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I grew up watching college basketball with my dad.
Besides being the only girl for a few seasons on the boys' rec league basketball team, I never really played the game. My dad was the coach, so I was part of the team, technically speaking. Yet, I was terrified of the ball. I happily "sat the bench."
As March Madness begins in a few days, I am reminded of the many metaphors and life lessons we can learn from college basketball (and sports in general).
Like me, not everyone is the star of the team, especially in high school. But the slightest adjustment can change that. For example, sometimes switching teams is a game changer. A different coach sees your potential. Sometimes a total 180 is what you need. Doing something entirely different, like switching from basketball to theatre (that was me!) opens up a whole new perspective and opportunity to shine.
High school students are sometimes afraid to make changes when it comes to their extracurricular activities. But the sooner they realize what they really should be doing, the more time they have to develop their talent and potential. Slam dunks happen beyond the basketball court. You just need to have the ball and be willing to take that leap of faith.
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The "Cinderella" teams of March Madness are always full of lessons. My dad used to revel when one of them would beat a nationally-known team. He is always rooting for the underdog, both in terms of colleges and people. I now root for and support the underdog students in the college admissions process. They are the ones to watch. They don't go to the big-name colleges. But they end up becoming big-time successes because they attend a "Cinderella" college that celebrates them in ways the big-name college never would.
As high school seniors receive decisions in the next few days and weeks and start making choices about where they plan to enroll, don't forget about those "Cinderella" schools. And the younger students who are beginning to visit colleges or put together college lists shouldn't forget about those "Cinderella" schools either.
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And one last thing. March 17th is the start of the tournament—for the men. But the women's tournament starts March 19th. I didn't watch women's college basketball growing up. I should have, though. I don't think it would have changed my trajectory on the boys' basketball team. I never reached 5 feet tall. But it would have taught me that fear is fleeting. Fear becomes a distant memory the moment you are willing to get off the bench, get the ball in your hands, and shoot your shot in life.
