Please give me your honest input! Thank you
Dribble, pull up, and shoot. After each repetition, it seemed as if I wasn't getting any better. After each failed attempt, I began to build up frustration until I couldn't handle another missed shot. I grab the ball and pitch it at the wall hoping that the ball would burst and give me a reason to simply go home and quit. These are the moments where I wish my dad could support my decision in sports and train me like all of my other teammates. However, my parents believe that sports are a waste of my time and have no benefit to my future.
As a Korean basketball player, I don't necessarily receive the respect I deserve as an athlete based on common stereotypes towards Asian people. It's as if people expect me to make a mistake before I even step onto the floor, which puts a lot of weight onto my shoulders. Before a game, I can see the crowd of players look at me and undermine my talent by the way they look towards my direction and immediately start whispering. These stereotypes and my parent's unsupportive manner will always motivate me to continue even after I pass the finish line no matter what others are going to tell me.
The hardwood floor beneath my navy-blue Nike's is where I belong. The rubbery, potent smell of the gymnasium latches onto my body and refuses to let go. Fans chant, stomp, and cheer our team to success. To psych myself, I take a moment to remember their ecstatic faces. Even though my parents aren't in the stands, I'm doing this for everyone. Win or lose, what matters are the memories we share together. At the blare of the buzzer, I race back into the game with renewed determination. Basketball has taught me much more than just coordination, dexterity and quick thinking; it has helped me master the art of endurance, independence, perseverance, responsibility and the upmost important skill I know, which is heart. It's appalling to see how something considered as just a sport could change your life forever for the better. I've learned to go after what I want no matter how many obstacles I encounter because my passion for the game surpasses any ability that my teammates or I show on the court and it has changed me into the person I will always be proud of being.
Dribble, pull up, and shoot. After each repetition, it seemed as if I wasn't getting any better. After each failed attempt, I began to build up frustration until I couldn't handle another missed shot. I grab the ball and pitch it at the wall hoping that the ball would burst and give me a reason to simply go home and quit. These are the moments where I wish my dad could support my decision in sports and train me like all of my other teammates. However, my parents believe that sports are a waste of my time and have no benefit to my future.
As a Korean basketball player, I don't necessarily receive the respect I deserve as an athlete based on common stereotypes towards Asian people. It's as if people expect me to make a mistake before I even step onto the floor, which puts a lot of weight onto my shoulders. Before a game, I can see the crowd of players look at me and undermine my talent by the way they look towards my direction and immediately start whispering. These stereotypes and my parent's unsupportive manner will always motivate me to continue even after I pass the finish line no matter what others are going to tell me.
The hardwood floor beneath my navy-blue Nike's is where I belong. The rubbery, potent smell of the gymnasium latches onto my body and refuses to let go. Fans chant, stomp, and cheer our team to success. To psych myself, I take a moment to remember their ecstatic faces. Even though my parents aren't in the stands, I'm doing this for everyone. Win or lose, what matters are the memories we share together. At the blare of the buzzer, I race back into the game with renewed determination. Basketball has taught me much more than just coordination, dexterity and quick thinking; it has helped me master the art of endurance, independence, perseverance, responsibility and the upmost important skill I know, which is heart. It's appalling to see how something considered as just a sport could change your life forever for the better. I've learned to go after what I want no matter how many obstacles I encounter because my passion for the game surpasses any ability that my teammates or I show on the court and it has changed me into the person I will always be proud of being.
