The Role of Sports

Growing up playing sports has given me opportunities to learn skills that can translate from a sports atmosphere to everyday life–like teamwork, dedication, resilience, etc. Sports have played an integral part of my life in shaping who I am. Many of my friends from high school came from the sports I played. Sports have provided me with a support system in my teammates and coaches, along with a place where my mind can go to relax.

When I was younger, I played a variety of sports. I did tee-ball, basketball, soccer, and cheerleading (for one camp before I realized I didn’t like it lol). This wide range of sports allowed me to find what I liked.

As I got older, I stuck with soccer and basketball. I played soccer from age 5 to 18, and basketball from around 5 to 16 ish. Soccer was such a big part of my life. I played mostly club soccer, and school soccer in 9th grade. Club soccer gave me so many of my best friends that I had in high school. I always looked forward to spending my weekends with my team playing at a game, sometimes a tournament in a fun place. I played mostly club basketball and then I played for the school in 8th grade. I was planning on trying out in 9th grade for the high school basketball team but decided not to the day before and do track instead. I have no clue what made me do that but I’m so glad I did!!!

I loved track so much. Technically I did the field part of track, high jump. Some of my best friends did high jump with me, so every day at practice it just felt like hanging out with my friends. I think one of the most interesting things about track is that it is an individual and team sport. Track taught me so much about dedication to myself but also a team aspect. While you still want to do well for yourself, doing well also scores points for the team. I got to jump in 2 state championships that we ended up winning! Track is also great because it allows everyone to find something they like. There’s distance running, sprints, and all sorts of field events.

Besides playing sports, watching sports also gives a sense of community that brings people together to watch their favorite team, player, sport, you name it. I get so excited when someone says “Go heels” when I’m wearing a UNC shirt or “Go birds” when I’m wearing an Eagles one. Overall, sports have shaped my life by teaching me discipline, teamwork, and strength. They have pushed me to set goals, overcome challenges, and develop a strong work ethic that carries over into every aspect of my life!