10 Street and Ave D, by Melanie

Category: East Side Community High School, NYC

Playing ball on 10 street and Avenue D bka da AVE is something that I have been doing almost everyday since I was just a child. I started playing basketball when I was like 5 or 6 years old but I used to watch my older friends play all the time there. I feel like that park has become a part of me. I can go there and play basketball and feel great about it. 10 street is basically where my game developed. I would go there and practice day after day untill I was tired out my mind and couldn't shoot anymore. I would go home evey night so sore I could barely move a muscle. I love that feeling so much that I would get up and do it day after day. 10 Street is where I found my first true love in basketball. Almost nothing compares to how strongly I feel about basketball. It is my life and I am so proud and excited to say that. I love the atmosphere there. With all my friends and family so close we can go to the park at anytime and they never regret coming to watch me play.
10 Street Park is where I learned what is my purpose in life. I fell in love with basketball there and realized that basketball is what I want to pursue in my career. I remember one day I woke up early at about 8 or 9 and went to the park to play ball. It was 98 degrees outside and really sunny. I had my best nike shorts on with a white t-shirt and my favorite Barkley's. I began by stretching and running three laps around the court. I forgot to buy my usual cherry gatorade so i crossed the street to the store. I returned to the park and began shooting freethrows. I stood at the park from 9am to about 8 pm just playing basketball. All day I was in the park playing basketball with my friends. I was so excited just thinking about how this one sport can be the start of a grand future. It made me realize that my dream is to play basketball. I want to play in a competitve league where I can go against the best of the best. Where I can just be proud of myself for coming along so far and showing the world what I got. When I can demonstrate through physical happiness, through basketball what I devoted my life to doing.