I often feel like I live in two worlds.  In one world, I embody society’s stereotypes for women: I love to bake, I watch makeup tutorials, I enjoy getting dressed up for fancy events, I watch ‘The Bachelor’, and I feel comfortable wearing high heels.  In the other world, I defy stereotypes: I dominate the basketball court, I watch ESPN, I dream of working for Nike when I graduate college, I love the competitiveness and the rush of adrenaline that sports bring, and I feel just as comfortable in basketball shoes and running shoes as I do in high heels and wedges.

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I navigate these two different worlds with ease; melding them into one life is the only life I know.  I’ve loved sports since I was a little kid, but I’ve also managed to take opportunities to explore my feminine side.  For others, however, seeing me embody these two worlds can be difficult to understand.

While some guys can easily accept playing with girls on the basketball court, some never pass you the ball.  Worse, they refuse to play defense on girls and let them score easily.  And it’s not just my generation that treat women this way.  Some refs won’t blow the whistle on a girl who’s obviously committed a foul on a guy.  This unequal treatment frustrates me, and brings out my natural competitive nature in new ways.

If something makes you happy, don’t be afraid to pursue it out of fear of what other people will think.

My parents never told me that I couldn’t dress up like a princess.  They also never told me I couldn’t play basketball.  I was free to make my own choices, and because of this, I don’t think I was prepared for judgment from others.  I’ve heard, ‘You’re a girl; you can’t like basketball!’ and ‘How do you know about that?’ when referring to a statistic about an NBA player.  In the moment, those comments made me feel small.  I wanted to cry and run out of the room.  Obviously, though, that wouldn’t have been the best way to react. Usually I just ignore the hurtful comments, knowing that only some people feel this way.  I’ve met some of my closest guy and girl friends through playing basketball.  If I ran from every difficult situation or hurtful comment, I would not have met these people and developed great friendships.

One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve been given was from one of my high school guidance counselors; he told our class not to focus on what other people think because life is short, and you're the only one who can live your life.  This advice helps me when I get caught up in pleasing others and acting how society expects me to act.  Instead, appreciate the unique parts of yourself.  Everyone has his or her own talents and interests that allow them to connect with others.  If something makes you happy, don’t be afraid to pursue it out of fear of what other people will think.

If wearing high heels and lipstick, while dribbling a basketball and naming off player stats makes you happy, go for it.

To quote one of my favorite movies, ‘The Princess Diaries’, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt: ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.’  Be smart by being yourself no matter what others think of you because this life is yours to enjoy.  If wearing high heels and lipstick, while dribbling a basketball and naming off player stats makes you happy, then do just that.  There's no need to waste time trying to please others; do what makes you happy!  It will empower other women to do the same.