Why Basketball Is Important To Me

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“Fine, then I’m not gonna go to college”
The room fell dead silent.
Normally an obedient child, even I was surprised at the threat that came out of my mouth. However, I had to stoop extremely low to prevent them from taking basketball away from me. It was just a game to them, but it held a much deeper value to me. Basketball served not only as a means of enjoyment but a place for escape. I glanced at my father, who was so angry there was a red vein popping out of his forehead and then glanced at my mother who was on the verge of tears. Not realizing that I would never carry through with this threat, they reluctantly allowed me to continue to play basketball. Raised in Wuhan, China, my parents grew up being taught that ghitting the books was the only way to better oneself. Because of this, they were particularly averse to …show more content…

Three years of varsity basketball has taught me the qualities it takes to succeed. As the eldest of four boys, I was held to a higher standard and expected to lead. My brothers looked at me for guidance and instruction. Basketball was what truly helped me learn to step up and take responsibility. Being the point guard, it was my responsibility to manage the players both on the court and off the court. On the court, I had to make sure all the players knew the plays and calm their nerves in tense situations while off the court I would try to help them maintain their grades so that they could meet the standards to participate. Basketball has further provided me with the opportunity to work with younger children through Buddy Ball, a program that pairs teens up with those that have learning disabilities to play sports and develop social skills.These experiences provided me with leadership skills which translated to my life at home whether it's helping my brothers with a difficult homework problem, keeping them out of trouble, or simply leading by

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