Invisible Jersey by Mohamed Cisse
My name is Mohamed. I’m sixteen years old, the class of 2027, and before I tell you about myself, I want you to picture something. Imagine a basketball player walking into the gym. He ties his shoes. He bounces the ball and takes a couple form shots. To someone seeing this, it looks like a normal boy in a plain t-shirt, getting ready to train. But, in his mind he’s wearing a jersey. It’s stitched with his dream school’s name across the front. He sees the colors and the number even though nobody else can. That’s me. Every time I step on the court, I wear a jersey no one else can see. Some people call it imagination while others might call it delusion. I call it belief. I was born in Mali, and I came to the United States around the age of 6 or 7. That’s an important part of who I am because it shaped the way I see life. Coming from a place where not everyone has opportunities, I understand that every chance I get here is a blessing. My dream isn’t just me either. It’s about the people back home, my family, and anyone who’s been told their goals are impossible. When I grind, I’m not just chasing a future for myself. I’m caring the hopes of the people who may never step on a court in America. The people who may never have the chance to chase something this big. That’s what fuels me. I’m sixteen and about six foot- six one...
