I. Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it contributes to your personal and professional development

2. o I am a NATIONAL LEVEL BASKETBALL
PLAYER. I have played under different age
groups
o We attended various Basketball camps, wherein
we practiced in mornings and evenings
o The 15 day camp taught us:
1. Discipline
2. Stay independently at an early age of 10
3. Importance of team spirit

3. You can socialize and meet other people
with similar interests to yours. It is always
fun to meet like-minded people.
Basketball has simple rules.
It helps you improve your FOCUS!
“You don’t play against opponents; you play against the
game of basketball” – Bob Knight

4. Team spirit
Dynamic Decision making
Ability to stay calm,
irrespective of the situation
Speed
Time Management
Leadership skills

5.  It’s natural to be drawn towards offense as a novice, but the pros
know defense is where the game is won or lost. Defense is how you
win a basketball game. Offensive skills are usually the most
impressive ones but defense is something every team should work
on.
 Basketball is usually a team sport, but just because you can’t find
others, doesn’t mean you have to just stop thinking about it. That’s
OK! You can still do a lot on your own. Work on your pivot moves or
practice your free throws. You can always hone your skills when

6. FAILURE IN A GAME’S FINALS EXPOSED
MY WEAKNESS,
THAT I EVENTUALLY CONVERTED AS MY
I remember the National Basketball Championship when I think of an important
failure of my life. I was the captain of my state and we had lost the finals. During
introspection later, I realized I didn’t motivate my team. Rather, I was aggressive in
large portion of the game. I didn’t control my anger when my team was already in
pressure. I took the feedback from the team members and there was synchronous ‘yes’
when I asked if my attitude worsened the situation in the finals. That was a turning
point in my life. I realized the need of being calm in such situations. Anger created
panic and demotivated the team members.
Instead of strong-arming the team, had we not panicked, implied a different strategy
and coordinated well, we would not have lost. Thereafter, I have always stayed calm
irrespective of the situation. I worked hard to convert this weakness to one of my
biggest strengths.

7.  Losing a game in the finals due to my attitude taught me the importance of
staying calm in panic situations. This is one of my biggest strengths now. I have
been appreciated and awarded for completing the projects efficiently in critical
customer situations.
 You cannot win a single game of Basketball if the team members try to score
independently. I learnt the importance of team spirit to maximize our potential as
a team, identify weaknesses and make quick but well-thought decisions. These
skills make me an efficient leader.
 I understood the value of the emotional connect with the team that can make you
win or lose the game.

8.  I would have had a career in the game. My trainers convinced my parents to let me have a
career in Basketball, given that I played extra-ordinary. However, my parents were very
apprehensive of the decision of pursuing sports at the expense of my education. My father
explained to me the minimum probability of excelling at Sports in India, given the limited
benefits by the government. Also, it’s a team sport. It would have required me to work as an
infallible cog in a machine-like sporting body. Only playing my part perfectly would not
have been enough for my successful career.
 I belong to a very middle class family. I didn’t have the privilege to continue my passion
without the clarity that it will land me a reasonable job. Understanding my family
conditions, I took a cautious decision to continue Academics.
 I continued playing the sport as my hobby. I was the Captain of my college team, wherein
we didn’t lose a single game in 4 years. Currently, I play for a club in Bangalore.
 Were my family financially stable, I would have pursued Sports because I genuinely believe
that I have the ability and dedication to win an award for my country in an International
Forum such as Olympics.