My name is Stella and for most of my life, I have lived in a world of basketball. Ever since I was a toddler, I have had a ball in my hand, constantly bouncing it around. To say the least, I was born an athlete, and basketball was the sport I chose to pursue and play throughout college for five years. However, as much as basketball was the world I lived in, I always had other passions floating around, too.

 

Growing up I lived a block from the beach and was born into a family of artists and creativity of all types. I enjoyed sandy hair and salty skin, as well as tie-dyed shirts and paint on my clothes. I like to consider myself a dichotomy, (and I am also a Gemini).

 

For the first 22 years of my life, I have been on a strict, scheduled routine. I have learned what discipline and hard work look and feel like. I have had extremely limited time off throughout most of my childhood. However, in the last six months, my life feels like it took a 180-degree turn.

Since March 8th, 2022, my basketball career has ended. I knew it would be a bit of a shock at first, but there are many more aspects of it ending that I never considered. I have learned, and am still learning the new adaptations to this different life I am now experiencing on my road to somewhere.