Zion Givens '19 Recruiting Profile

    A positive attitude, leadership, hard work, resiliency, and being willing and able to play the role assigned for the better of the team are key characteristics that make good ball players great and make their team even greater. I have these characteristics. How do I know? I have learned this through basketball, a game I have been playing since I was 7 years-old. Over time, I have discovered that I possess these qualities and I want to continue to develop them through the game, one that I certainly do not want to stop playing anytime soon! That is why my short-term goal is to earn an athletic scholarship to play basketball at the next level as I earn my college degree. I am confident I can achieve this goal, because I am willing to do my part and do what is necessary to give myself that opportunity. I know it won’t be given to me, but I am no stranger to hard work.

    One difficult experience that taught me that I have what it takes to overcome challenges to achieve my goal was when I did not make the freshman high school team. Not achieving my goal, one that I had taken for granted, woke me up. However, instead of chalking it up to failure, I had to turn it around and see it as an opportunity. With this mindset and renewed commitment to the game and to myself, I decided I was not going to let myself down. I was going to become better, work harder, and dig deeper than I ever had. For the rest rest of the season, every day I was doing something to improve my game. I volunteered as team manager to stay connected to the team/program. I studied the game to improve my basketball I.Q., and I continued to workout. Throughout the summer, I showed up to the gym every day to work on my game. I went to as many strength and conditioning sessions as I could. I did yoga/stretching in the evenings on my own, and put myself on a basketball nutrition plan that I had researched. Through this self-discipline and focus, I learned how strong I am; it tested my will and my body, but I pushed through it. My family, teammates, and coaches saw this and supported and encouraged me as much as they could. When basketball season came around my sophomore year, I tried out again. Not only did I make the JV team, but I became a starter and named team captain, too!

    I am grateful I experienced this setback, because it gave me a new appreciation for the game and insight on what basketball means to me. It taught me about myself, my ability to persevere, stay disciplined, work hard and stay focused on my goal. It showed me how having a positive attitude and making good choices is powerful and can take you a long way.  Applying these lessons to the classroom, I was able to continue to earn good grades and still have time to become more involved in school. I decided to join a student club called, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) to support my career goal, which brings me to my long-term goals. I want to earn my degree in business management and start my own organization. I would like to offer services where I am able to use basketball and the tools that basketball taught me to help get youth involved in something positive. I want to give youth a chance to learn about themselves and help them build character that is needed to overcome obstacles and support their development as future leaders in their community. In closing, not making the freshman team taught me how much I love the game and what it takes to be successful in life. I'm committed to be the best I can be in everything I do. Whether it's on the court, in the classroom, or starting my own business, I want to be my best self. In doing so, I hope to show others how they, too, can be successful, realize their potential, and ultimately help them be even more successful than I ever was.