Personal Narrative: A Life Changing My Life

Everyone knows the YMCA song, but everyone doesn’t have the same connection to it that I do. This building never contained one life changing event for me, but it has been a pivotal place in my life. A place I’ve referred to as home many times, the YMCA has shaped who I am as a man. This pivotal spot is where I suffered my first traumatic injury, changing how I do things for the rest of my life; but also was the place I went to when coping with family incidents. This institution, in particular the basketball gym, helped me find myself, changing my life forever.

Some things happen for a reason, and living a short five minute walk away from the YMCA was one of them for me. Throughout my life, basketball has been my favorite sport and the YMCA became my household gym. Whenever I had free time, I was on this basketball court. Every Friday after school, several of us made the quick trek over, celebrating the …show more content…
Through the difficult times, this gym has helped me learn to cope and acknowledge the real world instead of running away from it. With help from the YMCA, the popping, slipping, and tweaking of my shoulder I suffer through every day has not deterred my life. Through rehabilitation at this same venue, I was given comfort at a time when I felt weak. Just several months after hurting my shoulder, I hit the court with speed and intensity. This place is my home. There is no way that an injury is going to keep me from where I belong—the YMCA. In addition, toughness was developed through playing basketball with older men at this gym. As a teenager, I wasn’t the strongest nor tallest, but I had to hold my own on the court. I was cursed at and shoved up and down the court, but not defeated, a life lesson that I will carry on with me. They were not going to let a teenager off easy. As a man you are told to be tough, and the YMCA basketball court has helped me thrive in this aspect of