Why Would I Think About Missing A Shot I Haven’t Taken Yet?
When I lace up my "lost and found" Air Jordan 1s, I feel like I can fly. The iconic Chicago red colorway and the mighty Nike swoosh bring confidence to every step I take. Like the incredible Michael Jordan, I too am very competitive, driven, and tenacious, especially in all my high school years.
As a kid i believed My life plan was simple. I wanted graduate from a T-20 medical school and become a successful cosmetic dermatologist who lives in the suburbs. As a 17-year-old girl living in Phoenix, Arizona, and attending a public high school, I knew this feat wouldn't be easy. I decided to dedicate myself to my studies: Taking numerous AP courses, managing being president of 4 clubs, and filling my free time with educational and inspirational podcasts on "how to be successful." I was a go-getter.
In my summer before senior year, I got to know who Michael Jordan was. Watching The Last Dance on Netflix made it feel like I wasn't watching a human playing basketball. That is the effect that Michael Jordan has on whoever watches him. It is rare to find someone who makes you feel like a mirror is being held up to you. For me, Jordan was someone I could relate to and who inspired me to be better. He was ferocious on the court and was openly emotional. But he regulated his emotions through his craft. As an avid sneakerhead, I have always respected the Jordan brand and its impact on fashion and streetwear. But seeing who he was as a player and teammate significantly increased my respect for him.
In this creative burst, I painted this portrait of Michael (while watching the last dance of course). I used my Himi gouache paint set, which I was gifted for my birthday a year prior, and my favorite portrait of him as a reference. This photo was shown during my favorite episode of the last dance, the tenth episode. While describing Michael, Mark Vancil, the editor of Rare Air, said something that stuck with me. "Michael didn't allow what he couldn't control to get inside his head. He would say, why would I think about missing a shot I haven't taken yet?" and As someone who worried so much about her future, hearing someone simply ask why? Changed the way I look at my life.
Now it always causes controversy when I say that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. But I don't say that because he has won 6 NBA championships, cause he revolutionized the sportswear market, or because he has an incredible jump shot. He is the greatest of all time because of his mentality. He has a superpower, being in the present moment. He has unwavering faith in himself and his abilities, which is exactly what i needed to learn.
Now, as a freshman at ASU, I find myself still turning to Michael and the lessons he has indirectly taught me. although i have never met him, Michael Jordan changed my life in many ways by simply being himself. This is the greatest lesson I have learned: stay true to yourself. And because of this lesson it is why i decided that pursuing a career in the medical field was not for me, that it was not my life’s calling and that i was destined for something else. Now i am switching paths in my life and am keen to study product design. And if it wasn’t for me endlessly scrolling on Netflix that day and selecting the last dance, I fear I might not have done what my heart was yearning for.
