Gavi Aspler is a versatile individual with a passion for writing fiction novels, a deep love for Torah, a keen interest in sports, and a penchant for devouring biographies. As a writer, Gavi crafts captivating stories, while his spiritual side is nurtured through Torah study. His love for sports adds an element of excitement to his life, and he enjoys exploring the lives of notable figures through biographical reads. Gavi's diverse interests reflect a multifaceted personality shaped by creativity, spirituality, and a love for both physical and intellectual pursuits.

I could still remember turning left off the highway in Lake George and pulling into the parking lot, a smile from ear to ear. After the car was parked, the door would open, and I would step out, immediately hit by a cold gust of wind. It was like going straight from a warm beach to the chilling tundra. We would rush indoors with all our bags, and the excitement began right away. The first room on the right of the entrance was a glowing room of gold, the arcade. After checking in, we would run to the room to fight over which bed we would each get. Then, the others would arrive. All my best friends and their families would join us there for a week of fun like no other. Welcome to Six Flags!

It was always bitterly cold while we were there, but that was fine since we were not there to be outside or for the roller coasters; we were there for the waterpark, the arcade, and the gym. But before we could do anything, we had to unpack and settle in. We would wait in line at the check-in counter, eagerly waiting to reach the front, seconds feeling like hours. After we finally reached the counter, we would be given our room keys, and the race began. All the kids would sprint to the room as quickly as their little legs could, the hotel hallways turning into a racetrack. The gold medal, is the honour of being the first to pick their bed. Once the race was over, the parents would quickly unpack the bags, whilst the racers rehydrated and rested knowing what was coming next. After the rooms were set, it was time for the waterpark.

I still remember the wave of chlorine that hit you in the face the moment you stepped foot into the waterpark, the sun bouncing off the waterslides, and the smell of soda in the air. Each room had its drink refill station, which had any drink you could ever imagine at the click of your finger; your cup would fill up, and it felt as if you were holding the goblet of a king. We would sprint to "the slide," the massive yellow slide at the end of the waterpark. After you reached the front of the line, you would be brought up on your tube by a conveyor belt to the top of the building. Then, as soon as you reached the top, you would get launched into a rusty, yellow whirlwind of fun. "The slide" would loop you around the park, and then after making your stomach quiver in its boots, it would reach its climax. For a few moments, "the slide" would exit the park, bringing you into the cold tundra just before shooting you back into the warm pool which sat at the bottom of “the slide.”

After going on "the slide" more times than we could count, we would all run over to the lazy river. For most the lazy river was a place of tranquillity and relaxation, laying down on a tube, drink in hand, and slowly drifting down the water. However, for my friends and I, it was the opposite. We would jump in and just float around for a bit, a bunch of friends laughing together like we were the only people in the world. We would float around until we reached "the spot," a turn in the river where the water speeds up tremendously, and holding on to the corner of the wall was the only way to avoid being flushed down the river. So, my friends and I would all fight in "the spot" to see who would be the last one standing, while all the others would get washed away, unable to return.

Once we were finally ready to leave the park, we would dry off, refill our goblets, and run over to the room of gold, the arcade. A dark ambience enveloped the room, making the bright lights from the games pop even more. We would beg our parents to buy us coins to play the games, and when they handed us those coins, there was nothing more valuable in the world. We would send out scouts, and once we knew which target to attack, we would pop our coins in the slot and start playing like our lives depended on it. I could still recall the feeling, of everyone huddling around the vintage “deal or no-deal" machine, everyone trying to keep track of the million-dollar case, watching it like an eagle. I can still remember the rush you would get when the ski ball was in your hand, ready to let it launch. I can still remember the jackpot spinner, spinning around and around, while you were praying for a miracle, that it would land on the sliver of a wheel which was labelled “One Million.” There was no better feeling in the world than hearing the words “Jackpot! Jackpot! Jackpot!” ringing through the air after you had just won a game, watching the tickets come out of the machine, and doing the math to see if you could afford the giant monkey.

Six Flags was so much more than just a waterpark, and arcade, it was a child's dreamland. We would run around, without a care in the world and just explore. We would use the bikes and treadmills in the gym, we would huddle around the fireplace and watch movies with all of the other kids, we would watch the live shows which took place in the kids' room, and we were free to do whatever our hearts desired.

One of my most vivid memories of Six Flags is the hot dogs. Since all the families on the trip followed Jewish Law, we had to bring our food to ensure we were properly keeping the laws of eating kosher. So, every night for dinner, my dad would take a pack of one hundred hot dogs out of the fridge, and he would make them in this tiny hot dog toaster. Yes, you read that right, a hot dog toaster! It was essentially a big red brick, which had slots that fit hot dogs, and then they would cook, just like that. I could still remember the smell of raw hotdogs in the room, it would stay there all night. But it was worth it because when we were eating the hot dogs, it was an incredibly beautiful moment. All of the families sitting around the room, laughing and eating hot dogs. The Shizgals; Jimmy, Vicky, Josh & Adam. The Samuels; Rusty, Cindy, Ari, Josh & Tia. The Schechters; Natan, Tanya, Noam, Eyal & Avia. The Canos; Marcel, Tali, Aliza, Eliyahu, Nelly & Maya. Finally, my family The Cohens; Judah, Rachel, Nediva, Aaron & Talia. Together we would laugh, cry, and do everything in between while at Six Flags.

It has been 6 years since the last winter at Six Flags, yet I remember it as if it were yesterday. Recently, while driving from New York to Montreal with my sister, we drove by Six Flags and a wave of nostalgia hit me like a truck. I began to think about how different life is now versus then, how much simpler life was and how much I have grown since then. My sister chimed in with one of the greatest ideas I had ever heard “Why don’t you guys go back next winter break? Just the guys this time.” Ever since she said that I have been on board, anxiously waiting to return just like I had every year as a child.

Times were so much simpler back then, with fewer worries and much fewer responsibilities. Looking back on those years of my life, I feel grateful that I had the opportunity to create all of those memories and that I had so many great friends growing up. Although my life may look very different now, I still feel like that kid who waited all year to go to Six Flags, that kid who ran to the slide with his friends, that kid who spent hours in that amazing arcade. It’s so important for everyone to have this feeling, that although we now have responsibilities and worries, to still sometimes go back to feeling like a young kid again. Everyone should try to revisit and recreate moments like this, everyone should try to feel like a kid again.

Six Flags, or as we called it, Lake George, was more than an amusement park, it was more than a waterpark, and it was more than just a hotel. It was a portal to a world of wonder and an escape from the world. For us, it was for many years a place of miracles and dreams. A place where we went to escape the fast pace of the outside world and just run around as friends. A place where the light would shine like a diamond, the air felt like a warm summer day, a place which for a few days each year, we could call home.

In 1984, the NBA welcomed one of the greatest draft classes ever into the league, including Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon, John Stockton, Charles Barkley, and, finally, Michael Jordan. Jordan immediately began to display his greatness, averaging 28 points per game on his way to winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. It only took Jordan four seasons to win his first of five MVP trophies. Jordan had become the new face of the NBA, a worldwide icon, and was well on his path to being crowned the G.O.A.T, The Greatest of All Time. By the time Jordan retired (for real) in 2003, he was regarded as the greatest to ever play the game, retiring with 6 NBA Championships, 6 Finals MVPs, 14 All-Star Game appearances, 10 Scoring Titles, and many more accomplishments and achievements. He was the G.O.A.T.

Just two months after Jordan retired for good in 2003, an 18-year-old small forward was drafted out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick. That kid was LeBron James. LeBron, the most highly touted prospect of all time, entered the league with hype that had never been seen before, with many believing him to be the next Jordan. Like Jordan, LeBron immediately began making an impact as he took the league by storm, accumulating stats and accolades, and dazzling as he rose through the rankings. A decade later, LeBron had been sitting on his throne atop the league for a while and had just won his first NBA Championship with the Miami Heat. People started to ask, could LeBron overtake Jordan and become the NBA G.O.A.T? How far away was he? Could he be considered the G.O.A.T with only one championship? These conversations continue to this day, with LeBron still growing his resume and trophy room, 21 years after being drafted.

The Sports talk shows, podcasts, and writers all debate this often: who is the G.O.A.T? They bring up different classic arguments, such as "LeBron had to go to Miami to win his first ring!" and "Jordan played against plumbers!" We are going to tackle the classic arguments used in this all-time debate, and using numbers and statistics, we're going to put an end to this debate once and for all.

JxmyHighroller, a popular NBA youtuber who uses advanced statistics and analytics to produce entertaining videos and all things NBA related published a video a year ago titled “The Harsh Truth about the GOAT Debate.” In this video he breaks the classic debate into 5 categories which he uses to decide the NBA GOAT using only stats. These categories are Career Totals, Advanced Stats, Accomplishments, Longevity and Legacy.

Let’s begin with career numbers, here are the career totals of both Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Look at this chart, what do you see here? According to this chart, it seems like LeBron James is miles ahead of Jordan. However, this argument of career totals is only useful in proving LeBron’s longevity or sustained excellence, this chart doesn’t prove that LeBron is a better scorer, rebounder, or defender than Jordan, these numbers just prove that LeBron has been at the top for an exceptionally long time. But something to keep in mind for later is that these numbers also prove how versatile of a player LeBron is.

So, if we want to see a better comparison of the two players without having the number of years which they both played be a factor, we can check out their per-game totals. Now we see a whole other side of the story, looking through this lens we can see that although LeBron may have been playing longer than Jordan did when you put their per-game stats next to one another it doesn’t seem close. Still, the debate doesn’t end here, even though it seems like this is it. Most classic GOAT debates between friends, or even on ESPN, end here with these stats, and a comment or two about their final records. But our GOAT debate is different, we’re going to take it a few steps further and instead of just concluding the debate here, we’re going to pull out the advanced stats and more refined arguments to come to our conclusion.

Advanced stats don’t always tell the full story, but if you know which ones to look for you can see many nuances in a player’s game which you can’t see by just watching them play. In this chart we have six different advanced stats show us a player’s efficiency, production, value, impact and many other important attributes of any player, each one is calculated using various formulas which use many other stats and characteristics of a player, to learn more about any of these advanced stats or any other I highly recommend checking out Jxmy Highrollers YouTube channel.

Anyways, back to our advanced stats, as you can see here Jordan beats LeBron in 5 of the 6 advanced stats. According to this chart, Jordan is more efficient overall (PER), he contributes more to winning (WS/48), he is a better offensive player (OBPM), he is a better defensive player (DBPM), and he is more valuable (VORP). The only advanced stat in which LeBron beats Jordan is True Shooting Percentage. When looking at this graph quickly, all the advanced stats point to Jordan being a better player than LeBron. So, when discussing who is a better basketball player, this graph seems conclusive; however, the G.O.A.T debate isn’t about who is a “better” player, it’s about who is a “greater” player. Which player is “better” is a crucial factor in determining who is “greater,” but to find out who is greater we must also look at their accolades, longevity, accomplishments, and legacy.

Stats and numbers help us see a player’s level of performance and contribution on the court, but numbers don’t represent greatness, they are just a way to achieve greatness. Numbers compliment accolades, not the other way around. There are plenty of players who have amazing stats, but don’t have the accolades to back those stats up, and because of this they aren’t seen as all-time great players. So now that we’ve seen the stats of Jordan and LeBron, let’s see who has the accomplishments on their side to back them up.

There are many different awards for players to win, and many accomplishments to achieve. This next chart includes the 6 main awards and accomplishments which every NBA player wishes to achieve. Looking at the chart, we can see that Jordan beats LeBron again. Jordan beats LeBron in 5 out of six of the awards while having played 6 fewer years than LeBron. LeBron only beats Jordan in All NBA Teams which doesn’t say so much about their skill, but rather about their longevity. This has been the main theme in the debate, longevity. How much does longevity play a factor in this all-time debate?

Most would agree, as well as the numbers which back this up, that Jordan was on a higher tier than LeBron in terms of stats and greatness on the court. But can the fact that LeBron is in his 21st season and is still performing at an all-star level give him the boost which he needs to surpass Jordan? Can the fact that LeBron has been so good, for so long earn him the title of the G.O.A.T, even though the numbers and awards all point toward Jordan being a greater player? When does the longevity of LeBron’s greatness outmatch the slightly greater but shorter greatness of Jordan? This is a question which has no definite answer, however, if Lebron keeps on going at this pace, we might have to crown him as the G.O.A.T. Forget the numbers and accolades, we already decided that Jordan was a better player, but LeBron wasn’t far behind. LeBron is only slightly worse than Jordan, but he’s still sustaining the same excellence 21 years in, far longer than Jordan did. So, if we’re talking about greatness, that gives LeBron a pretty strong case for the crown.

I think that Jordan is the G.O.A.T., and I think that the numbers, accolades, and utter dominance which he displayed on the court earned him the title, I also think that Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. The best and greatest players often get mixed up into the same argument, when it’s two separate debates. I believe that Jordan is the best player and there is nothing LeBron could do to catch up to him and win that title. However, the door isn’t closed for LeBron James to grab the G.O.A.T title, although he doesn’t have the numbers and awards which Jordan does, he has the longevity. LeBron is turning 39 at the end of the year and is still averaging 25 PTS, 8 REB and 3 AST while putting his team on his back yet another time. Even though I don’t think he is the G.O.A.T. right now, I think that there is a strong argument to be made, which keeps on growing every time he laces up and gets on the court.

I want to end this celebrated debate with some words of advice. We NBA fans love debating everything, from MVP candidates to which players have better style and everything in between. But, with all our debating and our constant need to put others down to raise others, we might be missing out on diamonds in front of our eyes. We can call Jordan the G.O.A.T., but that doesn’t mean that LeBron isn’t one of the greatest players to step on the court, our giving Jordan the crown doesn’t mean LeBron isn’t great as well. We have a plethora of talent in the league like never before, we have players doing things we’ve never seen before, we have rookies looking like all-stars, and we shouldn’t miss out on the greatness which we have in front of our eyes right now, we should embrace the present while also remembering and appreciating the past.

Writing has always been a part of my life, although sometimes more so than others. When I was younger, I was a big reader and truly enjoyed diving into a good action novel. The same went for writing; I could immerse myself in my computer and write for hours. However, as I grew up, I gradually read less and wrote less, leaning more towards video games and TV shows. Looking back, I wish I could have maintained the trajectory I was on. But, as Soren Kierkegaard says, "You live life looking forward; you understand life looking backward."

Nonetheless, writing remains a significant part of my life, albeit in less formal ways. Now, I typically use writing to either jot down how I'm feeling and work through whatever is happening or, in a much less formal fashion, simply put my thoughts on paper, make a pros and cons list, and use that to help make a decision.

Unfortunately, I am not the best at understanding my own emotions, so writing often comes in handy. It forces me to think through what I’m feeling, providing clarity. Simply putting my emotions on paper makes it easier to work through whatever is going on. This helps give structure to my thoughts and helps me become better at expressing my emotions and thoughts.

In addition to helping me understand my emotions, writing becomes a great tool when it comes to decision-making. Whether I’m faced with life-altering choices or everyday decisions, I often turn to writing. Simply jotting down a pros and cons list helps immensely. This informal way of writing allows me to organize my thoughts, helping me weigh my options and make informed decisions.

In a nutshell, although I write much less frequently now than I used to, it certainly still plays a role in my life. I'm extremely excited to get back into writing this semester and hope that it can reignite the flame of reading and writing from my childhood.

The following text is my peer review response letter to a classmate's narrative essay. I hope my feedback and suggestions provide insight into the strengths and areas for improvement in their writing.

Your personal narrative essay was great. I was invested in the story, felt the emotions from start to finish, and felt as if I had really been there while reading. I found that the story was captivating, and had great side-plots which gave useful background and added information. It was a smooth read, never getting stale or repetitive, and always keeping the reader on their seats waiting to see what would happen next. However, I think that with a few changes, it could be even more refined and help make the story even more captivating than it already is. The essay could use some work in formatting and grammar, and some clarification could be used in a few specific places.

Firstly, I just wanted to mention again how great I thought your essay was. Although I'm about to offer some criticism and recommended changes, I just want you to remember that your writing was great, and to let you know that you should be proud of your work and your story.

Now, I think that the text could use lots of work when it comes to formatting. For starters, the first page has a different style and font than the rest of the paper. The font of the rest of the paper isn’t Times New Roman or size 12, in addition to it not being double-spaced. There were also several grammatical errors that I saw which could probably be fixed by running it through Grammarly. Finally, there were a couple of places that I felt weren’t as clear as they could be. For example, I think that you could maybe clarify your job as a writer for Fansided and the backstory behind that job might be interesting as well. Also, you seem to contradict yourself when it came to the televisions in the hospital; in one paragraph, you said that they played ESPN and in another, you said that they didn’t get ESPN. I just found that a bit strange.

Overall, I found your essay great, and think that with minimal corrections and work, it could be even better. You’re doing great, keep on doing good work!

Gatsby and Daisy seemed like they had a great relationship, but in truth, it was a deleterious and unhealthy relationship. Their relationship was filled with several issues, several of which were due to Gatsby. He was the cause of many of the reasons why their relationship was an unhealthy one, either due to his personality or because of his immense love for Daisy. Although we would all love to believe that Jay Gatsby was this perfect, charming, kind and eloquent man, he was not. His true characteristics and traits can be defined by his relationship with Daisy. His relationship with Daisy is unhealthy and unpleasant: Gatsby is self-centred, obsessive and manipulative.

One of the main reasons why Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy is unhealthy is because he is self-centred and self-absorbed. In the book, when Gatsby and Tom are debating over who Daisy loves, Gatsby says to Daisy, “...Just tell him the truth—that you never loved him—and it’s all wiped out forever.” (141). This quote is very helpful in proving that their relationship was unhealthy because Gatsby was self-centred, selfish and self-absorbed. In the quote, he tells Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him even though it wasn’t true. Due to his being self-centred, he believed that he was the only man that Daisy had ever loved. Unfortunately, Gatsby had several unpleasant characteristics. One of which being his egotistical personality. He believed that everything revolved around him and that everyone was fond of him. This was just one of the many reasons for the ailing relationship.

During the book, Daisy and Nick have a conversation about the purchase of Gatsby’s house. “It was a strange coincidence,” I said. “But it wasn’t a coincidence at all.” “Why not?” “Gatsby bought the house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.” (84). This dialogue between Nick and Jordan is just one of the many examples in which it is seen that Gatsby has an obsession with Daisy. Gatsby has an image in his head of what his perfect life with Daisy would be like, he often believes Daisy to be perfect although she isn’t and he also became rich so that Daisy would want to be with him. All of these acts put together make it clear that Gatsby had an obsession with Daisy. Although this obsession may seem harmless, it wasn’t. Gatsby became so obsessed to the point that he tore the relationship apart without even intending to.

Similarly, Gatsby was extremely manipulative. His manipulation was very similar to his obsession, he didn’t mean for it to be harmful. This manipulation was extremely damaging to Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship. In the novel, Nick asks Jordan why Gatsby asked him instead of Jordan to arrange the meeting with Daisy. She explains that it’s because Gatsby wanted Daisy to see his house. ”Why didn’t he ask you to arrange a meeting?” Nick said, “He wants her to see his house,” she explained. “And your house is right next door,” Jordan responded. (85). This conversation between Nick and Jordan is a great example of how manipulative Gatsby could be. Throughout the novel, we see Gatbsy have control power over everything and manipulate every small detail. Another great example of Gatsby using his power for manipulation is again the meeting with Daisy at Nick’s home. He used his control and power to make sure that every detail was the way he wanted it, made sure that everyone acted the way he wanted and he often used his wealth and popularity to his advantage. Manipulation often has one outcome, altercation. That is the exact outcome which occurred due to Gatsby’s constant manipulation of people around him. This manipulation is deemed as the largest reason for the outcome of Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship. The readers see this outcome when Gatsby tries to manipulate Daisy into saying that she never loved Tom. Many see this quarrel between Gatsby, Tom and Daisy as the breaking point of their relationship.

Finally, due to all of the different characteristics mentioned above, Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship was doomed from the start. Gatsby is not able to have a proper relationship with Daisy because he is overly obsessed with her, constantly manipulating people, including Daisy, to make Daisy love him back. Gatsby is also too focused on himself and feels that nothing else matters other than his happiness and relationship with Daisy. It is important to realize that the reasons for the demise of their relationship may also be one of the factors which caused Gatsby’s death.