By Aseel Barghuthi,
Amman Baccalaureate School,
Amman, Jordan.

Have you ever found yourself looking on in awe at Allen Iverson's uncanny ability to come up with a new move every time he drives to the basket? Or Vince Carter's ability to come up with a new type of dunk every game he plays? Well I have, several times. I admire those players for their unique styles, and their individuality.

Allow me to explain. About a year ago, I came up with a new word that I swore I'd apply to my everyday life: "Individualification." What it represents is originality, independence, and most of all, determination to become unique.

I promised myself that I would apply the word to my everyday life -- both on and off the basketball court. I found myself more confident, more self-assured, and more able to be my own player, and my own person. "Individualifying" myself allowed me to become a more fulfilled player, and not just another female athlete on a basketball team. I consistently told myself that to be successful, you have to dare to be different.

An example I often use when describing my "individualification" theory to others, is: Imagine you had a team of 10 female basketball players. Imagine they all had the same style of play, and the same style of more or less everything. What kind of a team would that be? A team with 10 times the same player.

And how effective is that on the court? You see, each and every player contributes to the chemistry of a game. Each and every player brings a certain ingredient to the court. I mean, if the Philadelphia 76ers had all Allen Iversons, then Coach Larry Brown would be in some serious trouble. Instead, the Sixers have a Dikembe Mutombo, an Allen Iverson, an Eric Snow, an Aaron Mackie, and a Tyrone Hill. Every one of those players brings a certain dynamic element to the court.

Shooting the same shots as your teammates, and trying all the same moves as other players isn't what basketball is all about. Basketball is about trying new things, creating new moves, trying out new crossovers, and maybe even writing out your own offensive play. Being different and original is essential to the game, because otherwise no one would tune in to ESPN to watch NBA, WNBA, or even NCAA ball.

So, the next time you get on that wooden floor that is almost a second home, remember that being original and self-made is what basketball is all about. And whenever you feel like you want to shrink back into the herd and just go with the flow and follow the trend, remember that: Individualification = Victory.

Until next time....

#68, Aseel

Aseel Barghuthi just recently graduated from the Amman Baccalaureate School in Amman-Jordan, and will be attending Duke University this fall. She has also lived in the United States (Athens, Georgia) and England. To contact Aseel with any comments or suggestions, e-mail her at aseel@index.com.jo