By Minh Ngoc Le
She dribbles, she shoots, she scores! All eyes are on freshmen Sophie Hsieh as she steps onto the court and dribbles her way into Fountain Valley High School (FVHS)’s girls’ basketball team. Through years of experience and passion, the basketballer has no doubt claimed herself a spot on the varsity team, though it all started with rather humble beginnings.
Hsieh grew up with basketball— it was there for her every step of the way and has brought her to where she is now. Her fire was sparked when she saw her brothers playing the sport, and, like any other girl, she wanted to be included. From shooting into a simple plastic hoop at four years old, tagging along with her siblings, to playing competitively in the second grade, Hsieh has now been playing competitively for about seven years.
As she played more games and won tournaments, she gradually began to improve and gain more skills— both applicable to basketball and daily life. However, the impeccable shooting skills and ability to work well with others wasn’t the only thing she gained from playing this sport. She made lifelong connections along the way, and to Hsieh, the joy in playing basketball is just that.
“My favorite thing about playing basketball is the experiences and bonds you make with people,” Hsieh said. “Getting to bond with the people you play with and spending late nights and early mornings with them is one of the best things I’ve ever experienced.”
Like any other, her journey was not easy. There were times when she felt like quitting- when she was frustrated about her playing abilities. But it is at these moments that she was reminded of her true love for basketball, and most of all, the motivation deep down that keeps her going.
“My biggest motivation is wanting to get better and better every day,” Hsieh said. “I see people who are better than me, and it just makes me want to become better than them. As you become better and better, you also get a bit more enjoyment from playing.”
From the beginning of her career to her latest basketball game, it is clear that the hours she spent shooting in her backyard hoop did not go to waste. Hsieh is one of FVHS’s five starting players, and to secure the top spots in the varsity team, immense dedication and passion are required.
As an introverted freshman, entering a new team was a scary experience, but the welcoming team made sure to create a warm environment and fill her in on all the things she needed to know.
“One senior in particular helped me a lot throughout the season- helping me adjust at first, being there for the ups and downs, and making sure that the season was the best it could be,” Hsieh said.
Despite being a serious, competitive player, it is the presence and energy of the team that gets her through tiring days. For Hsieh, the most memorable moment was the final game of the season.
“We were just out there having fun, and honestly, I think that was one of the best games we had played,” Hsieh said.
Outside of her high school team, Hsieh continues to play with her club team to further improve her skills. Even though the players in her club are more experienced, Hsieh enjoys having a challenge and stepping out of her comfort zone.
The athlete expressed that her experience with her club was one of the turning points she had in her career. Even though she entered an extremely competitive tournament as a newly formed, unsponsored team who lost their first game by 20 points, she developed amazing chemistry with her teammates in just four months and ended up winning the championship where they were heavily favored to lose. Throughout the tournament, her teammates constantly motivated her to get better, and at the end of the day, they are the ones she could come back to and truly be herself.
And perhaps, that’s the beauty of pursuing the things you love—it can be challenging, it can be difficult, but it comes with a reward of lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. It is the bonds created that allow pure passion to shine through all the difficulties.
With just an orange basketball in her hand, freshmen Sophie Hsieh is inspiring us all to follow our dreams as she works towards her own goals—to improve upon her records and to make it to the California Interscholastic Federation in the next season.
