- 2018-19 Highlights
Personal Statement
I have always been an athlete. I bounced from flag football, to soccer, to volleyball until I started to play in a basketball league in the second grade. Not only was basketball an exciting sport, but when I stepped onto the court, it felt like a second home. When I became older, I realized why basketball was a safe space for me. Whenever I would play with other athletes, stereotypes and judgments all stopped in place. Everything was weighed in skill and awareness on the court.
When I was in the first grade, my mom noticed that I would twitch certain parts of my body - nose twitches, rapid eye blinks, my fluttering fingers. She took me to a neurologist, who later diagnosed me with mild Tourette's Syndrome. Although concerned, my mom would not let me think I was different from anyone else. She called my tics "habits", and explained to me that a lot of people have certain habits, like for example, biting your nails. And, because of her decision to not label me and encourage me to be the best I can be , I feel it inspired me to be confident on and off the court, an attribute that many people have said that they admire about me.
Almost five years ago, I happened to find myself watching a documentary on television about Tourette's Syndrome. This is when I realized the truth about my "habits". I was definitely surprised, but I did not let that come in between myself and any other aspects of my life. Knowing this drove me to focus on how to overcome my tics. As a result, basketball became my therapy session because when I had a hoop in front of me and the ball in my hands, my nose would stop twitching, my fingers would stop fluttering, and my eyes would stop blinking. My concentration on succeeding drove my attention elsewhere. A safe haven.
Through basketball, diet and other techniques, I learned to control my tics. I now only experience a few tics per month, a break-through that has surprised us all. As a result of my driven focus in basketball, I made MVP as a freshman starter on the Varsity team at Atlanta International School, and I was the only freshman of my division to make the 2nd Team All-Region. And, as a Varsity starter my sophomore and junior years, I made the 2nd Team All-Region and MVP again as a Junior. For Atlanta International School, I play a 5 position because of my height and size, but during AAU I am versatile enough to play positions 2-5. I have many of the skill sets it takes to be a guard, as well as a post.
AAU season always offers competitive basketball, which I love. During the summer of 2017, I accepted the offer to play my remaining high school AAU years on the PEAK Elite National Team. Being a player for both Atlanta International School and for PEAK has encouraged me to set goals on and off the court. I am proud to be a part of two teams that support each other's growth.
Because I am extremely passionate about the sport, I would like to say that my life has been completely influenced by basketball. However, this is not entirely true. Since I was little, I have always been artistically inclined. Reading, composing a song on the piano, playing the guitar, singing, or drawing a landscape are my favorite past times. Literature, The Visual Arts, Music and Theatre have always been some of my preferred classes. As a junior, I have begun taking my High Level Diploma Courses (The "Honors Course" equivalent in the IB program) in Visual Arts, English Literature and Economics. I thoroughly enjoy attending Atlanta International's IB school and currently have a non-weighted 3.75 GPA and a weighted 3.95 GPA.
Being a student in an IB school has given me the opportunity to learn Spanish, French and English fluently and has encouraged me to continue to learn my family's language, Farsi. Attending a school with over 92 nationalities has allowed me to be a global thinker and has taught me to appreciate each other's differences. Having learned Spanish has allowed me to facilitate and participate in 6 charitable home builds in Mexico and the Dominican Republic-priceless memories that I will always cherish!
My goal is to attend a college that can fulfill my needs as an athlete, while supporting my growth as a global learner. I am looking to find a curriculum that is rigorous and well rounded and to find a college that respects the necessity for the arts, just as much as it respects the necessity for the maths and sciences. I have a heavy interest in business, journalism, marketing and design and feel I would thrive in a university that offered these programs.
Thank you for your consideration. I am a team player and bring passion and dedication to all I do. I look forward to learning how I can support the growth of your basketball program and welcome the opportunity to get to know you and what your university has to offer!
