The jersey comes off at the end of the day, but what it represents doesn\u2019t really go away. For a lot of student-athletes, the number that is worn starts to feel more than just a uniform, it’s a snippet of who they are. And after a while, you start to ask yourself something that most people don\u2019t really talk about: who are you when you\u2019re not playing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being a student-athlete is something people usually see as an amazing thing. And it is. The opportunities, discipline, and a chance to compete at a high level are great advantages. But there\u2019s another side that doesn\u2019t always get talked about. It\u2019s the part where your identity slowly starts getting tied to how you perform, how much you play, or what people think of your game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot of that pressure builds over time. Coaches expect you to show up and perform. Teammates expect consistency. Family expects you to keep going and make it big. And then on top of that, you\u2019re trying to balance school, life, and everything else going on. Eventually, it all starts to feel heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve felt that myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had games where nothing went right. Shots weren\u2019t falling, timing felt off, and the losses made it worse which caused me to feel embarrassed going into school the next day. I\u2019ve also dealt with injury too dislocating my elbow my second year in Juco. Being on the sideline watching everyone else play while I was trying to get healthy again was not an easy rodeo and it had a little effect on me mentally which caused me to really think about where my identity truly lies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember when I had games that I didn’t play well in, I placed a lot of weight and pressure on myself. The thoughts that ran through my head were pretty discouraging and my value was tied to whatever happened that last game. That\u2019s where it got dangerous mentally, because basketball stopped being something I enjoyed and started feeling like something that defined me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But over time, I\u2019ve had to learn something important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My identity is not in basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As much as I love the game, as much as I compete and want to be great, it can\u2019t be the thing that defines me. Because if it does, then every bad game feels like I\u2019m not enough. Every injury feels like I\u2019m falling behind. Every setback feels personal in a way that goes deeper than just sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God has taught me that my identity is rooted in him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s what keeps everything in perspective. Basketball is something I do, not who I am. My value doesn\u2019t change based on a stat line or whether I\u2019m starting or sitting or injured. Even when I\u2019m frustrated or things don\u2019t go my way, I have to remind myself that I\u2019m still chosen and loved outside of all of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And honestly, that\u2019s not always easy. There are still days where I catch myself getting too caught up in performance or overthinking what happened in a game. But the difference now is I\u2019m aware of it and I can step back and reset instead of letting it define me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When everything is said and done, basketball or whatever you do won\u2019t last forever. But who you are and what you stand on does. And learning that now instead of later is something I\u2019m thankful for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the day, being a student-athlete is still a blessing. I wouldn\u2019t trade it. But I\u2019ve also learned it\u2019s important to separate who you are from what you do. The game will always be part of my life, but it won\u2019t be my identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That belongs to something bigger which is Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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