Who Are You Without the Jersey?

On Friday, March 27, I hosted a three-point contest similar to NBA all star weekend three-point contest, which is a fast paced shooting competition. Each participant shot five shots from the corner, top of the key including having a money ball rack which counted as two extra points if the shot was made. Everyone who attended had a blast, we had 9 participants and some students who came to watch. In total we had 15 people in the gym.

 It was a great turn out not because of the sport itself but mainly because of the energy, music, and support for each other. This event reminded me that there are other athletes out there who want to feel a part of the culture even if they're not on a roster. 

During the event, I had Tanner Sullivan, senior communication major, and Erick Young, junior communication major, documenting the event to showcase culture and a memorable experience everyone will remember. 

We had a good amount of shooters who participated for a $50 Amazon gift card. I even got portfolio content of highlights for the participants. 

My goal was to create an inclusive event that would bring the Centenary community together. There were laughs, competition and friendships being formulated. I even interviewed them before they started shooting to help prep them up for job interviews when they enter the work industry. 

Hearing the sound of the basketballs dribbling on the court and the squeaks of the court was the signal that each participant was ready to take action. 

“This event was more than just a typical event, it was a movie. I felt so honored to help out rebounding and be a part of the organization even though I was just rebounding,"said Franklin Burgos who’s a sophomore majoring in Sports management.  

The participants enjoyed the sounds of the music blasting and being captured on camera to create a memory they will never forget. What was also special about this event wasn’t just basketball, it was the loud exciting cheers that demonstrated the energy of the event, it was pure joy of a group of guys who supported each other. I had people telling me after the event to host this type of event again. 

I learned a lot about myself after this night's contest, and that’s an ambitious hard working college student who creates opportunities not just waiting on them. I also learned that I’m community driven;  when I graduate college I want jobs to know that I’m a community builder and a creator. The ambition came from when I first walked in as a freshman looking forward to playing at Centenary, it unfortunately didn’t work out as expected but I noticed something about myself is that I can be so much more than just a player on the roster. I took three years to ask myself, who am I without the jersey? That is not something a lot of athletes ask themselves. But I took the courage to ask myself and discovered my true inner calling. I learned that I am a leader, motivator and goal driven beyond the court. 

“The three-point contest was a very great experience. I had a great time with all the participants who played in the contest. The contest was orchestrated very well by Nick and his team. He made sure we all had a delightful experience and most importantly he made us all feel welcomed. I had a great time,” said Gabriel Cruz, who is a sophomore majoring in Business and the winner of the three-point contest. 

After a great event like this, I hope to create some more joyful experiences.