UCONN Sports and Human Rights Summit Reflection

10/24/25

The phrase “sports at its best” is what has stuck with me the most from this conference.

As someone who’s life has been pretty sport heavy, I think it's safe to say I have quite a range of experiences. The truth is, I have definitely seen sports close to its worst. I've seen over competitiveness cause anger and frustration and hate between people over what is fundamentally an insignificant game. I've seen the negative culture of basketball teams link so directly to people's lives and the way they act and carry themselves that I’ve had to completely step away. I've been the last pick in a draft when captains pick teams, and I’ve also been the first; I know what feelings those things bring. I've seen kids stereotyped, and picked on, and laughed at, and bullied, and I know the effect these things have. 

The beautiful thing is though, I have absolutely seen it at its best. Sports have been an outlet for me, to make all of life's noise go away. Teams have been a home and family for me, when all mine is doing is causing stress. Coaches have inspired me in ways they may never know, and instilled in me crucial characteristics that make me who I am. Sports have made me friends, and memories. Sports have made me feel included. Sports have made me feel valued. Sports have made me feel alive, and uplifted. This immense platform has both provided for me, and enabled me to provide for others. As a captain, I care about being a role model, taking a moment to teach, and picking people up when they're at their worst. There is no greater feeling than being on a team, to accomplish something that would be impossible alone. I could probably go on forever, but I don't have to. It is clear that sports and life are forever intertwined within me. What I learn from sports I can't help but apply to my life, and so much of myself and life shines brightest in sport.

This connection is what makes sport such a brilliant platform for social change. In our world's constant struggle with human rights, sports has the potential to be an incredible outlet. “Sports at its best” would be inclusive to all, would promote positivity, and would act as a parallel world to our own, where human rights issues would never exist. So often human rights get linked to things like race, or religion, or gender. I would argue that human rights in sports transcends those things, and is inherently just about uplifting, encouraging, and including everyone, no matter what. We have at our disposal countless built in systems categorized under the umbrella of sport, to do so much good. It's true, “Some people are left at the bottom of the mountain of human rights.” So that's the mission: Use this incredible platform for good, and leave no one behind.