Lisa Leslie

As a little girl, I always wanted to be a star, a basketball star that is. I’d watch games on TV and even challenge my dad to a pick-up game in the driveway. I wanted to be just like Lisa Leslie, the young girl who persevered through all the bullets her life shot at her. At age four, Lisa’s father left her mother. Having been raised by a single parent for the majority of her life, Lisa matured quickly and began to take on more responsibilities. As Lisa matured, she grew more self-confident and was able to go through life, not remembering all the hardships she had suffered, but all the lessons she learned in the process. Lisa Leslie is my hero.

It may seem as if Lisa’s childhood was hard but there were some highlights as well. In 1990, while Lisa was still in high school, she scored a record-breaking 101 points in only the first half of a game. This beat the record set by basketball legend Cheryl Miller. Lisa also participated in the 1996 Olympics and came home with a gold medal around her neck. While playing on the U.S. women’s team, her average points per game were 15.6. A year later, Lisa signed with the Los Angeles Sparks where she continues to play to this very day.

At 6'5", Lisa Leslie not only towers over the court, but she conquered her childhood. It wasn’t easy being raised by a single parent. Lisa not only stands as a very accomplished athlete, but as a role model for many girls in this world. She taught me to be determined and to never give up on my dreams, no matter how impossible they seem. The one thing she has taught me that will stay in my heart forever is to never take anything for granted. Everyone has a gift to offer; she reminded me to never throw it away. Even if I never become a basketball star, Lisa Leslie will always be my hero.