How Basketball Changed My Life

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My sophomore year started out as normal as possible. I was a 15 year old kid who loved basketball and was just living life. My worries consisted of keeping my grades up, whether I was going to be on varsity or not, and making sure I get all my chores done. Little did I know how that year was going to change me. In late October I attended a football game with my family. We were all having fun but something felt off. My mom told us that it was time to go and I could tell she was fighting back tears. That night she told us that our dad was moving out. It felt unreal because of how great everything had been going. All good things must come to an end, right? My mom was a wreck and I didn't know what to do. I have a younger brother and sister and …show more content…

It just continued to feel unreal. Luckily, I found a source to channel all of my confusion and frustration. My outlet was basketball. Along with that, I also began to work harder than ever academically. Whenever I didn't want to be home I would go play basketball. It was like my sanctuary. I'd stay after school because I just wouldn't want to come home. I'd get home from school and just go right back up to the gym. If I wasn't in the gym I was in my room studying or reading. Without basketball, I might've gotten into some real trouble and potentially spiraled out of control. Once basketball season started I was kept really busy; however, when I did go home I'd have to look after my brother and sister. My mom would isolate herself from the world and not want to come out for any reason, or be bothered for that matter. She became depressed and so did my sister. The thing is, my sister never really showed …show more content…

It turned out, all that time spent in the gym paid off in more ways than one. I loved playing the game so much but I hated once the game ended. Not only would it mean I'd have to go back into the real world, but while all the other kids would go talk to their mom or dad I wouldn't have either one of them there to talk to. I always hoped that they'd show up, but they never did. My mom was too hurt to go anywhere or do anything and my dad was just out of the picture. Another month went by and it was just before district when the worst day of my life happened. I was in my room watching film and getting ready for the game next week when my sister walked in sobbing. She was telling me something but I just couldn't understand her. All I got out of it was, "overdosed..sleeping pills..hospital." I had no idea what was going on so I got up and walked into the living room to check it all out. My little brother soon walked in and handed me a paper and asked what it was. As I began reading it I slowly started to sob. It was her suicide note.I'll never forget how it started, "I love you guys. I'm doing this for y'all..." I just sat there in disbelief and shock until I got a phone call several hours later. She had overdosed on sleeping pills and had her stomach pumped. She wasn't stable yet but was out of the Intensive Care Unit. I was terrified as to what was going to happen to her and I still had to look after

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