I can remember trying to make my very first basket. I’d struggled and struggled to get the basketball even near the rim, and I recall the ball being so heavy that I had to use two hands to heave it up towards that very high goal. But finally, that basketball swished in one day, and that’s when the love really grew. You became the highlight of my life. I didn’t care how many hours a day I practiced, how many weekends I spent in a gym, or how many bumps and bruises I gained in a day. I was fully willing to spend every moment of my life immersed in you, and I absolutely loved every single second of it.
It took me a long time to realize what you’ve done for me. You changed my life in such a way that it’s hard to describe your tremendous impact. I was made fully aware at a very young age that there are certain things that happen in life that you can’t control. And, when I needed help with trying to understand it all, you were there. If I had too many thoughts on my mind, I knew I could go shoot around and the thoughts would work themselves out.
I knew I could rely on you to be a source of happiness in down times, and I knew I could depend on you to bring me people in my life I didn’t know that I desperately needed. You’ve been here for me through everything. You’ve taught me to persevere. You’ve taught me to keep trying my hardest no matter what the challenge may be. You gave a whole bunch of hope to a young girl who had lost a lot.
I’m glad you chose me. God knew what He was doing when He showed me that I could use you to help more than just myself. I’ve found that through you, I can connect with people--some I might never have had the chance to know--by using you to share my story, hoping to encourage others to persevere as I did.
You’ve been in my life for so long, it’s weird to think that I won’t play another game. That I won’t make another shot. And I won’t get those game-day butterflies in my belly. But you've given me so much: a town and community that I can forever call a second home; a college education that I can use to better myself and become a “big girl;” a platform that I can use to be a leader and a role model. The opportunities that you’ve opened up for me are amazing. Because of you, I have a better life, I don’t know where I would be without you, and for that I’m forever grateful.