Senior Athlete Asks Equality in Sports
At the age of five, I picked up my first basketball. It was an instant love, and over the next 12 years, it became one of my many passions.
Through this game, I learned a variety of skills that will not only help me in my athletic career, but in my real life skills as well. Leadership, trust, respect and camaraderie are a few of the many lessons I learned throughout my introduction to the game of basketball.
In addition to these lessons, I also learned that no one player should be valued over another, we should always work as a team and teammates should always encourage and support one another, even outside of the athletic arena.
Due to recent events, I have begun to question much of what I have learned over the past 12 years.
For the last three years, I have been on the varsity basketball team. During that time, I quickly realized that I might not be the most skilled basketball player on that court, but because of my love and dedication to the sport, I had much to offer.
I never thought that my love and passion for the game could be diminished, but I was wrong.
Recently I, along with five other senior letter winners, were discouraged from trying out for the team.
Although we were not cut, it was suggested by our coach to not go out for the team because we would not like the outcome of tryouts. This conversation took place before tryouts started, and we were not given a chance to have the same opportunity that the other individuals were given.
Although I can not speak for all of the seniors who are not playing anymore, I can express that we are all disappointed to be losing this part of our lives, as we have all been playing basketball since our youth.
We did not approach this season expecting that just because we are seniors, we would automatically make the varsity team; however, we did expect to be given the opportunity to try out, just like every other athlete on the team.
Because of the fact that we were discouraged from trying out, not one, out of the six of us, did, leaving all of us discouraged and frustrated.
It is my hope that in upcoming seasons, all athletes will be equally encouraged to go out for the teams about which they are passionate, and be given the fair opportunity to pursue the sports they love.