Friends with Basketball

By CJ A.

It was a crazy, wild time during the pandemic. Jaden H. thought he would like being home schooled. Perhaps he thought he was going to be able to do more of what he wanted and less homework as a home school student. Jaden thought it would be less pressure, not having to choose the right people to hang out with or concern himself with wearing the right clothes. He never realized how much he would miss his friends and socializing. Getting involved in basketball helped him to be around people and play the sport he loved. Basketball was an answered prayer.

Jaden was new to Redlands Christian Middle School, and we had never met before. Our initial interview at school started out a little awkward. There was a lot going on around us which was quite distracting, but we were able to ask and answer some questions. However, it was clear we needed to go deeper. In order to get to know Jaden better it was important for us to conduct a second interview. We then talked on the phone, and we were able to expand on our answers and talk more freely. Jaden opened up, and more details were revealed.

It is amazing how a person’s life can change when they are able to do something they enjoy. It was clear that Jaden struggled during the pandemic. Jaden felt isolated and alone. Although he shared that many people may have the misconception that he is shy or antisocial, he is in fact, really outgoing. Jaden likes to compete, and he likes to be part of a team.

For a long time during the pandemic, he was stuck at home, doing classwork online. It was true, he didn’t have to worry about what he wore, or who to sit with, but he missed the social interactions with his friends. Jaden is close with his family. His father is his role model.

However, being around the same people day in and day out can get a little boring. He realized he had to do something to be social and improve himself during this worldwide time-out. He remembered that a while back his father had introduced to him a terrific sport that would allow him to socialize and improve his skills in basketball. Jaden decided to play basketball. It was as if a light went on. He took something challenging and let something he really enjoyed make it better.

Jaden loves basketball. He loves every part of the sport. He loves the competition, he loves the dribble, he loves to shoot, and he loves the interaction. His favorite player is Kyrie Irving. When he has free time, he practices his skills with his older brother. Once he learned about basketball from his dad, he never looked back. When he wasn’t online doing school, he was able to practice, shoot around and just play.

Jaden is a hard worker. His ultimate goal is to be a hematologist and attend Gonzaga University. He actually enjoys studying. So, it is clear he understands the importance of practice. Jaden believes that practice is the only way to make a person better, so he spent a lot of time working on his basketball skills and improving on his ability.

As time went on, Jaden was still unable to go back to school, but he was able to play basketball with some of his friends. Playing basketball made him feel as if the whole world had opened up.

Jaden was outside, playing basketball with his friends. He was able to talk, catch up, and even participate in joking around. He wasn’t tied to a screen or a controller. He was making shots and running around the court. Basketball brought everyone out and brought a lot of people together. He always knew he loved the sport; he just didn’t realize what it was capable of. He was exercising and building endurance, but he was also getting time with friends and socializing.

During the crazy, once in a lifetime experience that seemed to shut down the world, things like basketball, took on a bigger meaning. They weren’t just sports or hobbies, they were things that kept people sane. It gave people a little bit of normal in a world that seemed upside down. It connected people when everyone was told to disconnect and stay away. Today the world is almost back to normal, and Jaden has joined Redlands Christian Middle School as a new student. Basketball has once again helped him to break barriers and make new friends. Basketball has been more than a game, it has been a lifeline.