The author on the basketball court this season. (Courtesy of Ben Tran)
My name is Trần Gia Hưng, but everyone calls me Ben. I am 18 and from Vietnam. I have long been interested in physical education. Activities in sports have taught me much. Through my favorite sport, basketball, I have learned to lead, plan, and improvise when things do not go as planned. With each match, I come to understand that having a natural talent is not sufficient. We have to practice every day to be better because the game of basketball is really hard. For me, being a basketball player, a teammate, and luckily a team captain (but just for a short time) was a great experience: I was able to see everyone trying their best to make the starting five, I was able to see them build their confidence after every game. We were a team but also as a family. We often ate dinner together after practice and sometimes breakfast on weekend mornings.
As Coach Lazarus said about my time on the team, “Ben began the basketball season as a newcomer to organized high school play, initially identifying as a strong 3-point shooter. Recognizing his potential beyond shooting, his coach saw leadership qualities in him. Ben embraced this perspective, earning the role of team captain through his teammates’ votes”
The second sport I joined at EF was golf. Golf is different from other sports. We don’t have to move a lot, we don’t have to make contact with anyone. It is competitive, but we just work on our own skills and learn to be patient and humble. As my coach, Chris, said: “Ben brings positivity, dedication, and a powerful swing to our team—his growth around the green and commitment to improvement set the standard for our inaugural season.”
The third sport that I joined in this school is cross country. It is my first time trying this sport. It was really hard for me because I had never run for a long distance before. We usually have practice in the morning around 6-8AM because in the afternoon it is too hot to run. But it was my first time trying, so I did very badly initially. But after every race, I learned a lot: like how to breathe when you’re tired and how we can push through it.
After trying all these sports–basketball, golf, and cross country–I’ve learned so much more than just physical skills. I’ve learned what it means to be a leader, a teammate, and someone who doesn’t give up easily. Each sport taught me something different: basketball taught me the value of practice and leadership, golf showed me the importance of patience and focus, and cross country challenged my limits and taught me perseverance. Sports have not only helped me stay active and healthy, they’ve shaped who I am today. No matter the results or how hard it gets, I now understand that growth comes from showing up every day and giving your best. And for that, I’m truly grateful for these experiences.