Basketball: Blood, Sweat and Mostly Tears by Austen

Basketball: Blood, Sweat and Mostly Tears by Austen - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

Last summer I got the opportunity to Coach a youth basketball camp, which was exciting for me because not only do I enjoy working with kids, I also have a passion for basketball. I had to lead kindergarten through 8th graders through basketball drills and teach them basic skills, my job seemed simple until I met a 1st grade camper who we’ll call Sam.

I could see from the start of camp that Sam would require a little more attention than the other campers. Sam would fold his arms, cry, and flee to a corner if he missed a pass, finished last in the sprints, or missed a shot. I'd have to coax him out of his shell, pat him on the back, and get him to try once more. I'd have to do this multiple times a day on most days, reminding him that no one makes every shot and encouraging him to try again.

I couldn't help but think about how many times I've behaved in a similar way to Sam's behavior, not physically imitating his actions but rather backing out of something more challenging than what I'm used to out of fear of change or failure. I recognize that witnessing him act out serves as a lesson to not take every setback personally, but rather to consider them as a sign that I need to dig deeper and try again and again, never forgetting to keep my head up.