Reflection Paper

Growing up in a religious house hold has its ups and downs. Parents who raise their children with a religious upbringing have a different way of setting high expectations than most other parents because they use the Word of God in everyday life. Every morning from about 7th grad until mid-sophomore year of high school, my mother would have me read a prayer while she drove me to school or I when I dropped her off at work so I could drive myself to school. One thing I can remember is, depending on her mood, she had different names she would call me. Calling me Jamal meant that she was very serious about what she was going to say. Mal (my childhood nickname) meant she was passionate and really wanted me to listen. And then there was JP (which

She continued to say her saying everyday but now she added to it, “you have the choice to sleep with your dreams or you can go chase them, but I won’t let you just sit around my house all day.” So hearing that for about a month just got old. I enrolled back into school, but this time it was my hometown community college. I felt a tad bit embarrassed that I let a good opportunity go, but it was motivation to get back to that place. I was 100% focused as I got my grades up and continued playing ball. I obtained an assistant coaching job that summer with the #5 ranked 14 and under AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) in the country. That Job opened up a door I never thought possible. The coach was a previous basketball player who played for the University of Florida as well as playing 6 years of professional basketball. One of his friends was a head coach at a Division 2 school in Pennsylvania and offered me a full

He put me under his wing and let me use my skills I had learned that summer form coaching as well as my basketball skills and put me to work. I helped with individual workouts and going to recruit players for the next season. I learned so much from him which opened my eyes and let me know that I wanted to coach/recruit as my profession. The following year I went back and played that season. It wasn’t’ long until another injury came about. So I let the dream of playing professionally go and I picked up a new love of coaching and recruiting. With that being said, I never forgot what my mother continued to tell me. Although I gave up on playing professional basketball I just shifted it to another love. I’m hungry and chasing the dream of being a collegiate coach/recruiter and if the opportunity comes for me to coach or recruit on the highest level (pro) I will take on that challenge. So here I am today “dream chasing” to get this degree so I can continue my journey. Never sleep with your dreams. Go out and get them and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do