Basketball is my life and the center of my dreams. Ever since my father introduced me to this sport, I have been passionate about it. When I was four years old, I got my first Fisher Price basketball court. The court was at my house and the basket was only five feet tall. My parents placed it in the living room since it was the only room in the house without carpet. I practiced shooting every day. I wore my dad's sneakers and imitated basketball moves I'd seen on TV. At that age I still had no awareness of my potential for this sport, but my father knew that it would most likely become a passion. At the age of five, my father took me to the park with a basketball and I still remember the day I made my first basket. After that, I continued to play in basketball leagues and train with my father in gyms every evening. Those were the best times. Basketball became an important thread in my life and ultimately proved useful in guiding the decisions I made about my future. I had to work hard at first, but it was worth it because it paved the way for me to have the opportunity to play at the college level. When practices are difficult now and the demands of being a college athlete seem overwhelming, thinking back to my earliest basketball memories brings me happiness and keeps me going. Some of the reasons I love basketball are because it is challenging, it helps me improve myself as a player person, and it teaches me a lot about life. In this sport I learned to mentally prepare for difficulties. When I'm in a game and I'm down two points with only a few seconds left on the clock, I know exactly what play to run. I also know how to use the energy I have left in my body and mind... middle of paper... I can hear the fans singing, screaming and cheering for my team. When I take a shot and they cheer for me, I feel like other people like me, or even love me. When fans come up to me after matches, say my name and tell me that I played a good game, I'm happy. Of course, smiles come to my mind when younger children tell me that they admire me and that they want to be as good or even better than me one day when they grow up. Being loved for my work on and off the pitch is a privilege. I strive to be a person of integrity, a leader, and a good role model because the game I love has given me the opportunity to lead by example and be noticed and copied. When newspapers or online media sites talk about the good things I am doing, I am filled with joy. But it is a joy not only when it comes to basketball, but also in other areas of life.