College Admissions Essay: Basketball Is Life

I started off having absolutely no idea on how to dribble a basketball. The saying practice makes perfect really did help me to flourish in this sport and my passion for being on the court grew. My goal was set on being captain and in order to fulfill this desire I had to not only prove to my team and coaches that I was capable, I also had to prove to myself that I could handle the responsibility.

When the season started, I dedicated myself to my conditioning and practices. I became a profound basketball player, my life revolved around this sport. Literally, my mindset was “Basketball Is Life”. I remember rushing from my last class, struggling to get through the wave of students that roamed the halls just to go to the gym to get a few shots

in before practice started. I wanted to improve as much as possible. I recall coming home late, drenched in sweat, my whole body aching from all the intense drills I completed. Having to endure the soreness and pain the following day, but it was all worth it to me.
I wanted to motivate and inspire my team to strive for greatness. My teammates weren’t just my friends on the court, they were also my friends off the court. I would spend most of my time with my teammates and I believe that it created harmony on the court, we played as one. My coach always said “one heart, one beat, one team...” and I couldn’t agree more. My teammates and I were always sincere with one another. We’d tell each other everything. We grew closer as the years went by. One particular trait we all had in common was our senses of humor. We were always laughing and having a good time. A team's bond is important because if one person on the team is having a bad day it can affect the whole team. For example, in a game one of my teammates ceased to play with effort because we were losing by 12 points. Her frustration was visible through her facial expressions and body language. All this negative energy spread throughout the team and we all started to play carelessly. I pulled her aside and explained that we still had a chance if we started doing our plays correctly and making all our shots. I believe that talk gave her a boost of confidence and we were all back on track. We ended up winning because of our teamwork and determination. That is why it is important for a team to have a strong connection.
I realized that I was chosen as captain not only because I played well, but because I earned the role.

I proved to my team and coaches that I was in fact a leader. I realized that to be captain you don’t have to be perfect because there is always room for improvement. The one thing I didn’t want to do was let my team down, but my coaches reassured me that I was going to be an amazing captain. They told me that I was already a great leader and that I had nothing to worry about. I was thankful to have had two phenomenal coaches that I could always rely on to help guide me through the obstacles I would face. Being captain was an incredible experience that I will always treasure. One memorable moment that I recall was my senior night. The gym was over crowded with people who came to support my team and I. The sound of music, loud cheering, and basketballs being dribbled across the court were heard. I took so many pictures that night my mouth hurt from smiling. It meant so much to me that my family was there to support me. Even though we lost that game we still had good sportsmanship and didn’t let this one loss impact us. Instead, we learned from it.

Needless to say, I understood why I was chosen as captain. I proved to everyone that I was in fact ready to take on this role. I thank my teammates and coaches for giving me the opportunity to show them that I was able to be a role model for the team. It made me realize that anything is possible regardless of how hard it might be there

is always a way. I am grateful that I had people put their trust in me because it allowed me to be responsible and be of assistance if needed. I learned so much from being captain. I am able to use these skills I gained in order to help me grow as a leader.