Where Will it Take You? - Kaitlyn Leung
Kaitlyn Leung is a recent graduate of Pomona University where she was a captain of Pomona-Pitzer’s women’s basketball team.
1. How did you get involved in basketball and what do you love the most about the sport?
Growing up, my mother always kept me very active by putting me in many sports. My first sport was actually swimming because she wanted to make sure I knew how to swim and survive in the water, since she did not know how to swim and thus could not save me. This went on to gymnastics and then basketball at the YMCA with my little brother. Then I started participating on my school teams which had basketball, soccer, and flag football in the fourth grade.
In middle school, I continued to sign up for a variety of sports, but what was consistent was basketball. It wasn’t until the 8th grade that I started playing club because I heard that sports could help you get into college through a sports scholarship and my best shot at that was basketball. It was also the sport I liked playing the most. What I love about basketball is that it is a team sport. In swimming and track, I would put so much pressure on myself that it would make me so anxious. I think basketball is also very fun and requires unique skills specific to the sport.
2. What are some of the obstacles you’ve faced along your athletic journey and how did you manage to overcome them?
An obstacle that I have faced was in my first two years of high school. I was not getting much play time like many underclassmen usually endure, but felt that I was not being used to my full potential and that my coaches were not receiving what I had to say or answering my questions fully. Through all of that, I was actually very unhappy in school, especially with basketball. I overcame this by deciding not to transfer and to stick it through. I practiced diligently and listened to my coaches. It was then where it just started to click for me and things did eventually get better.
Another obstacle I faced was in college when I was elected as a team captain. I originally did not want to be one but was given the role. I have never been a captain before and was not sure what the responsibilities would be like. One of the major problems during my time as captain was internal team and coach relationships. There were complaints about the upperclassmen and the lowerclassmen, and all had issues with the coaches as well.
This was very hard for me to manage because I felt I was in the middle of two opposing sides and that it was my duty to please both parties. I dealt with this by actively listening to both sides and giving my best advice. I also hosted many activities with my team so that we can all bond and get closer to one another.
3. What inspires you to pursue basketball in college and what are you the most proud regarding getting to this level?
What inspired me was kinda a surface level reasoning: to be recruited to a top-tier college that I would not have had as high of a chance of getting in on my own and to get an athletic scholarship. Thus I had invested so much time and effort into that goal throughout high school that I needed to prove to myself that I was good enough to be recruited and to not let my parents down with all the time and money they spent on me. However, during highschool, I developed a love for the sport and was not ready to be a retired athlete. I wanted to keep partaking in a competitive level of play and develop my game. I am most proud of having gotten to this level of play because I had worked so hard having started playing basketball competitively much later than most of my peers.
4. How has your athletic journey helped shape who you are today? How will it impact your future?
Basketball has greatly shaped who I am today and it is a part of my identity. There is the obvious influence on my physical health where basketball has pushed me to stay active and keep my body healthy. This includes stretching and eating right to maintain a healthy lifestyle which is reflected in my everyday mindset. It has also allowed me to experience and develop important skills when interacting with a team. Communication, resilience, dedication, hard work, and collaboration are constants when playing in a team sport and it also translates to other aspects of my life, such as my academics and hopefully in the future when I have a job.
5. What advice do you want to give to other Asian student athletes who want to pursue basketball or other sports in general?
I would highly encourage any other Asian student athlete to pursue their sport! There are a lot of great Asian student athletes out there and I know some personally. It is very important to have representation and especially see someone of a similar identity not only play the sport, but thrive in it. Sports can give you many great qualities and can open a lot of opportunities. I know some Asian parents might hold back on letting their child participate in sports. In fact, my mom actually did not allow me to join a club basketball team until I passed my level 8 piano exam. It may not be easy to convince your parents, but keep pushing and stick with your passion!
6. Is there anything else you would like to share about your athletic career or your plans after college?
I am officially retired! Although I do have an extra year of eligibility…. I really want to use it so badly but my plans as of right now is to focus on applying to medical school. If I get into a medical school, I might consider playing basketball if the division of play is at my level. I would like to think I would consider joining the team, but that is way down the road and I am not sure I would be able to juggle both. Now, I just have to find open gyms and play recreationally.
