocial media’s impact on youth is complex. By promoting mindful use and fostering digital literacy, youth can navigate the digital world effectively. Remember, you have the power to control your online experience. Use social media as a tool to enrich your life, and stay balanced by engaging in meaningful offline activities. With support from parents and educators, you can create a balanced and safe online environment that supports healthy development. Encouraging responsible use and open communication maximizes the benefits and minimizes the risks of social media. YTMSource: Myawady Daily Newspaper
A pill that mimics the effect of a gastric bypass has been touted as the latest weight loss miracle – and may even be more effective than fat jabs in the long term. The capsules produce a temporary coating in the gut that prevents food from being absorbed, forcing it into the lower intestine and triggering hormones that make you feel full. Its manufacturers say it may have advantages over weight-loss injections such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, including having fewer side effects and being easier to take. It is also far safer and less invasive than actual gastric bypass surgery. Rahul Dhanda, chief executive of Syntis Bio, makers of the pill, said: The problem is [fat jabs] are not very tolerable and patients want to come off them. By binding to the mucous membrane lining of the duodenum - the top of the intestine near the stomach - the pills create a barrier that stops calories being absorbed. It forces food directly into the lower part of the digestive system, the pills set off a ‘cascade’ of hormones including GLP-1, the same chemical mimicked by semaglutide jab Wegovy. It also causes the body to stop producing ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry, and start producing leptin, which makes you feel satisfied. The person taking the pill feels full more quickly and stops eating. The coating created by the pill sheds naturally after about 24 hours, leaving no trace.The effect is similar to gastric bypass, in which surgeons make the stomach smaller and shorten the small intestine, changing how the body absorbs food and leaving people feeling fuller after eating less. In rats, the drug caused the animals to lose 1 percent of their bodyweight per week while preserving 100 percent of their lean muscle mass. Trials in humans have not studied weight loss but found the pills cause no harmful side effects. If they prove effective in further trials, the pills could help patients maintain a healthy weight after intensive weightloss with jabs, or replace the injections entirely. Dr Louis Aronne of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City told the conference that a ‘golden age’ of treatment had begun with these new drugs. Mail Online
Working 52 hours or more each week harms people’s memory and problem solving - and disrupts their emotions, a study suggests. Experts found that being ‘overworked' alters the structure of the brain in areas linked to thinking and social skills and mental health. They looked at the impact of overwork on specific brain regions in health workers who regularly clocked up a 52-hour week or more. The researchers drew on data from a long-term study looking at worker health and used MRI scans to examine brain structure. Some 110 workers were included in the final analysis, published in the journal Occupational And Environmental Medicine. Most were clinicians. Of these, 32 worked excessive weekly hours, while 78 worked standard hours. Those putting in long working hours every week were significantly younger, had spent less time in work and were more highly educated than those clocking up standard hours. The researchers, including from Yonsei University in South Korea, said: 'Overworked individuals exhibited significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation.’ Analysis showed a 19 percent increase in left caudal middle frontal gyrus volume in the overworked group compared with the non-overworked group. This part of the brain has a major role in various cognitive functions, particularly in the frontal lobe. It is involved in attention, working memory, and language-related processing. Other areas involved in attention, planning and decision-making were also changed according to the scans, plus regions involved in emotional processing, self-awareness and understanding social context. The team concluded: ‘This study provides preliminary evidence that overwork is associated with structural brain changes, particularly in regions linked to cognition and emotion. Ruth Wilkinson, head of policy and public affairs at the charity the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, said: ‘Global analysis from the World Health Organisation and International Labour Organisation has found that working long hours is on the increase and is responsible for about one-third of the total estimated work-related burden of disease. Our YouGov survey, last year, showed that nearly a quarter of UK workers regularly work more than the legal maximum people should work in the UK (48 hours a week), while 44 percent said working more than your contracted hours is part of the culture in their organisation. More than half said they regularly check work emails and messages outside of working hours. ‘We want to see employers strip away the “small print”, identify and tackle psycho-social risks as part of risk assessment processes and become more transparent in how they treat their workers.’
“World Meditation Day” is observed on 21 December each year, a date declared by the United Nations Assembly to promote awareness of meditation and its benefits for mental and physical well-being.Since my life of public service as an editor to chief editor, I learned and practised daily with the insight meditation of the Theravada Buddhism because of knowing how to escape from suffering, old age, sickness and death. (Anicca= အနိစ္စ “Anatta”= အနတ္တ I often went to the insight-meditation centre of “Ledi Sayadaw”, “Mogok Sayadaw”, “Mahasi Sayadaw” and “Sayagyi U Ba Khin” in Yangon.Theravada Buddhism teaches two kinds of Meditation:(1) Samatha-bhavana(သမထဘာ၀နာ) = Concentration Meditation(2) Vipassana-bhavana (ဝိပဿနာဘာဝနာ) = Insight MeditationSamatha-bharvana aims at gaining concentration or one-pointedness of Mind, and Vippasana-bhavana enables the practitioner to purify their Minds and acquire an insight into the real nature of all phenomena.Technically speaking, concentration is the basis of insight. It is developed by fixing one’s mind on a chaser object, say, a Buddha image, candlelight, a circular disc pointed in a particular colour or on breathing. Buddhist commentaries elaborate on forty varieties of such meditation objects, but the list may be extended indefinitely.Insight meditation, on the other hand, is practised through the application of one’s mind to the nature of things to be constantly mindful of one’s physical and mental activities, so one may be able to penetrate deeply into the real nature of existence and do away with own mental impurities. In short, insight meditation is the direct purification method to cleanse one’s mind of evils.Both concentration and insight meditation can be developed side by side, and the development of one helps in the cultivation of the other. But ultimately, it is only insight meditation that, when perfected, leads man to the highest wisdom and cleanses his mind of all impurities, once and for all.Both kinds of meditation can be practised and applied in our daily lives. Both are of immense benefit to traction. Of all the many aspects of the Buddhist religion, meditation occupies a very important place of interest, especially in the west countries. In several Asian nations, like Myanmar, Japan, Thailand and Sri Lanka, where Buddhism is still very much a living force, it enjoys a long and uninterrupted tradition, receiving in more recent years even wider recognition among the populace.As science and technology become increasingly developed, people have more and more cause to realize the relevance and significance of Buddhist meditation to life.Meditation is a means of mental development. In Buddhism, the mind is the most important component of the entire human entity. Meditation is the training of the mind, and because the mind is the most important factor that manipulates and controls our actions and speech, the practice of meditation can bring infinite benefits to us in life. Below are the best advantages of meditation:(1) Meditation helps to calm the mind and get it better organized.(2) Meditation strengthens our willpower and enables us to face all problemsand difficulties with confidence.(3) Meditation makes us think positively.(4) It improves our efficiency at work by helping us to concentrate better and by sharpening our mental faculties.(5) It frees us from worries, restless ness, etc.(6) Meditation increases our mental health and therefore has a positive effect, to a large extent, on our physical health.(7) It cleanses our mind of defilements.(Kilesa = ကိလေသာ)Let me roughly describe the “Defilement” as follows, according to the noble Theravada Buddhism.The “Defilement” means mind-defiling factor, impurity. There are ten kinds of mind-defiling factors have been enumerated as:(a) Greed (Lobha = လောဘ = လိုချင်တက်မက်ခြင်း)(b) Hatred (Dosa = ဒေါသ = အမျက်ထွက်ခြင်း)(c) Bewildment (Moha = မောဟ = တွေဝေခြင်း)(d) Conceit (Mona = မာန = ထောင်လွှားခြင်း)(e) Doubt (Vicikiecha = ဝိစိကိစ္ဆာ= ယုံမှားခြင်း၊ မဆုံးဖြတ်ခြင်ခြင်း)(f) Mental Torpor = (Htina =ထိန = ထိုင်းမှိုင်းခြင်း)(g) Restlessness = (Uddhacc = ဥဒ္ဒစ္စ = မတည်ငြိမ်ခြင်း၊ ပျံ့လွင့်ခြင်း)(h) Shamelessness = (To do evil = အဟိရိက = Aheika= မကောင်းမပြုလုပ်ရမည်ကိုမရှက်ခြင်း)(i) Not fearing to evil = (Anottappa = မကောင်းမပြုရမည်ကိုမကြောက်မ့ခြင်း)Because of attaching firmly, the “Defilement” (Kilasa = ကိလေသာ) men and women cannot escape from “suffering” (ဒုက္ခ) or Sansayar (သံသရာ) or life=circle (ဘဝသံသရာ). (8) Meditation creates in us virtuous qualities like kindness, inner peace, humbleness (as opposed to arrogance), a realistic attitude toward life, and prevents us from being influenced by such elements as passion, selfishness, hatred, jealousy or greed.(9) An untrained person is often dominated by delusion (Avijja) and his own preconceptions, which prevent him from having proper insight into reality. Meditation helps to remove such disadvantages. Meditation should, however, be borne in mind that the degree of benefits a man can derive from such practice depends entirely on the degree of achievement he makes and on how far he can apply meditation to real life. Several factors are important for the success of the practice, for example, a proper atmosphere.Spiritual preparedness, proper frame of mind, self-confidence, frequency and regularity in practice, and so on.Mind fullness according to the discourse, four objects may be taken for the practice namely “Body”, “Sensation”, “Mind” and “Mental Objects” (1. Body = Insight Meditation of Body = ကာယာနုပဿနာသတိပဌာန်) (2. Sensation = Insight Meditation of Venda = ဝေဒနာနုပဿနာသတိပဌာန်) (3. Mind = Insight Meditation of Citta = စိနုပဿနာသတိပဌာန်) (4. Mental Objects = Insight Meditation of Dhamma = ဓမ္မာနုပဿနာသတိပဌာန်). Mindfulness is the key insight of meditation. When practising this type of meditation, one should endeavour to be mindful at all times of one’s activities, mental and physical. Mindfulness should be developed to such an extent that it becomes natural and automatic. When that stage is reached, one can be said to dwell constantly in mindfulness. This is the way to spiritual purification.Because of regularly practising insight meditation. I often get many good advantages for my life. For example, I fell seriously with a disease called prostate cancer and heart disease, near death, three years ago. However, I fortunately recovered from chronic sickness on account of the good medical treatment and insight meditation. Now I serve daily as a member of the Eaindawya Pagoda trustee as a retired person. Besides with help of guidance from the famous experienced monks of insight meditation, I can explain a conversational demonstration in insight meditation, which is always held every Sunday evening at the Eaindawya Pagoda, Yangon. The Theravada Buddhists always believe in the method of liberation from desire. (Sufferings)References: (1) The Buddhamama Meditation Centre by Sayadaw Dr Phra Sunthorn Plaminsr, USA(2) Dictionary of Buddhist Terms (Religious Affairs, Yangon, Myanmar)Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
Western rowing as a sport traces its origins back to ancient Egypt and Rome, where boats were used for warfare, trade, and transportation. However, its evolution into the competitive sport we know today began in England during the 17th and 18th centuries. On the River Thames in London, races between watermen and boatmen emerged, drawing public spectators and sparking betting. The Doggett’s Coat and Badge race, first held in 1715, is recorded as the earliest formal rowing competition in the West, marking the sport’s official beginnings.By the 19th century, rowing had become more structured and gained widespread popularity. The annual race between Oxford and Cambridge universities, starting in 1829, brought global attention to the sport. These events elevated rowing to a prestigious activity, leading to the formation of clubs and associations, particularly in Europe and America. Rowing was included in the modern Olympics in 1896, further solidifying its global appeal and establishing standardized regulations.Western-style rowing was introduced to Myanmar during the British colonial period in the 19th century, primarily through the influence of British administrators, merchants, and missionaries. As Burma (as Myanmar was then known) became a key part of the British Empire after the annexation in 1826, Western recreational activities, including rowing, were brought to the colonial elite in cities like Rangoon (then Yangon). The British established social clubs and sporting facilities along the Yangon River and Inya Lake, where rowing boats were used for leisure and informal races, laying the groundwork for the sport’s entry into the country.The sport initially remained exclusive to the colonial community and a small number of affluent locals who interacted with British circles. Rowing events were often organized as part of regattas hosted by clubs like the Rangoon Rowing Club, founded in the late 19th century, which catered to European expatriates. These gatherings mimicked the rowing culture of England, with races drawing spectators from the colonial elite. However, the sport’s reach was limited, as traditional Burmese boat racing, rooted in cultural festivals and royal traditions, dominated local water-based activities, overshadowing the Western version.In the early 20th century, rowing began to gain a modest foothold among Myanmar’s emerging educated class, particularly through schools and universities influenced by British systems. Mission schools and institutions like Rangoon University introduced rowing as a competitive sport, though it remained a niche activity compared to soccer or athletics. After independence in 1948, Western rowing struggled to maintain prominence due to a focus on nation-building and limited resources for non-traditional sports. Despite this, small rowing clubs persisted in Yangon, and over time, the sport saw sporadic revival through international exchanges and regional competitions, though it never rivalled the cultural significance of Myanmar’s indigenous boat racing traditions.In the early 1970s, Western-style rowing was introduced to Pathein College, taking root at the sprawling three-tiered lake, known as Kan Thone Sint, located in front of the college’s main building. This expansive body of water provided an ideal setting for the sport, and experienced faculty members, inspired by urban educational trends and possibly prior exposure to rowing in Yangon, initiated training sessions for students. Under their guidance, the sport began as a structured activity, fostering discipline and teamwork, though it remained a modest endeavour within the college’s extracurricular landscape.In my second year at Pathein College, I became a member of the rowing team, a vibrant group led by our chairman, U Minn Than Thaung, the head of the Physics Department. In the photograph, he’s the one seated on the pontoon beside the rowers, dressed in civilian clothes and wearing glasses. The team in the boat included U Soe Myint as coxswain, U Tun Hyke at a stroke, followed by U Thein Win, and U Thet Oo behind him. Standing at the back were our female team members, all dedicated tutors, though I only clearly recall Daw Cherry on the far right. Under U Minn Than Thaung’s supervision, they were all training diligently at Kan Thone Sint Lake to guide and instruct student members like me, shaping us into a cohesive and disciplined team.When I joined the rowing team, I quickly realized that Western-style rowing was far more challenging than I had imagined, a truth that dawned on me only as training progressed. We didn’t start on the boat right away. First came warm-up exercises, followed by practice on a stationary “fixed staff” boat on the shore. Here, we learned proper body posture: gripping the oar, securing our feet firmly in the footrest straps, and sliding smoothly on the movable seat beneath our hips. The technique involved pulling the oar with the forearms initially, drawing it toward the chest, and then locking the arms and oar in place while using leg power to push back. Next, we tilted our torsos slightly backwards, extended the oar forward, and simultaneously used leg strength to slide the seat forward again – all in a controlled, repetitive motion. The training wasn’t open-ended; with other trainees waiting, each of us got only about 15 minutes per session. If time allows, we could wait for another turn. Every minute was logged, and only after accumulating a set number of training hours were we permitted to step onto an actual boat.Once four trainees completed their required time on the fixed staff, they were allowed to board a real boat, guided by an experienced coxswain, a skilled tutor. The first couple of days on the water were far from smooth, with beginners struggling to row in sync. From boarding to disembarking, the coxswain issued commands solely in English, such as “Stand by crew”, “Hands across”, “One foot in”, and “In together”, creating a disciplined rhythm. Initially, we practised the “touching” technique, where the oar lightly brushed the water’s surface during the recovery phase. As we grew more proficient, we advanced to “row”, a method where the oar cleared the water entirely during recovery, allowing the boat to glide swiftly. The command “Next stroke … Row” electrified us, igniting excitement among the rowers. Another thrilling order was “Harder,” used during races to push us to overtake rival boats with every ounce of strength, driving us to row with fierce determination.Rowing on the water looks effortlessly stylish from the shore, with rowers in crisp white shirts, trousers, socks, and canvas shoes, powering a boat that glides rhythmically across the surface — an inspiring sight. Yet, during intense rowing, a single misstep can disrupt everything. If a rower mistimes the oar’s recovery and the blade catches the water awkwardly while the boat is moving, the oar’s handle can jam against them, halting their ability to continue. In a race, this almost guarantees a loss. The rower also risks injury from the sudden resistance. I’ve experienced this myself and seen it happen to others often, especially during the high-energy “Row” command when we’re rowing with full passion. Precision in our movement is critical; one person’s mistake can throw the entire boat into chaos.Under the dedicated guidance of U Minn Than Thaung and the entire team of tutors and demonstrators, I mastered the art of Western-style rowing, a skill I cherish deeply. Their selfless commitment to teaching left an indelible mark on me, and even now, I remain profoundly grateful for their kindness. For someone like me, a farm-bred from the countryside, the idea of rowing in the Western style was beyond imagination — something I could hardly dream of achieving. Their patience and expertise transformed that distant possibility into reality, and I owe them an immense debt of gratitude for shaping my journey.Attending Pathein College opened doors I never thought possible, and meeting these remarkable teachers was a turning point. Without spending a single kyat, I gained access to a valuable skill that enriched my life. The opportunity to learn rowing under their mentorship was not just an education but a rare privilege, one that bridged the gap between my humble roots and a world of new experiences. The discipline, teamwork, and confidence I developed through rowing remain with me, a testament to the transformative power of their instruction.This experience was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, one I consider extraordinarily fortunate to have received. The tutors’ encouragement went beyond technique; they instilled a sense of pride and possibility in all of us. For a rural student like me, mastering such a sophisticated sport was a profound achievement, made possible only through the college’s environment and the generosity of teachers who believed in us. I carry the lessons from Kan Thone Sint Lake with me always, a reminder of how education and opportunity can change the course of a life.Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
