Unpacking the Identity of an Athlete
Age four. I got my very first basketball and I raised it high over my head like I had just won the jackpot lottery. And from that moment on I became an athlete
Age four.
I got my very first basketball and I raised it high over my head like I had just won the jackpot lottery. And from that moment on I became an athlete. It consumed me from the time I was seven when I was only girl on an all boys basketball team and they awarded ME the MVP. Until the time I was 18 and left for college. Growing-up, sports was my how my parents showed they loved me. As they carted me all over the north east for all of travel leagues. Athletes today
have no idea how good they have it with GPSs in their pockets. Because I was the teammate, always showing up late. With tears in my eyes. After yelling at my parents. Because we’d often most games arrive well after tip-off. I even had a coach who use to bench me for it.
I was an athlete.
I mean I danced competitively for years. Played soccer, volleyball, basketball,
and softball. And by the end of my career... I was awarded the most outstanding female athlete of my high school’s graduating class.
I was an athlete.
I did it all. I played it all. Being an athlete was who I was. It was in my bones. It ran like rivers through my blood.
I was an athlete.
Then just like that when all the senior nights were over and the scoreboards.
went dark...I remember sitting in that empty basketball gymnasium all alone with a broken heart.
Because…I was an athlete
And I had the same feeling you get...you’ll know the one. The feeling you have after you let go of your first true love. I knew a part of me would now be gone forever.
Because if I wasn’t an athlete anymore...
Who even was I?