You really can change kids’ lives
I have had a pretty charmed life. Growing up in Utah, not a lot really went wrong. I did well in school, well in athletics, and I was pretty social. I grew up in a huge Italian family with seven aunts and uncles, and 20 cousins within three years of my age. I have two older sisters, Julia and Gianna. My family doesn’t really like conflict so me and my sisters rarely fought, and if we did, we never went to bed angry at each other. My parents get along really well with each other. I’m super lucky to have that. Mom has always been the enforcer, while dad is easier going and kept the peace.
Throughout my entire life, mom and dad have been super supportive. For example, my dad was the head football coach, but he repeatedly told me that if I didn’t want to play football, it was okay with him. I think I get a lot of my love for sports from him. I’ve always been active, before I could get a gaming system I had to prove that I was willing to get out and play and be active.
When I was going into sophomore year of high school, I lost my cousin Adam. He was a year older, but we were best friends. One day after hanging out with friends, we split off from the group and went on a walk. Our other cousin had told us about roofing, which is trying to climb to the top of a roof. We decided to try it, and we ended up on top of the roof. The company the owned the building we were on had installed electric panels so birds would stop pooping on the building. We figured it probably wasn’t that safe and decided to climb down. I went down first. Adam slipped on the ladder. He was electrocuted the whole way down. My other cousin who was close by came running and we tried to do CPR until the ambulance came, and they tried to do CPR. Adam died ten days later.
I had a lot of people around to support me, but honestly, I got through mostly by myself. I didn’t want anyone to see me cry. I felt that if I could be strong, after watching it happen, it would help the rest of my family be strong too. I did my best to put up a great front. I had great people around me but I dealt with it on my own. Awhile after, I ended up getting a tattoo. I wanted something that could be a cool design without having to explain to everyone who saw it what it meant. I got a tattoo with wings. I friend of mine designed it. Two was Adam’s number whenever we played sports.
I came to Seattle Pacific University for basketball. I was offered a scholarship I couldn’t turn down. Last year, I tore my ACL and couldn’t play. I’ve had three knee surgeries in the last year. I learned a lot in that year. Now I’m playing again and I feel more like myself. Basketball is how I get my frustrations out. I get cooped up and overthink things when I can’t play or work out. I get stuck in my head. Playing releases it all.
The reason I love basketball is because I played growing up with a coach named Ron Preece. He gave me opportunities to play, and taught me to play the right way. I wouldn’t be playing college basketball if it wasn’t for him. By setting the groundwork for me to be the player I became paved the way for me to play college basketball.
After I graduate, I want to coach college sports. I get that a lot from my dad. There are so many people my dad has impacted that come back and say he’s been an inspiration to them. I want to do that. I think there’s a lot you can learn about real life from sports that most coaches don’t take the time to teach. If I can impact one person, I think it’s worth it. With coaching, you really can change kids’ lives. You can help students who otherwise couldn’t afford college get a scholarship and an education, which can completely transform peoples lives. I think changing even one person’s life would make it well worth it.
