But um for me , I was able to kind of like make friends and socialize through basketball and then like do outside activities like hot yoga , go for walks and lifting with other athletes from other sports , and I think that kind of fostered . A healthier relationship with a sport because sometimes you worry about doing too much or focusing too narrow on one thing and burning out . So I think that was always a worry , but my parents were really great with like having me do other things , and I had a lot of friends that played different sports , so I dipped my toe into other things too .
I think that building a really strong support system and a network is really important for , um , obviously you have to take care of your business in the classroom , take care of your business on the court . But I think where a lot of people have trouble is when you're not treating your relationships with your coaches and your teammates , like when you're not prioritizing those , you can have trouble . Um , for me , I had a great relationship with my AAU coach , and she was such a strong female role model for me , and I think Listening to everything she had to say and taking her feedback and kind of just trusting the process from someone that's been there before .
So I'd say to not compare yourself to everyone else . I think that building a really strong support system and a network is really important for , um , obviously you have to take care of your business in the classroom , take care of your business on the court . But I think where a lot of people have trouble is when you're not treating your relationships with your coaches and your teammates , like when you're not prioritizing those , you can have trouble .
So I think Um , relying on your teammates , even though sometimes it's , it sounds fun to try and do it all yourself , but you really need help from other people . So I think putting time , effort , and energy into your team , your teammates , and your relationships really shows on the court . Yeah , so during COVID , I ran some basketball clinics with um with my sisters too in the local um like youth basketball community .
But I think where a lot of people have trouble is when you're not treating your relationships with your coaches and your teammates , like when you're not prioritizing those , you can have trouble . Um , for me , I had a great relationship with my AAU coach , and she was such a strong female role model for me , and I think Listening to everything she had to say and taking her feedback and kind of just trusting the process from someone that's been there before . If you can find that sort of mentor , like I'm so lucky I still like text and call her all the time and continue to ask for advice , but I'd say finding a mentor , whether it's a coach or maybe even like a college athlete that you can Kind of just receive reassurance that you're doing the right things and to trust the process .
