Senior Success
I wonder: is building a relationship with your peers the big secret to success? Maybe that’s the Comp Sci High way.
The rhythmic bounce of the basketball as it bounces and thuds into the ground. The high-pitched squeak of sneakers on the hardwood floor. The final shot is made into the basket as it swivels around the rim and drops into the hoop. Final score: Comp Sci High: 42, Equality: 21.
What lies behind the constant success of the Comp Sci High boy’s and girl’s basketball team this year? The basketball team is heavily reliant on their seniors, such as team captain Humu Fofana. What's their mindset like?
The boys basketball team, known for being ruthless on the court, is leading the league with a record of 9 to 1, with a win achieved on Wednesday's senior night that was groundbreaking. The girl’s basketball team is undefeated in the Charter School League, leading all teams with a record of 8 and 0!
The drive for success lies behind the seniors' mindset. What better way to find out their mindset than by asking them? Laila, a senior, says “One thing that happens behind the scenes and in practices that I'd say contributes to my success is the energy of the team. When the team has good energy as a whole we all lift each other up and it shows because we perform so much better, and I know for me that's definitely the case. I think also just the fact that we've created a really supportive environment where we can all joke but also hold each other accountable.”
Being in a supportive environment really uplifts everyone's spirit and has everyone working in unison. Humu Fofana believes that “Playing for CSH affected my life because it taught me new things, things that I never knew before. With basketball there are life lessons that come with the sport and I chose to comprehend those matters.” Not only does the drive for success include values, but it also helps for life.
Motivation plays a big part in our athletes' determination to be better on court. Some athletes have different motivations. Humu says: “What motivated me to join the Comp Sci basketball team was my friends, family and the people who supported me. Many people wanted me to join the team, and I would hear comments like you're tall, are you on the basketball team? When hearing that my ambition was to join the team. I also had past experiences with playing basketball at my middle school, so I just miss playing the sport.” Humu has past experiences with basketball which pushed her to join.
Lyric’s ambition to join basketball was that he “loved the game and I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.” When I asked what his favorite memory was, he said:“winning with my brothers, it affected my life greatly. I made friends and bonds that will last forever; hopefully I can join my college team, with the team working hard and playing competitively to ensure our success.” Not only has Lyric benefited mentally from the sport, but physically and emotionally, as well. He has made friends that will last a lifetime.
The path for Avery's motivation was “to see how good I can be on the court and enjoy the memories as a team.” He continued: “My favorite memory is going on a basketball trip last year to Maryland to watch a basketball game and tournament.” Avery’s first step to ensure his success was to test his skill gap on the team, trying to see how he had to improve.
Many people when met with the question about any team without knowing the teammates believe there is nothing to it then just playing the sport. However, behind the scenes there is more than what meets the eyes. Alex spoke about what happens before the basketball games that contributes to his success: “Coach Johnson plays a big part both off and on the court in my mentality and helping me build a friendship with my peers.” I wonder: is building a relationship with your peers the big secret to success? Maybe that’s the Comp Sci High way.
Senior athletes are the greatest of them all. Aside from them being seniors, their presence has had such a lasting impact on their team, creating a family and forming bonds with people they didn't know at first. From the first time they went for a 3 pointer, a light shined over their head creating a passion for a lifelong sport.