Undergraduate / Dribble. Shoot. Score.; Rice Application Essay - Extracurricular Activity [3]

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 word limit)

Dribble. Shoot. Score. For me, basketball is not just a game; it is a state of mind, a constant reminder that hard work can pervade all difficulties. My body tense, eyes darting around, and the ball in my hands coated with perspiration. One bounce. My mind drifts off into the past as the intolerable feeling of losing my first basketball game float through my mind. The disappointing faces of my parents and team mates as we make our way off the court. Two bounces. My mind races back to the nights at my old elementary school; the rain blurring my vision as I shot basket after basket until the darkness encased the hoop. The puddles of water drenching my socks and shoes as I dribbled alone through the puddles only to lose the ball in a whirlwind of anger. Shoot. My body and mind alike, focusing on the basket. Score.