Personal Narrative: The Prime Time Basketball Team

I walked into school to be greeted by a janitor vacuuming the floors. It was time to start thinking about the game and getting my focus level up. My pregame ritual wasn’t always the same beside for one thing, be the first to the locker room to have time to think to myself. Walking into the light blue and worn-down locker room it was almost like I could feel the emotion from all the players who had been there before myself. I was greeted by a wave of smell, the smell of victory, defeat, and pure hard work. It was quite musty but I was used to it and had grown accustomed to it. I sat myself down and began to think about how I would perform tonight and what I had to do in order to be victorious. I pictured myself going out onto the court and seeing all the fans packed into our old wooden bleachers. All I wanted to do was make them proud of the team they came to watch. I looked out the window to see the vehicles of my fellow teammates driving into our dirt parking lot. Soon, the locker room would no longer be quite and it would be filled with the shrieks, laughs, and giggles of my

The day was October 8th, 2014. I hardly played. One school day, my 5th teacher, Ms. Smit said, “flyers for the basketball team on the table” ordinarily I took one. Kids from 4th, 5th, and 6th grade came to try out for the team. After tryouts, a paper next to the nurse's office was hung up. The paper sheet named those who had made the team. Surprisingly, I made the team, most likely from my height. I felt like I shouldn’t have made the team. At the time, I barely started to play basketball. I went to the practices at school and tried to make myself a little bit better, since a tournament was about to begin in a few weeks.

My stomach twisted at the thought of losing when we pulled into the McDougal High School’s parking lot. I ran into the building where our coach taught us the new positions until it was time to play. The ref blew the whistle and threw the ball into the air. I jumped up with my feet dangling off the ground and slapped the ball out of its orbit and ran down the court. I could feel my heart beating, I lurched to a screaming halt at the three point line and pushed the ball towards the basket. I shut my eyes hoping it would make it. I heard the ball drop to the ground and the crowd that was erupting with cheers, I opened my eyes and saw my teammates smiling. “That’s a girl!” my coach hollered as I ran towards the sideline and sat down on the bench. We ended up winning by 2 points after two overtime periods.

As a child, I was taught that with hard work and determination I could achieve anything. Unfortunately, this is a myth, and limitations are a part of being human. I was forced to accept this reality during my junior year of high school. Ever since I was a little girl, I looked forward to playing varsity basketball on the orange and black court at Dalton High School. Finally, during my third year of high school, I was given the chance to start as point guard on the girls’ varsity basketball team. Suddenly, my dream turned into a nightmare, and I was sitting on the bench watching other girls play the game I loved. Gretchen Wald, a teammate, was experiencing the same problem. Luckily, she remained by my side throughout the experience. Together,

Our school was never very good at sports and only about five girls would be cut. I was jittery the day that the varsity roster was to be posted; I wanted nothing more than to be part of the team. After classes ended, I walked to the athletic board, where the varsity roster would be posted. I anxiously scanned the list for my name. I scanned it again. As my eyes ran over the page a third time, my heart began to sink. I hadn’t made the team. I was one of five girls who were cut from the varsity team. In a daze, I went to practice. Instead of focusing like I usually did, I went through the motions. The five of us who made up the junior varsity team had a separate practice with the assistant coach. After the sting of failure finally faded, I began to work harder than before. I showed up early to practice and stayed late every day. Every weekend I spent at least two hours on the field practicing. I was determined to make the coaches regret putting me on the “JV” team. As the season ended, I didn’t stop working to become better. Any day that was not too cold, I could be found on the field. When spring came, I joined the soccer team, hoping to improve on my endurance and speed. Over the summer, I spent at least two hours every day running and practicing. When the field hockey season rolled back around, I was ready to show off my skills and make the varsity

The cool thing about humans, is no two are exactly the same, every one is different in their own way. We’re all defined in unique ways, some by their jobs, some by their livelihood, or interests such as basketball. This is one of my favorite things to do in life, there's just nothing better than setting foot on that court. When basketball season starts to roll around, memories from past years come flooding in. Being able to smell the freshly popped popcorn all throughout the gym. Looking up at the crowd and seeing everyone in the stands cheering us on, arguing with refs about a call, or not really paying attention to the game at all. The feeling I get when I’m on the court is second to nothing. This is where I go when I need need to just get away and think.

Basketball time. Halfway through the season. It was game night. I was nervous. I always got nervous for basketball games. So after school I’m getting all my stuff ready and I’m putting on my basketball uniform. I had to get fired up. So I listened to some Kanye West. Ok. I was ready. My mom drove me to my game. I put my bag in the locker room. I go out on the court and warm up with the other girls. I’m getting even more nervous. BUUZZZ. That’s the buzzer. Time to go bring it in. Our coach talks to us and tells us the play to run first. I wasn’t a starter or anything. So I sat on the bench waiting to go in. The jump ball had started. Our team got the ball. During half of the first quarter, Coach told me to go in. I went in. I did my part and I played ok.

An all time favorite activities of me to do and to watch is basketball. Basketball is something I relish because it's exciting and really affecting, I started playing when I was in fourth grade. When I became attentive in basketball it was because I was trying out sports that year and I determine I admired it and really, enjoying it. Basketball is something my dad, and my brother plays, too. My brother and I try to practice, and learn from each other when we both have the time to practice.

Even though I worked a lot that's when I realized I hadn’t barely touched a basketball since the year before. I beat myself up about that all day in class until after school when it was time. I went to the first practice terrified expecting it to be last year all over again; that didn’t happen. This year I was the first to finish running, instead of the last. I was ten times more aggressive and confident in myself when I was told to try something new. Somehow I knew how to dribble the basketball ten times better, and my defense was great. I went home so

If there’s any lone reason I play basketball I would word it as, “One game of basketball can teach a young man lessons that will help him branch out into the world”. Each quarter of basketball teaches different skills.

“C’mon Drew,” I urged, hoping to instill some confidence in our top scorer. “When you’re on top of your game, there is no way we can lose.” The clamor of basketballs bouncing off the freshly polished floor and the perpetual squeaking of sneakers blended into a euphonious rhythm which characterized most of the summer. We were practicing for our annual basketball tournament, this year held in Dallas, and the anticipation and excitement had risen to all-time highs as we were expected to defend our championship from last year. As co-captain of the team, it was my responsibility to ensure our teammates were focused at all times and to spearhead our success in the tournament.

I could feel my heart start to race as sweat ran down my forehead, the ref handed me the ball. It had been only last game when I sent the ball into the net giving the other team the game. It was as if I had throw the ball up in slow motion barely able to move my legs as I hit the ball. I watched nervously as the ball sped over the net. I finally heard the whistle. My team had won the game.

I am a first year student majoring in Sports Management and I would say I am at the beginning of my educational and professional career. I always loved sports growing up but I never imagined it to be a career I would set foot in. It wasn’t until last semester I realized I really wanted to make this my career for the rest of my life. Basketball has been one of the biggest influence on making this decision.

Have you ever ever had something you wanted to do so bad? But your really scared to do it. Well the day I tried out for basketball it scared the crap out of me. I was very nervous we did stuff I never in my life did before. I never knew to be scared to play basketball but with a coach looking at you its creepy and just scary.

It was the month.The month the basketball tryouts came for me.I was ready to play basketball for my school.So I woke up at 5 a.m. and went down stairs to get a smooth,red colored apple to eat while I practiced my basketball outside but, then I noticed that I had to study for my global studies test.So then I quietly walk back in my house.