My Freshman Season

As an incoming freshman, trying out for a high school sports team can be nerve-wracking. I played basketball in middle school and was excited to play in high school, but as I walked into a gym filled with unfamiliar faces, I had my doubts. However, as nervous as I was, I was also committed to improving my game and I knew that showing up was the first step. 

What I found, as the season went on, was that although improving my skills was important, what makes the experience special is the chance to connect with people in different grades—the people who you normally wouldn’t spend time with. Right from the start, the upperclassmen made me feel welcome and included. Each one was confident and knew the game super well, but instead of keeping this to themselves, they helped and encouraged us all to keep pushing ourselves.

Having an engaging coach who set a positive tone for the team meant that I looked forward to every practice–even Saturday mornings–and of course the games. The atmosphere of the team was upbeat and inclusive, so I found it easy to form bonds with every player. Soon enough each of them became like an older sister who I looked up to.

I’ll be honest: I spent a lot of time on the bench watching the action and cheering people on. It was definitely a change from middle school, when I was usually on the court, but that didn’t matter to me. Just having the chance to be on the team, and contribute during practices, was more than enough. It was important to me to always try to play well, but I also felt like it didn't matter the most to me how many minutes I had on the court or how many points I scored. What I valued most was the opportunity, as well as getting to know all the players who have made a huge impact on my time so far at Lab. Joining clubs or playing sports gives you a great chance to meet people in other grades and expand your high school experience. I am so grateful that I got to be a part of this talented team and I can’t wait for next season!