Picture this: 7-year-old athlete. Only girl on the team. She is learning the fundamentals for the game. She goes to every practice, every game and tries her hardest to improve. She makes countless memories. Has the best friendships with her teammates and grows with them. She watches older players and thinks, “Woah, one day that could be me.”
It was my first ever varsity basketball game. “Freshman Guard, #10, Maya Cooney” was announced. I was unsure if I should get up and go, or just stay in that maroon padded seat. I took a deep breath, and thought, “Nothing could get better than this.” I made the right choice. I pushed through my nerves to shape who I am today.
I look back at what basketball has done, and how it has shaped me as a person. It means so much more than it did to me at 7 years old. People tend to say, “It's just a game” after you've lost a close game, or your team just barely misses the playoffs. It’s just something they want to say to you to make it seem like it’s not the end of the world. But the thing is, it's so much more than that. Basketball taught me the importance of life. I was always a student who didn’t put in 110% effort, until one day I was at a basketball camp at Colby College. We were seated on the court discussing the importance of academics, and one of the women’s shooting guards that had been coaching us that week told us, “Academics come before athletics, because one is a must and one is a gift.” Those words have stuck with me. They make me want to put in the 110% through any obstacle that comes my way.
"Academics came before athletics, because one is a must and one is a gift." Those words have stuck with me.
Basketball taught me how important responsibility and accountability is. People see when you try and put your effort in. 7-year-old me saw it when I watched high school players. I remember that when I am helping younger players, or if they are watching me. I remember my younger self going to Nokomis games with my dad a lot, and wanting to play just like the Richards girls. They were great players, handled the ball well and could shoot the lights out. They both decided to play college basketball, and I knew that if I worked as hard as they did, it could be me someday.
I learned how important the saying “your actions speak louder than words” is based on what basketball has provided for me. If I look back, 7-year-old me would be proud -- but freshman me would have been even prouder of the growth and dedication I have shown. On that court, and in the classroom, it has taken over for my future self at the collegiate level. From every ball dribbled, to every floor played on, it has spoken louder than I could have ever imagined.
It’s not just a game, it’s a gift.
Comments