As my senior year begins, so does my last season playing basketball. I have been playing since I was in sixth grade; it started out as a fun activity during recess until I realized I wanted to improve. I had never participated in a sport until middle school, when I began playing basketball in seventh grade. Although I tried dance in eighth grade and enjoyed it, I ultimately decided not to pursue it as I entered high school.
When freshman year started, I was excited to play in the Pasco gym. I loved the atmosphere; it felt peaceful and provided a place to let go of my thoughts and work through things. It became a distraction for me. My freshman season was a mix of good and rough moments; I made the junior varsity (JV) team, but initially, I wasn’t playing much. Midway through the season, I was moved to the C team, which felt embarrassing at the time. However, looking back, it was an opportunity. I started every game as point guard and had ample playing time, which was all I wanted. Being dropped to the C team turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it allowed me to improve and prepare for the next season.
As basketball started sophomore year, I felt more aligned with my team. I was on JV and had supportive coaches. We won about one game that year, and honestly, I don’t remember much about the season. However, we ended with a great banquet, where our coach gave us gift baskets that included a basketball net and wooden bulldogs with our positions on the back. My role was “floor general,” where I was responsible for discussing plays before each game and playing a bit at the high post. That banquet was a nice way to conclude my sophomore season.
When junior year rolled around, I practiced every day during the summer, eager for change and filled with high expectations. However, as an athlete, life can throw challenges your way—family emergencies and friends can create distractions, and sometimes you get sick and miss practices. During tryouts, I was ill and missed two or three days. I did my best on the day I attended, but when I returned, I was placed as a swinger, which thrilled me. I knew I had a lot to prove and had to perfect my skills. Unfortunately, due to my absences, I was dropped to the JV team, which left me feeling really upset. I refused to let that discourage me. The junior season turned out to be the hardest one yet, filled with problems and overthinking, as I struggled to rekindle my love for the sport.
Once the season ended, I realized I needed a break, so I took about three to four months off. Eventually, I picked up a basketball again that summer, and I always get an adrenaline rush when I haven’t played for a while. From that point on, I set a goal for myself: to give everything for basketball, as it would be my last chance to play with this team and coach, and for myself. Throughout the summer, I attended weight-training and open-gym sessions, and now the season is about to start in two weeks. I feel sad that it’s my final season, but throughout the years, I have learned so much from playing that will stick with me long after high school. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play at Pasco alongside my team and coaches.
