Senior Spotlight Series: Joseph Pichardo

This is what a family looks like. This is what going to Inwood Academy looks like. The idea of family is built into our chant. For those of us who play sports for Inwood Academy, the following words are ingrained in us: “1,2,3 FAMILY 4,5,6 TRAILBLAZERS!” In this picture, I’m huddling with my basketball teammates who also are my family. We’ve built bonds on and off the court. Whether the outcome was smoking teams by 90 points or losing very close games by just 10 points, we all stepped onto that court with the goal of bringing home another IAL basketball championship. 

About a month before the season started, I suffered an ankle injury that threw off my plans for the season. At first, I performed with adrenaline and pushed through. I kept it to myself. Before I knew it, standing up felt like being hit with a bat. My coaches set me aside and spoke with me about the importance of physically healing. They said I had a responsibility to only perform at my best and that involved taking a break. I missed four home games and missed being with my family. But even when injured, my teammates supported me like family. 
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Throughout the process, I realized that my injury was teaching me about patience and new ways to stay connected with my IAL family. I know that there is no storm that God won’t help me through. My coaches supported me as I recovered and many teammates reached out with updates and pictures from games. They checked up on me and kept my spirits up when I felt like I was letting the team down. Even when I wasn’t on the court, they made me feel like a valued player. If you can’t call that a family, then I honestly don't know what is. I’m proud to call myself a Trailblazer and Inwood Academy senior. Best place ever.