The Ten Minute Meeting
"...there’s always someone who's really there for you—who cares for you—who wants more FOR you than FROM you."
I will never forget what my cousin Brady would always say to me as I grew up watching him play basketball.
He always reminded me, “Basketball is what I do, not who I am.”
My whole family played sports, most of them being basketball players. My biggest role model growing up was my cousin Brady, who played basketball at the University of Iowa. As a kid my favorite thing to do was go see him play his high school games, as he was seven years older than me.
There’s so much more to a person beyond just being an athlete.
Watching him play kept growing my passion for basketball, as I saw how he handled himself on and off the court. Witnessing how people loved watching him play, while simultaneously enjoying him as a person was a trait I wanted to strive for playing basketball.
As a young kid, I didn’t really didn’t understand what that truly meant until a few years ago. Reminding myself that I am more than a basketball player became really important to me, especially after my injuries.
I’ve dislocated my kneecap three times within the past two years. I’ll never forget the second time it happened as it took a huge toll on me mentally, because it happened only a week before practice started up again.
All summer I had been focused on rehabbing and grinding in the gym to get my body back to how I was before my first injury. It completely drained me when the second injury happened a week before practice started.
Moving forward, halfway through the season of 2023-2024, I was coming back from my third knee injury. I simply wasn’t playing well, and just overall wasn’t having fun like I used to. Those three weeks were the least I had ever enjoyed basketball.
Something had to change.
After one of our games, I decided to go in and talk with my coach, which was originally supposed to be a ten minute meeting. After two whole hours, Coach Matt and I talked about pretty much everything going on in my life.
I can confidently say the biggest factor in my recovery was the support and care from my parents and Coach Matt.
Knowing those three people were rooting for me, no matter what, kept me grounded and motivated. It is so important to not be afraid to lean on those around you.
I knew the coaches and staff cared about us, but for my coach to take the time to have an in depth conversation with me (when he has a million other things to deal with) showed me something I will never forget.
At the end of the day it doesn't come down to wins and losses, my coach deeply cares about us as people, and our well being beyond basketball.
I hope you understand that even if you don’t think anybody wants to talk to you about any problems you are dealing with in your life, there’s always someone who's really there for you—who cares for you—who wants more FOR you than FROM you.
Not only has the coaching staff been so supportive, but I will forever be thankful for the friendships and bonds I’ve been able to create over the past 15 years. Friendships mean the world to me, and it makes me so happy doing the sport love, while doing it with some of my best friends. It is something that I’ll always cherish and be thankful for.
There are more people who care about you than you might think.
My name is Brian Paryzch. I am on the Men’s Basketball team here at Northern. I am a senior, majoring in Business management and I am from Milwaukee, WI.