Life Off-Label

Being a 5’10 female, I often get asked if I ever played basketball. I always want to be one to shatter stereotypes, but it is true.

When I was younger, I really got into basketball. I mean REALLY. Living in Illinois at the time, I got to grow up watching and idolizing Michael Jordan. Like Mike, I found a true love for basketball. I could play all day, and often did. I was on many different teams and went to a few basketball camps. Like Mike, my dad played a huge role in my development as a basketball player. He built the basketball goal that still sits in the driveway of my childhood home, and at that goal he’s played me in countless games of one-on-one. Even though he had a four hour round-trip commute to work, he somehow still found the time and energy to help coach some of my basketball teams. I never enjoyed something so much, and my competitive side wanted me to be so good at it. Like Mike, I wanted to be a professional basketball player.

Unfortunately, that flame for basketball started to flicker. After I moved to Texas, I had some coaches that were great at sucking all the fun from something I used to love so much. When it came time to sign up for high school classes, the block schedule forced me to choose between basketball and band. I also started to really enjoy playing percussion by that point. It was a tough decision, but like a true nerd, I went with band in high school.

I had a lot of fun on drumline, and I still love playing the occasional basketball game for fun, but for a long time a part of me felt like I failed at my dream. I wanted to be just like Mike, and I quit.

But since then I’ve learned my life has new dreams, and there’s nothing wrong with that. And best of all, I can still be like Mike. One of my favorite quotes by him came from his Hall of Fame speech. He said, “Limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” I try to remind myself of that all the time, and it’s inspired me to go out of my comfort zone and try new things I may not have tried before, such as running for officer positions in student organizations. I used to quit things easily because I failed the first time I tried something. And then I remember: The greatest basketball player of all time was once cut from his high school basketball team. Obviously he didn’t let that get to him, and I shouldn’t let myself feel so put down over something I don’t succeed at the first time either. Most of all, Mike has taught me to do what you love, whatever it may be. You won’t find any reward in doing something you aren’t passionate about.

So, even though I may not have become the best basketball player in the WNBA, I still wanna be like Mike.