st straw, I promised myself I would not disappoint him. The path to my dream was definitely going to be hard, being the last pick of the draft, I was deemed a loser already and my teammates had no respect for me. Amidst all the negative criticism I received from family and outsiders, telling me my fantasy to become the first Chinese NBA player were impossible and that the game of basketball never had Asians in mind, never once ended my love for the sport. As the first Asian player on the Winter Haven High Boys Basketball team I had to work harder, prove myself more, and take a lot of discrimination. Looking back, that city league basketball experience should have deterred me from ever striving for my goals, instead it has made me stronger. I have since transformed from a frightened little boy with no sense of dignity to an equal among my teammates and my peers. Like Coach Grant always said before a game, Were going to win because we have the only Chinese boy playing basketball in Polk County. I can do anything. Im going to win. Socollege here I come. ....
