January 27th, 2025 | NEWS
When I touched down in Belfast a few months ago, I was immediately struck with the realization I was in a foreign country. The cold, damp air, a stark contrast from a sunny California summer, and the cars on the wrong side of the road were immediate signals of this fact. But there was something else. There’s a distinct feeling here, completely unique to Belfast. You see it in the architecture, in the murals, and in the people. The history of this place isn’t hidden. The amount of human suffering on both sides of The Troubles has clearly left a lasting impact on the people and the place itself. Walls within a city meant to segregate groups of people aren’t commonplace around the world. But in recognizing its history, this place has become so much more. This is a place full of passion and grit. The people here are strong willed, yet remain kind. They don’t care about appearances, the glitz and glamour or the frills of luxury. They care about the substantive parts of life – family, friends, and sport.
This became clear as I began to get to know the place I’ve been calling home the past 3 months. As a Victory Intern with the Sport Changes Life Foundation, I’ve spent much of my time coaching in schools and local communities across the city, and the kids therein have served as an inspiration. Despite the truth of the past of this place, they live their lives with joy, eagerness, and integrity. I’ve never seen children around the age of 12 so connected in their pursuit to achieve in sport. Every day, we’d expose these kids to new scenarios and new challenges, meant to cultivate their teamwork and individual confidence. And every day, time after time, these kids faced these scenarios without fear, without hesitation, and without a moments contemplation.
I’ve tried to apply this mentality to my own challenges, both on and off the basketball court. In playing, I draw inspiration at the tenacity in which the kids I coach approach challenges. If my shot isn’t falling or things aren’t going my way, my focus immediately turns to what else I can do to help the team. I cannot control whether or not the ball is going into the basket, but defending harder, going for rebounds, and encouraging on teammates are all things I can control with effort. It’s been amazing to see such a clear example of this mentality in my everyday life, and even more fulfilling to apply it in my own life knowing it comes from the inspiration of P7 students. It seems there’s a lesson there: you never know where inspiration will come from, and you’re never too old to learn something new.
I think these principles haveplayed a role to the sustained success the team has achieved in the past few months. Thanks to a double-overtime win last weekend, we sit 3rd in our conference and firmly in a playoff position. I don’t think a win like that happens if you’re not well suited facing challenges head on!
There’s a classic saying, that “the people make the place”. I don’t think there’s a city in the world where that applies more than Belfast. Maybe the weather isn’t ideal and the cuisine isn’t like home, but you’ll be hard pressed to find more welcoming people who are excited about the future of their city. I’ve made friendships here that I’m sure will last for life, and I don’t take that for granted!
On top of that, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the Sport Changes Life team and board members. The entire organization from top to bottom is aligned in both their love for sport and their commitment to their community. There’s no group better suited for using sport as a tool to help young and old people cultivate connections, pursue personal growth, and become better versions of themselves. A big thank you to them for opening the door to this incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store!
– Nate
