Few things are more exhilarating to me than the echoing bounce of a basketball dribbling up the court and plunging through the net for a well-poised shot against the cacophony of a roaring crowd. As a game progresses, beads of cold sweat line each pore of my skin as the ball dances between the quick hands of players on opposing teams. Time seems to evaporate from the clock as the digits on the scoreboard continue to escalate, reflecting the ongoing battle for victory. It is in those moments that I most experience a profound sense of self-awareness and confidence.    I began unearthing an adoration for basketball that has since comprehensively reconstructed the way that I perceive myself today. The basketball court has become a canvas for my own self-expression, which originated in a desire to better understand myself both as an individual, a team player and leader. As a microcosm of my life, basketball has come to symbolize the commitment, synergy, impetus and tenacious resolve through which I have learned to navigate encounters with adversity.    Upon spending countless hours practicing and playing, alone and with teammates, rain or shine, I have found refuge within the sport. I rigorously studied my favorite players, Kobe Bryant and Kyrie Irving, and through them, as well as with the guidance from my coaches and peers, I have learned the importance of a strong work ethic. Through collaborative teamwork, I have found my voice, which had previously been reticent. My athletic training has bolstered my scholastic practices as a catalyst for the blossoming of my personal drive and motivation to realize my aspirations.   Beyond a mere game, the collateral by-product to playing basketball was an abundantly transformative reframing of my identity. In developing a love for my sport, I learned to appreciate my body in a novel way irrespective of its appearance. Being a first generation latinx student, the conversations pertaining to body image that I grew up with were largely reinforced by ableist and eurocentric ideals. I have come to understand that unlearning these archaic and colonial ideals is an ongoing process, one I’m especially excited to grapple with for the next few years and beyond, both on and off the court.  Basketball has shaped me into the person I am today; it has become a means to channel stress, a teacher of discipline and the embodiment of my own perseverance. I am confident that the drive and determination I have developed via my journey as a basketball player will translate into a thriving academic career and life beyond school, however I just need to be given the chance.

Few things are more exhilarating to me than the echoing bounce of a basketball dribbling up the court and plunging through the net for a well-poised shot against the cacophony of a roaring crowd. As a game progresses, beads of cold sweat line each pore of my skin as the ball dances between the quick hands of players on opposing teams. Time seems to evaporate from the clock as the digits on the scoreboard continue to escalate, reflecting the ongoing battle for victory. It is in those moments that I most experience a profound sense of self-awareness and confidence.  I began unearthing an adoration for basketball that has since comprehensively reconstructed the way that I perceive myself today. The basketball court has become a canvas for my own self-expression, which originated in a desire to better understand myself both as an individual, a team player and leader. As a microcosm of my life, basketball has come to symbolize the commitment, synergy, impetus and tenacious resolve through which I have learned to navigate encounters with adversity.  Upon spending countless hours practicing and playing, alone and with teammates, rain or shine, I have found refuge within the sport. I rigorously studied my favorite players, Kobe Bryant and Kyrie Irving, and through them, as well as with the guidance from my coaches and peers, I have learned the importance of a strong work ethic. Through collaborative teamwork, I have found my voice, which had previously been reticent. My athletic training has bolstered my scholastic practices as a catalyst for the blossoming of my personal drive and motivation to realize my aspirations. Beyond a mere game, the collateral by-product to playing basketball was an abundantly transformative reframing of my identity. Coming from a low-income, first-generation Latino background, my journey has not been without obstacles. Growing up in The Bronx, I faced social and cultural pressures, including outdated ideals about body image that conflicted with my growing self-confidence as an athlete. These struggles were compounded by the realities of navigating the educational system as the first in my family to attend college. In developing a love for my sport, I learned to appreciate my body in a novel way irrespective of its appearance. Learning to embrace my identity—despite societal norms that didn’t reflect my experience—has been a challenging but transformative part of my journey. I have come to understand that unlearning these archaic and colonial ideals is an ongoing process, one I’m especially excited to grapple with for the next few years and beyond, both on and off the court.  Basketball has shaped me into the person I am today; it has become a means to channel stress, a teacher of discipline and the embodiment of my own perseverance. Basketball became my outlet for handling these challenges, teaching me the discipline and resilience I need to succeed. The same drive I developed on the court is what now fuels my academic ambitions.