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DEAR BASKETBALL SENIOR mAKA jACKSON

DEAR BASKETBALL,

As a young child, basketball was never my dream sport. When I was a senior in high school, I realized that basketball was the sport I wanted to pursue. I decided I wanted to take basketball seriously.

My senior year in high school, I had to make a big decision to leave my family back in Hawaii and play my senior year in high school in Virginia, where I knew absolutely no one. When I moved to Virginia, I stayed with a host family for the year and continued my senior year, where I worked to get a scholarship. At the end of the year, I got what I worked for, which was a scholarship.

For two years, I continued my education and basketball career at a junior college, South Georgia Technical College. After those two years, I transferred to Texas Tech for my junior and senior years. With COVID happening throughout my time at Texas Tech, I was able to get another year back and continue my Grad year here at the University of Utah.

Basketball has given me so many opportunities. I have learned so many life lessons that I will pass on to anyone I can. The experiences that I experienced helped me grow as an individual and basketball player.

Because of you, I was able to work towards becoming the best version of myself. Without basketball, I have no idea where I would be today. I am so thankful for you.

Because of you, I have developed relationships with other basketball players. Many of those relationships have turned into lifelong friendships. The relationships I have with my teammates and former teammates are something I will forever cherish.

No matter what I went through, you were there for me. Because of you, I was able to clear my thoughts from my personal hardships. You were my outlet from what was going on internally. On the court is when I felt the happiest.

Thank you for saving my life.

#23 Maka Jackson