W2 – Personal and ReflectiveForresAcademy
Task: / Write an essay reflecting on a topic I am passionate about, remembering to include my thoughts and feelings.My Passion for Basketball
Passion is that sense of enjoyment, and the feeling of satisfaction after meeting your objectives and defying all the odds. You have to use your body and mind in harmony to do this. Every single sportsman will tell you the same thing. Basketball requires the harmony if you want to be passionate, and this is the area I just crave. I hunger for the adrenaline rush inherited from constant observation, the speed you are forced to run and the exhilaration of scoring a basket from a distance. I am God. I know this because only he could feel better than me after a match.
I remember the feeling of the first time my hand felt the basketball. It sent a shot of confidence up my body and into my brain, which made me feel like I could play forever. When I started, I immediately began working everything out; how fast to run, when to shoot, and when I get the ball, just pass it. I did well on my first day, or so I thought. There were a few who scored more often than me, and as a “newbie” I was left out frequently, but I thought few of those people had the rush I had just experienced. When I had finished, it was like one of the many coming chapters of my life had ended. That sad feeling when you finish a good book. The good news was that a new book, with new chapters, was only one week away. The next time was even better, as my abilities improved, and I was scoring consistently. I pretended that thousands all over the world were screaming my name, and this feeling I embraced saw me through week in week out. I wanted to keep going, keep scoring, and keep motivating myself to become as perfect as humans could be.
Basketball is the perfect mix of physical and mental ability. You have to be fit enough and confident enough to throw yourself in, but you need the mental capability to make the right decisions. Basketball is not like football. Defenders in football can hang around their position and let everyone else to the work. In basketball, all team members attack and defend as one powerful unit, and If you don’t have the mental capacity to think while playing, you could let the team down. I never went through this, as I can think on the spot fairly easily. When I get the ball, possibilities stream through my head and it is addictive. I love seeing a list of possible chances. Should I try a pass? Should I shoot? Should I move? It is this mix that appeals to me, and it can really help others. Basketball aids your physical wellbeing and boosts your thinking power. This combination is the thrill that the cheetah must feel when hunting; using all your might and feeling the energy pumping through every section of your body.
It is easy to love and have a knack for basketball, because providing you can multitask, it is wonderfully simple and joyful to play. Some rules are very easy to forget, but it keeps you on your toes, trying to remember if you are playing fairly. I felt swamped originally, like the raw running speed, the easily forgettable rules and the commitment to the team would cause my system to crack. The fantastic news was, because of how easy proper basketball is, my system improved, and flooded me with the excitement that should be felt in playing any proper sport.
Many sportsmen and women, particularly footballers and rugby players, can cope with pressure but aren’t the best examples of human intelligence. I suit basketball because it requires a certain amount of brain capability, before, during and after a match whether you are on or off the court. Anyone will feel happy and rather smug when you are too quick for anyone to catch up, leaving another player dumbstruck. I find this feeling even better than scoring a basket. The ecstasy is unbeatable. Even the least intelligent person can feel fantastic providing they get it right. So many times I have seen amateurs (unlike myself!) that go to a game looking all clever, and then they look pretty stupid when the opposition outwits them. It brings a beaming smile to my face.
Basketball is easy, but can also involve a high element of danger. This is actually not as bad as it sounds. The risk factor is something I long for constantly, and it feels like nothing else. A basketball, if passed at great speed, can easily break your nose and send teeth scattering all over the court. When running, a fall could break your leg if you hit off the wall, and jumping can result in a mangled pile of bodies underneath a basket. This is most people’s vision of a nightmare, but for me it’s truly thrilling. I have a theory that many people my age embrace danger. They should. My excitement, and other people’s excitement, reaches all new levels when danger comes into play. It also makes me play better, as while I am trying to escape without injury, your senses become like that of an animal. You are constantly alert, protecting yourself.
I like to think I’m a Jack of All Trades; good at everything, not quite a master. You need everything for Basketball, which plays into my hands. One minute, you are running full pelt, and the next you have to put all your senses in slow motion to let your brain catch up with your body. This issue that I have to cope with increases my determination for success. There is another basketball element I enjoy, and it is the fact that it is just so much of a team sport. Different advantages from different people work together to create an unbelievable combination of skills. The thought of a team like that will make it’s members cheer and it’s opponents quiver. I dream of using my advantages to complete a team that cannot be beaten, so millions can scream my name.
Passion is the sole element of human emotion. Without it, our lives would be boring; a simple routine. People would look at something amazing or a sight that brings warmth to the heart, then shrug and walk away. You can’t trust anyone without a passion. Trust makes basketball. Passion makes basketball. Passion allows players to improve, feel the sweet joy of winning, and become the best in the world. The skills this sport brings out in me will hopefully continue to develop over my lifetime, where basketball will be my passion.
Word count: 1108 words.
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