When you look at a basketball what do you see? Most would see a rubber ball in the shape of an orange sphere. There are black lines and real leather. If you look closer, you would also see the size of the ball you are playing with. For many a basketball might just be a toy, or even represent a liberation for others, but for me it means so much more. A basketball represents my blood, sweat, tears, passion, sacrifice and, above all, a sense of belonging, like a family. At this moment in my life there are only three things I dedicate my life to: family, friends and basketball. Basketball has shaped my life probably more than anything else. Basketball instilled in me a fierce will to reach out and embrace my ambitions instead of fearing them. Basketball gave me an open opportunity to try something new. New opportunities and experiences are no longer a big deal. From academics to personal matters, the lessons I have learned from basketball have influenced my life. The first thing a basketball represents, for me, is change. Growing up I was a rebel. I never did anything I was supposed to or asked to do. I decided to rebel against my parents, teachers and siblings. My parents had no idea where this behavior came from or how it could be stopped. I was often punished for this behavior that started when I was about 9 years old. My parents thought I had an evil spirit inside me and soon lost all hope. Then there was hope. An ABMiller High School basketball coach saw me and my family at Wal-Mart and asked that I be placed on this team. He knew... halfway... he considered a "clutch" player, one who did well in high-pressure situations, so when I don't succeed, or fail to meet expectations, just as everyone thought I would done, it's disappointing. A basketball represents my life. Basketball was my life. This is all I have known since my early days of high school and it is and will continue to be the most important thing to me throughout college. Sometimes, though, when you've been doing something for so long, it's healthy to walk away so you can find that spark, that fire, that love as to why you started getting into this sport, but I'm just getting started. It has taken me places I thought I would never go, and I hope it continues to do so.