Personal Statement
Mom says I was born with a ball in my hand. She retells stories of waking up to hearing a ball bouncing at 5 AM, knowing it was 5-year-old me in the basement dribbling around. My first memory of wanting to play basketball came from seeing my cousin playing on the court i grew up on in the backyard. That interest turned into a passion and created a drive in me that is a force to reckon with. Every day I start my mornings with 15 minutes of dribbling practice and end my nights usually with a couple of hours at the gym, lifting, and training. If only life was that easy.
See, I'm not a stranger to adversity. My dad lost his freedom to his addictions and abandoned our family when I was four. But the drive is in my veins, I have seen it through my grandfather's eyes and have experienced my mom's drive to keep us safe and provide everything she possibly could for us. Both have taught me to how to soldier on when it gets tough. And it did get tough. First, there was the pandemic. Remote learning did not do me many favors. Then there was the decision for me to switch from Boylan (a private parochial school) to Harlem High School, my local public school, for financial reasons and to ensure that I would get my playing time during basketball season. Leaving all of my friends, teachers, and coaches was difficult, but I knew it was something that I must do to pursue my dreams. My drive will reward me with a degree in finance and hopefully the chance to play at the next level.
I am ready.
