RETURNING HOME
While I was back in New York, I stopped by my old neighborhood and started reflecting. While some things had changed, others remained the same. I saw the same hustle and grit of a community regarded as the largest housing project in Manhattan, with 17 buildings housing approximately 5,000 people.
One change immediately caught my attention. The basketball court I grew up playing on had been moved, and the newer court was chained shut, with no rims on the hoops. Standing there, I couldn’t help but wonder what my path might have looked like under these circumstances. Would I have made different choices without easy access to sport? What can I do to help those coming after me?
Those questions stayed with me. More importantly, they made me think about what responsibility I have today to help those coming after me.
That court is where my journey began, and seeing it again reminded me of the power of sport. It renewed my commitment to support young people in communities like the one that shaped me. As I shared in my keynote, dreaming big takes patience and perseverance. But firsthand, I know what access to sport can create.
SPORT BEYOND THE COURT
When I spoke to the graduating class, I encouraged students to dream bigger than feels comfortable, stay patient with the process and focus on who they become along the way. As I reflect on my own journey, I realize those same lessons still apply today. While the game itself was important, the impact of sport extended far beyond the court. The lessons I learned through basketball helped shape not only who I became, but the leader I am today.