“I decided to stop playing because I just wasn’t enjoying the game anymore. It got to the point where it felt more like stress than something I had a passion for, so I chose to step away. In that moment, I felt a mix of relief and disappointment. It was a relief to be done with something that wasn’t making me happy anymore, but disappointing it had to end that way. If my future self looked at my life today, they’d probably say it sucks I couldn’t play ball my senior year but they would tell me that they see someone who’s still figuring things out and trying to build a better version of himself. They’d tell me to stay focused on my goals, keep my confidence up, and trust that all the work I’m putting in now will pay off soon.”
– Isaiah Capacete, 12
