Playing basketball had been one of my primary interests as a child. I started at a fairly young age, enjoyed it thoroughly and got pretty decent at it soon. I played in my school as well as outside of it during free time. But as I grew up, my age did, my height-not so much. For a sport in which height is a very major benefit or a basic requirement rather, I was up for huge disappointment. For a while there, I was disheartened and did not see the point in continuing the sport with my tall team and counterparts. Soon however, with some introspect and motivation from my mother, I took it as a challenge and started spending more and more time playing and practicing. I practiced along, with my brother, a couple of friends- basically anyone I could find became a partner to fulfil the mission of getting better at it inspite of the shortcoming I had no control over.
In a few days I got back on the school team which was initially tough considering all the other players towering over me all through but I tried and play on my strong points and dribbled the ball quick and low through the towers all around. I made it my USP and built on it. Come 9th grade, I played the district basketball tournament and come 10th grade, I played the Jharkhand state basketball tournament. It was a beautiful feeling. The appreciation and compliments were sure a plus but most importantly, the inner sense of satisfaction and contentment of overcoming the barrier I had for myself in my head- that stole the show.
-TAPMI
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