Quitting. Just the sound of the word makes any coach cringe. To many athletes and coaches, quitting is the ultimate crime — the sporting death penalty. To me, quitting is a part of life.

After playing basketball for four years, I made the decision to quit at the beginning of last summer. I didn’t love the game, and it became a chore to attend practice every day. Laboring over this decision entailed much worrying, many sleepless nights and countless discussions regarding my basketball fate with friends and family.

I often wondered why so much angst surrounded the decision and why I felt stigmatized for even considering leaving.

Many people equate quitting with failure. I wanted people to view me as a committed athlete, not someone who gives up in the face of a challenge.

Knowing that most  high school students don’t go on to play at the collegiate level, I  wanted to get involved with activities that would have a lasting impact on me. Basketball just didn’t allow the time for this. Now I can learn to play piano, spend time with my family, among much else.

I came to realize I should only play basketball for a love of the game, not just the pasta parties and socializing. I didn’t want to be sacrificing valuable school work time if I didn’t love the game.

All the stressing out and worrying ended along with my basketball career. After quitting, I realized I was a much happier person who had a lot less to worry about.

I realized life’s too short to participate in activities I disliked. I didn’t have to tough it out for the rest of high school and participate in basketball because I felt obligated to or because I feared judgement.

Some people might see me as a quitter or a chicken, but I know I made the right decision for myself and I stand by that decision every day.

This experience helped me recognize that I have complete control over the activities in my life. I am proud to be a quitter because I would rather step out of my comfort zone and find something I really love than settle for what I’ve always done.