Love for the Game

     With the game of basketball, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with it. At times it’s been one of the only things I’ve loved and at times it’s been what I hate the most. Growing up playing basketball though has shaped me as a human so much. It’s taught me so many things as an athlete but also as a human. The game of basketball has taught me how important it is to communicate. This applies to my life because from a young age I struggled with social anxiety. I often felt embarrassed and worried about being judged.

But through the constant need to communicate on the court it taught me that I have a

voice and that talking to your teammates on the basketball court really helps you see

things from different angles in life. You have to listen to what everyone is saying,

understand where they’re coming from, and share your own thoughts clearly. This back and forth helps you get better at working with others and appreciating different ideas.

     Off the court, these skills come in handy in social and work situations, making you more empathetic and understanding. By learning to adapt to various perspectives, you become more open minded and better at connecting with people, which is super important for personal growth and building stronger relationships. The court has changed one more perspective that I have, it taught me how to overcome adversity and taught me to have resilience. Being on the court teaches you a lot about handling tough situations. When you’re against a strong team or maybe some things aren’t going your way, you have to learn to stay focused, adapt and push through it. This resilience that you show on the court can also apply to real life. Whether that’s dealing with work, personal challenges, or school, the skills you can pick up on the court, like working hard and staying determined. So, what you learn in basketball can really help you tackle life’s ups and downs.

     So through all the downs I’ve been through and the ups too, basketball means so much to me at the end of the day and I don’t know what I’d do without it.