As I walk through the greenhouse, reality sets in.
Holy shit.
If I mess this up, my future is ruined. If I do great and get the scholarship, my future is set.
Haha....no pressure
I obviously can't try-out in jeans, so I head to the bathrooms to change.
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I finish off the look with a high ponytail.
In the gym, there is a table set up near the bleachers, with Louis and Jason Osmond, the principal and the dean of the school, seated at it. I can already feel my sweat gathering. My throat is so dry I struggle to swallow.
I try not to sike myself out. If there is any environment that I thrive in, it's a stressful one. I stand tall in front of the table, confidence radiating off me. My mom always used to tell me, "Confidence is key when you are making a first impression".
"Hi. My name is Grace Kanderwall. I'm here to try out for one of the open spots on the eagles. I'm sure you already know this, but I play basketball. My position is shooting guard or point guard. I am very aware that greenhouse academy doesn't offer a women's basketball team, but with the changing times and the leagues very lenient rulebook, I don't see why I can't try-out for the boys team."
"Umm...ok then. We have had women try out for our league in the past, and our team has even played against teams with women on them, but our school has never accepted a girl onto the team. Because our school is a private school, and we play against many other private schools who don't have very students, we do allow girls in our league because private schools often don't have enough students to have a women's basketball team."
"Ok, that's great. Is there anything specific you would like my to start with?"
"Umm...how about your shooting. Show me your 3's, regular jumpshots, lay-ins, and how close you are to dunking. Pretty much your vertical. And your obviously not the tallest person, but I do find it insperational that you don't give up just because your short."
"Ok, and thank you."
I grab a ball from the rack and dribble it over to the 3 pointer line, straight in front of the basket. The ball fits perfectly in my hands. I square up to shoot and with a flick of the wrist I send the ball swishing into the hoop. A sigh of relief leaves my body. The important thing is, I made it look effortless. Which it is effortless. After you play for so many years it becomes muscle memory.
I also make sure my form is amazing for my next couple shots. One foot slightly forward, shoulders squared at the basket, hands and elbows placed perfectly, when I shoot I either don't jump at all or I jump straight up and down, not at the basket. I also make sure to follow through with my shooting hand. And vwala, they all go in without ease.
