Extracurricular

Basketball : I started playing basketball back in 6th grade, and honestly, I didn’t know much about the game at all. I barely got any playing time, and I didn’t even know how to do a layup! But as I kept practicing and training, I improved a lot. My defense, shooting, dribbling, and rebounding all got better over time.In 7th and 8th grade, I’ll admit I had a pretty bad attitude sometimes. I would get frustrated when things didn’t go my way or when I didn’t play as much as I wanted. Looking back, I know that didn’t help me or the team. But I’ve worked hard to change that and be more positive and focused. Now, I’m much better at keeping my cool and supporting my teammates, which has made a big difference in how I play.I’ve also became way more competitive. Playing against boys has pushed me to step up my game because the competition is tougher. That challenge motivates me to work harder every day and not settle for just being okay. I want to keep improving and prove that I belong on the court.I’m really thankful for my coaches and everyone who’s trained me—they’ve helped me grow not just as a player but also as a person. Basketball has taught me a lot about teamwork, discipline, and staying focused, and I’m excited to keep getting better in the years to come

Harp:  I started playing the harp in 6th grade, but at first, I didn’t really enjoy it. It felt like too much work, and I didn’t understand why I should keep going. However, over time, I realized something that completely changed my perspective. I saw that there were a lot of opportunities for scholarships and even making money by playing the harp, especially because I’m a Black woman. Most Black people don’t play the harp, so I stood out in a way that gave me an advantage. Knowing that I had a unique skill that could help me achieve things I never expected really motivated me to stick with it and get better.