COVID-19 has interfered with many sports. Unfortunately for Emily Ngo, she might not have the senior year she planned to have, especially when it comes to playing basketball. 

Ngo is a senior at Segerstrom High School and is on the Girls Varsity basketball team. Emily is a shooting guard and point guard. But, unfortunately with the pandemic, social distancing is making it difficult for the team to work and practice together. 

Currently, the team has been having virtual meetings every week. Their practices start at 5:30 a.m, and they have to be on the zoom by 5:20 a.m. 

But despite this, Ngo still seems to be keeping a positive mindset throughout this whole pandemic.  “It is easier for me since I do not have to wake up to leave my house. I just have to log on from my computer, which is sometimes harder because then I have to hold myself accountable to make sure I stay focused on the tasks I am given,” Emily explains. 

Despite her relative success with keeping up with academics and the benefits of not having to commute to basketball practice, Emily is still concerned about the change in basketball. Overall, however, her hopes are still high, and she has faith that practice will return to normal. 

“I have mixed emotions about this year’s season– I feel both excited and nervous. I feel nervous because the team won’t have as much time to practice and work on certain plays we need to adapt on. I am excited because they said that we will tentatively be starting in March,” Emily says.“If I were to make some changes during this virtual experience, I’d change a couple of the girls’ attitudes. I feel as if some aren’t as motivated as they used to be and the team doesn’t feel as close as it was before.”

Since basketball won’t be the same for a while, Emily Ngo will have to make a few adjustments to this new experience. But in spite of this, Emily continues to keep the same motivated mindset she’s always had for basketball. She’ll do anything to make the best of these circumstances because of the passion she has for basketball.