About Me

Hi! I’m a junior in high school who’s been playing basketball for the past three years. Now, I’m not exactly a pro (or even a star in high school), but I’m passionate about the sport and I’ve been putting in a lot of time and effort to improve.

 

One thing that’s been a constant struggle for me is balancing school and basketball. I’ve noticed that when I’m too tired from practice, I tend to neglect my homework and grades. It’s been a tough time, and I’ve struggled with anxiety, low self-esteem, and even depression at my lowest point. I felt like I wasn’t good enough for my family, teachers, coaches, and parents.

 

The hardest part for me was opening up about how I was feeling. I knew what I was going through, but I was afraid to put it into words. I was worried that no one would care enough to help. So, I stayed silent. I went to school acting happy and energetic, but when I got home, my sadness and feelings of self-worth would gradually worsen every day.

 

But then, I realized that playing basketball at home was helping me stay on track. It felt like a safe space where I could express my feelings and just focus on the game. Through this connection to basketball, I learned that happiness is achievable if you’re willing to work for it. I built up the courage to talk about the issues I was facing balancing school and basketball, and I’ve found support from my parents, friends, and family.

 

Opening up has been a huge step for me. For the first time in my high school career, I was able to play basketball without feeling stressed about my life. And as a result, my grades have improved a lot. I’m currently feeling the most peaceful I’ve ever felt, and I mostly attribute that to the power of talking to people who want to help.

 

Because of my mental health journey, I’ve been inspired to create this website. I know so many people who are silently dealing with this battle, and I want to help them feel less alone. I hope that people who visit my website can understand how big of an issue mental health is among student athletes, and I want to inspire them to make a change and donate.