The last time I played an organized game of basketball was when I was on my sixth grade “B” traveling team. I was notorious for air balling lay ups, crossing myself over while dribbling and occasionally making a free throw.

So despite being one of the taller kids in my grade, I decided to leave my basketball dreams behind as I started junior high. At first I was satisfied with my choice to spend my winters in the freezing cold with the Nordic ski team, but I later figured out that wasn’t really my cup of tea either.

As high school started, I could be described as “full of potential” according to my mom, but I had no real intentions of playing a winter sport. But as my mother predicted I did grow and so did my love for basketball.

This brings me to Nov. 10 — the first day of tryouts. Even though I’m now 6’3” and can easily make a layup, I felt no where near ready to make a team or even survive tryouts. I just knew that I was willing to go through whatever was thrown for a chance at making the team.

For the weeks leading up to the tryouts all I was being told was how difficult they were last year and how I was crazy for trying out. It turns out I was crazy and tryouts were one of the most physically demanding experiences of my life. Never before has walking around school been so uncomfortable or straining.

Even after the grueling tryouts, I was inevitably met with, “Sorry, but you should have played earlier” by the coach.

Despite not making a team, the only regret I have is not continuing to play. I was able to make friends with people on the team through open gym and strength training on the weekends. I took a shot at something I really wanted and as Wayne Gretzky said “you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

Proving to myself I had it in me to try out and letting people know I was serious about basketball meant a lot. I’m still proud of myself for taking the opportunity to show myself I have a shot at anything to which I commit myself.