After just finishing my last ever game of high school basketball, I look back on the extent of the joy that this sport has given me. Was it from the thrill of the crowd roaring around me? My teammates, I’ve established relationships through high school, AAU, and recreational leagues. Or was it the feeling of having the ball in my hand, making those big-time plays that will rerun in your head years after my last game? From the moment I first started playing basketball, it was inevitable that I would fall in love with defense. I started playing basketball with my third-grade team in a fifth-grade league. What I remember most about that time, having been almost a decade ago, was the words our coach spoke to us before each game. Although the underdogs in every way possible, the team that wants the ball the most will win the game. And man, do I love a good underdog story. And so, from then on, I fell in love with stealing the ball, going for pickpockets, the lockdown defense, and especially seeing the fears in my opponents’ eyes as I pressured the ball. Traditionally, you would examine the stats, looking at points scored, assists made, and rebounds gotten. But my focus, one that brought me adrenaline, was on the defensive end. Many of my coaches called me “the fastest hands in Harford County.” I loved that there could be so many players who were praised because of the points they made, reaching 1000 before they graduated, or having a height that allowed them to dominate the boards. But I was never one for scoring, and I wasn’t tall enough for that, and so I found comfort in being good on defense. And that’s the legacy I leave behind for my school. And the second half of basketball that I love was the people I met and the journey. From my AAU team, in which I’ve played since 4th grade, I was able to travel across the country for our last shebang. Visiting Chicago to see the Bean, exploring universities I applied to later in life, or spending time at the beach. None of these would I have willingly gone to if not for basketball. My high school team, with whom I spent every day of the week from November to March for four years. It's a bond I can’t break, experiencing the comeback moment in our county championship, down 23 – 9 at halftime, to win the game by 7. It’s a special moment, a feeling that can’t be replicated, but only captured in my album of 4732 photos of action shots for my team. And that’s what I love the most, my friends, my people, and having a special role in my team. Moving on, I would love to use my scholarship money to help fund my college expenses, such as textbooks and tuition. Heading into my first college semester this fall, it would help unload the burden of finding a job during my freshman year as a student and help eliminate the cost of attendance. I am looking to major in computer science with a minor in mathematics or to be determined, taking about 15-18 credits a semester to make the most out of my college experience. I have always been dedicated to my studies, taking 9 AP classes during my high school career and even 3 college classes in my senior year. While I have costs to account for in college, I still want to balance my time studying, working, and playing basketball in my free time.