Alumni Essay 24

Throughout my four years of high school, I have been through many hardships that taught me discipline, confidence, and courage; three qualities many people around me struggle to develop. Because of what I’ve learned, I do my best to teach others and share my experiences. That’s just the type of person I am, a helper. I want to use my journey to guide others so they can be just as successful as their competition. 

That desire is what led me to become a coach. It was a position I wasn’t expecting but hesitantly agreed to when I was asked. Not knowing what I had gotten myself into, it turned out to be an experience I will never forget as I move forward into my future. 

I coached a middle school team that many schools doubted because of our previous record. I strived to make a difference in those players by using my basketball knowledge to help transform them into a team of high-reaching, determined athletes. My coaching abilities shined the most during a game against our rival team. We were down by a couple of points, and I could feel my team starting to give up on each other. Throughout the game, despite our communication training the day before, no one on the court stepped up to communicate, which caused confusion during plays. This upset me because we had spent an entire day working on communication, yet they failed to apply it. Communication is an essential part of basketball and they failed to ever use it. It made me realize that all the work we put in meant nothing if they didn’t take the time to understand and execute the plays correctly. 

When halftime started, I gathered the team for a quick meeting. I was disappointed, but I knew I had to motivate them. I said, “If you all want to win this game and not let the other team embarrass us, I need to see encouragement, communication, and teamwork. If you get the ball and you’re scared you’ll miss, pass it to your teammate. But if you keep getting the ball, don’t be afraid to shoot. Trust your instincts and go for it.” I also reminded them that if one person always gets the ball and knows they can make the basket, they should still give their teammates a chance. It’s not always about winning or losing, sometimes it’s about learning the plays, having fun, communicating, and making the team proud. I wanted them to feel comfortable, confident, and unafraid to show their strength. My goal was to inspire them to prove that we were not weak. 

Before halftime ended, we ran a few drills to refocus. I had them work on communication and teamwork so that success would come from everyone, not just one player. I didn’t want just one leader, I wanted the whole team to lead, learn from each other, and help one another improve. Although we ended up losing the game, they played much better in the second half. I saw more communication, more support, and stronger teamwork. They worked together for every point they scored. In that moment, I realized I had truly stepped into a leadership role. Leaving a Legacy means creating something that continues to have meaning or impact after you’re gone.