Cameron Chantha '21 Recruiting Profile

Personal Statement

My name is Cameron Xiang Chantha. I am the youngest child of four with an older sister and two older brothers. I live in Santa Rosa with my parents and my grandfather. My older siblings are out of the house already with one who graduated from Davis in 2017 and one who is currently going to Cuesta College. I have been very fortunate in my life to have a loving and supportive family with many cousins, uncles and aunts. I love basketball, the beach and spending time with my friends. I try hard to focus and to get good grades in school. I could leave it at that and you would think me a very uninteresting person. My goal in writing this personal statement is to show you who I believe I am now and who I wish to be when I am an adult.

Passion. My dad, my coach, always reminding me to play with passion and not emotion. Passion is emotion to me and I struggle on the court to know when and how to control my feelings. I love basketball with all my being. I love the friends I make, I love the sounds, smells and especially love the competition. My dad taught me and my siblings to play basketball as soon as we could walk and he taught us to lose as soon as we could talk. Always reminding us that we could do better and that we should do better. My teammates reminding me on a daily basis that some of them were gifted with more height and strength. Yes, I am usually the smallest player on the court but my dad and my sister have always played against me like I am their size giving me the gift of speed and resilience. Basketball has taught me to use my passion as a tool to help me achieve my goals. As an adult I hope to hold on to my passion for the court as well as adding new and interesting things to love.

Sensitive. Growing up in a large extended Laotian family I always wonder how it is that everyone is so comfortable teasing each other. Uncle “fatty” or cousin “skinny”, names for dark skin and light, whatever their first impression often becoming your nickname for life. My sister, she rolls with the punches and my brothers too. My dad says it means we love you, my mom understands, she’s sensitive too but she reminds me that in this family I need to have a thicker skin and I can't take it personally. I try. The thing is - I am sensitive. Should I change that? Should I try to be someone I’m not? I am happy to say that I have learned to appreciate my sensitivity because it makes me a kind and generous person. I do not like to make other people feel bad because I don't like it when people make me feel bad. It’s as simple as that. I am proud to be sensitive and I hope that I will be able to use my sensitivity and kindness to help others when I am an adult.

Grateful. I am fortunate. I live in the house my parents bought when I was just 3 weeks old. I have a nice bedroom customized just for me by my mom. My dad makes my lunch and for school, he coaches my travel basketball team and then cooks the family dinner. Did I forget to mention that he works full time as well? My mom gets me up in the morning and makes me breakfast right before she starts working. My parents tirelessly volunteer their time and energy, always looking for ways to help others, especially other kids. My dad came to this country not speaking the language and my mom grew up poor. What I have learned from them is that hard work is okay. It gives you choices. They have taught me that learning is more important than the grades I get because knowledge is mine to keep. They have taught me to always appreciate the family I have, especially my grandparents. Most importantly they've taught me that life has unexpected turns and that I need to show gratitude for what I have today. I am grateful for the life that I have and hope that I will be able, like my parents, to help less fortunate ones when I am an adult.

I have grown and learned so much in my 17 years of life and I hope to keep doing the same for the next 100. I’m not sure how or what I will do with my life but I plan on using it to the fullest. It is my wish to work with passion and sensitivity with whatever I do and to always be grateful for the life I’ve been given.