Written by: Ahsan Asadullah

Basketball has been a part of my life since I could remember. I grew up in a basketball family where my father and two older brothers played basketball. I began playing at the age of 4 and it became my favorite sport in which I decided at a young age that this is what I wanted to pursue. 
 
Growing up every Sunday I would go to church with my family at the neighborhood Baptist church. Although my family was very religious I went to church throughout middle school and high school because it was a requirement not because my connection with God was very strong. At that age I didn't have much interest in church or my faith journey. 
 
During the beginning of my senior year of high school I began to receive scholarship offers to play basketball at the collegiate level. After months of consideration and multiple visits to schools, Lipscomb became my home because after taking my official visit here I fell in love with the community, Christian environment and small campus which became home for the next 5-6 years of my life. 
 
My first summer after high school, I tore my ACL, causing me to miss my entire freshman year. I wasn't able to play basketball for over 6 months and this time was one of the toughest times of my life. I took time to figure out who I was as a person without basketball because in the past I found my identity in basketball. 
 
A goal of mine during this time was to strengthen my relationship with God and learn more about ways I could use my sport to spread God's word to others. After months of physical therapy and recovery, I was able to excel numerous seasons at Lipscomb where I became a voice and role model for kids and others who play sports. 
 
What I learned was that playing my sport the right way and competing keeping my Christian values the main thing was the best way to live through God while playing my sport. I feel that my injury was all part of God's plan for me and everything that happened was a blessing.