Though I planned to stay in JV and improve in my freshman year, the pandemic pushed me into Varsity basketball before the season even began. Initially a bench player, I quickly adapted to the new dynamics and challenges, becoming the co-captain and sometimes, the sixth man by the end of junior season. In this unexpected leadership role, I found myself thriving as the 'team mom,' organizing events and encouraging an inclusive, tight-knit environment. I also sincerely enjoyed fostering unity between JV and Varsity as I served as a liaison between both teams’ coaches and players since sophomore year. In fact, for bringing heart and strength to the team and for my efforts in forming deeper relationships with players at all levels of experience, I was later honored with the Coach’s Award at the end of junior season. While I am not the star player, but rather the “jump ball girl” instead—which I am still proud of—I contribute wholeheartedly in other ways. While my co-captain focuses on the bigger picture, I focus on details, including leading basic drills, explaining plays to newer players, and giving pep talks on and off the court. Reflecting on my basketball journey, I am also proud of how much I have personally grown. I’ve grown from a scared young girl, whose experiences with bullying left her unconfident and limiting her own abilities, into a tough young woman who plays with everything she has. Despite physical limitations, including hypermobility and spinal damage, I persevere. I choose to wear braces and walk alongside my teammates even though I can’t join them during stretches; I find ways to keep going, never letting my conditions create barriers between me and my teammates. From the start to now, age five to an age ongoing, basketball has truly been transformative. Playing in league, club, and for my school over the years has helped me overcome past challenges, and while the year-round schedule is demanding, it has trained me to find balance among basketball, academics, and extracurriculars—especially helpful as I plan to keep pursuing my future in medicine, and eventually in Psychiatry. Juggling multiple commitments, I maintain my drive and hold onto what makes me who I am. I make compromises, managing my time to handle leadership positions in various clubs and maintain a track towards valedictorian status. While I may miss practice for a hospital shadowing opportunity, I make up for it with extra practices when I can. As I aspire to study Psychiatry, I’ve set myself on this long and demanding path. Even in college, I plan to major in Psychology while doing research, further exploring my interests, and playing intramural basketball. Basketball has taught me time management and resilience, shaping me into a determined and balanced individual, so much so that I proudly reject suggestions to stop playing basketball in order to spend more time in other endeavors. If one wants something, they go for it. Following the essence of Nike, I simply, just do it.