The girls basketball team would practice before the guys having a strict hour to squeeze in exercises, drills, and formations. Time restricted what we’d do. Afterwards, the guys would have their practice for eons. For someone like myself who’d try to improve my skills, I attempted to practicing with the guys, but they wouldn't let me. Genders were strictly excluded from each other's practices. Sometimes they would allow me to help practice their formations, but I would feel as if I weren't practicing but instead helping. I wanted to practice. I wanted to improve. I was excluded for being a girl.
I decided to advocate to the coach about my involvement in the practices as a player. As I walked into the hot and humid office of the coach, I waited until he was not as busy with his work. As the fan turned, he finally stopped what he was doing, “What’s up, Ariana?” the coach voiced. I explained my aspirations to play basketball. As I spoke, I watched his face, trying to get a sense of what he was thinking. After I stopped talking, I waited for his answer. He moved around as if it would help him figure out what to say when he knew his answer was