The final buzzer sounded. We’d just won our last summer tournament. But as I walked over to the bench with my teammates to shake our opponents’ hands, I started to tear up. I’m not usually the emotional type, and there was no reason to be crying. Yet when I stood under the basket with my dad to get a picture taken, that's when it hit me. Ever since I was five, I’d always played for my dad, and I couldn’t believe it would be the last time he’d be on the bench with me. Random memories from countless practices over the last twelve years rushed through my mind. All of the skills and lessons that I’ve learned from the game of basketball have helped shape me into the person I am today. Whether it was playing for my school, my dad, my township, or just shooting in the gym, basketball has always been an important part of my life. I’d always played point guard until my freshman year, when I had to adjust to the shooting guard position. I’ll always be a point guard at heart. From yelling out all the plays to getting the ball in the right spot, I’ve always owned the responsibility and leadership that comes with the position. Knowing that the ball was in my hands most of the game, I spent hours in the gym before and after practice working on my dribbling and playmaking. Believe it or not, I’m even more proud of my assists and getting other people open than shooting baskets myself. My dad has always held high expectations for me, and now I hold myself to those same high standards. After my freshman year, my teammates elected me to be our team captain, and I’ve always taken my leadership role very seriously. To help bond off the court, I started a team tradition of hosting a Superbowl Sunday potluck where everyone was invited. I always try to be positive and uplifting. For example, I’ll often tell teammates who miss back to back shots, “The next one is in!” When my teammates make mistakes in games, I encourage them to do what I do—forget it and focus on the next play. In order to set a good example in practice or the weight room, I always push myself and am often the last one out of the gym. Being a leader also means giving back to my basketball community. For the last four years, I’ve helped with fall and summer youth clinics. I sit down with the coach, make agendas, and demonstrate drills. Working with elementary aged girls reminds me of how much I loved the sport as a kid. I encourage them to practice, try hard, and have fun. When we do t-shirt tosses at our varsity games, it’s so rewarding to see the little girls come and cheer for us at our games. I hope that after I graduate and come back to see the games, I recognize the same players and have a chance to cheer for them too. Dedicating my life to basketball has helped me become an unselfish and hardworking leader who always strives to improve. My dad, through the years, has encouraged me to not only improve myself but everyone around me. Without watching and learning from my dad, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. In the future, I’ll always be looking to improve my college community—whether I'm on or off the court. My dad has not only helped me overcome obstacles on the court but also off the court.

The final buzzer sounded. We’d just won our last summer tournament. But as I walked over to the bench with my teammates to shake our opponents’ hands, I started to tear up. I’m not usually the emotional type, and there was no reason to be crying. Yet when I stood under the basket with my dad to get a picture taken, that's when it hit me. Ever since I was five, I’d always played for my dad, and I couldn’t believe it would be the last time he’d be on the bench with me. Random memories from countless practices over the last twelve years rushed through my mind. All of the skills and lessons that I’ve learned from the game of basketball have helped shape me into the person I am today. Whether it was playing for my school, my dad, my township, or just shooting in the gym, basketball has always been an important part of my life. I’d always played point guard until my freshman year, when I had to adjust to the shooting guard position. I’ll always be a point guard at heart, which is like being a quarterback on a football team. From yelling out all the plays to getting the ball in the right spot, I’ve always owned the responsibility and leadership that comes with the position. Knowing that the ball was in my hands most of the game, I spent hours in the gym before and after practice working on my dribbling and playmaking. Believe it or not, I’m even more proud of my assists and getting other people open than shooting baskets myself. My dad has always held high expectations for me, and now I hold myself to those same high standards. After my freshman year, my teammates elected me to be our team captain, and I’ve always taken my leadership role very seriously. To help bond off the court, I started a team tradition of hosting a Superbowl Sunday potluck where everyone was invited. I always try to be positive and uplifting. For example, I’ll often tell teammates who miss back to back shots, “The next one is in!” When my teammates make mistakes in games, I encourage them to do what I do—forget it and focus on the next play. In order to set a good example in practice or the weight room, I always push myself and am often the last one out of the gym. Being a leader also means giving back to my basketball community. For the last four years, I’ve helped with fall and summer youth clinics. I sit down with the coach, make agendas, and demonstrate drills. Working with elementary aged girls reminds me of how much I loved the sport as a kid. I encourage them to practice, try hard, and have fun. When we do t-shirt tosses at our varsity games, it’s so rewarding to see the little girls come and cheer for us at our games. Dedicating my life to basketball has helped me become an unselfish and hardworking leader who always strives to improve. My dad, through the years, has encouraged me to not only improve myself but everyone around me. Without watching and learning from my dad, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. In the future, I’ll always be looking to improve my college community—whether I'm on or off the court. My dad has not only helped me overcome obstacles on the court but also off the court.

The final buzzer sounded. We’d just won our last summer tournament. But as I walked over to the bench with my teammates to shake our opponents’ hands, I started to tear up. I’m not usually the emotional type, and there was no reason to be crying. Yet when I stood under the basket with my dad to get a picture taken, that's when it hit me. Ever since I was five, I’d always played for my dad, and I couldn’t believe it would be the last time he’d be on the bench with me. Random memories from countless practices over the last twelve years rushed through my mind. All of the skills and lessons that I’ve learned from the game of basketball have helped shape me into the person I am today. Whether it was playing for my school, my dad, my township, or just shooting in the gym, basketball has always been an important part of my life. I’d always played point guard until my freshman year, when I had to adjust to the shooting guard position. I’ll always be a point guard at heart, which is like being a quarterback on a football team. From yelling out all the plays to getting the ball in the right spot, I’ve always owned the responsibility and leadership that comes with the position. Knowing that the ball was in my hands most of the game, I spent hours in the gym before and after practice working on my dribbling and playmaking. Believe it or not, I’m even more proud of my assists and getting other people open than shooting baskets myself. My dad has always held high expectations for me, and now I hold myself to those same high standards. After my freshman year, my teammates elected me to be our team captain, and I’ve always taken my leadership role very seriously. To help bond off the court, I started a team tradition of hosting a Superbowl Sunday potluck where everyone was invited. I always try to be positive and uplifting. For example, I’ll often tell teammates who miss back to back shots, “The next one is in!” When my teammates make mistakes in games, I encourage them to do what I do—forget it and focus on the next play. In order to set a good example in practice or the weight room, I always push myself and am often the last one out of the gym. Being a leader also means giving back to my basketball community. For the last four years, I’ve helped with fall and summer youth clinics. I sit down with the coach, make agendas, and demonstrate drills. Working with elementary aged girls reminds me of how much I loved the sport as a kid. I encourage them to practice, try hard, and have fun. When we do t-shirt tosses at our varsity games, it’s so rewarding to see the little girls come and cheer for us at our games. I hope that after I graduate and come back to see the games, I recognize the same players and have a chance to cheer for them too. Dedicating my life to basketball has helped me become an unselfish and hardworking leader who always strives to improve. All of my coaches through the years have encouraged me to not only improve myself but everyone around me. Without watching and learning from my dad, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. In the future, I’ll always be looking to improve my college community—whether I'm on or off the court.

Growing up family has been a big part of my life. It’s hard to talk about my life without talking about my grandma, especially after she got sick with cancer. That diagnosis changed my family. The whole experience has taught me a ton about being staying strong. Before she got sick, my grandma lived in the kitchen. Her whole personality was tied up in the smell of baking and cooking. She was there every holiday. Her almond crescents was my favorite and the one thing she would always make. I used to just sit and watch and sometimes help. Now that she can't make her cookies, there's a grey area in baking for me. Cancer took away the way she showed us she loved us, which was always through food. But the biggest, most surprising thing I learned was about my family. We were all doing our own thing before. The sickness forced us to get way closer. My aunts, uncles, and cousins all still come over and bake just like she was here. Seeing my parent be so open made me understand them better. The cancer got rid of all background noise and made us realize how much we actually care and love each other. My grandma passing away has shown me how strong our family really is which is tougher than I ever thought. Even though things are different now, the lessons she taught haven't gone anywhere. She taught us that love is basically how much effort you put in, whether that's making someone a perfect cake or just holding their hand. This whole journey has given me a new perspective on life.