The game of basketball is more than just a ball. It is more than just two hoops or a court. The game of basketball is more than a sport. For some, basketball is an escape. For others, basketball is a way to experience a new aspect of life. There are very few things in life that can provide as much as basketball. For Ténin Magassa, basketball has provided so much more than she could have ever imagined. For Ténin, basketball has changed her life.
 
Ténin was born in a suburb of Paris, France on September 19, 2001. Born to parents who were originally from Mali, she comes from a culturally diverse family. Her parents found hope in the country of France when they moved there from Mali. She is the oldest of six children. As the oldest child in her family, Ténin was constantly the one that was setting the example for her siblings. However, as Ténin grew up, she quickly realized something that was going to prove to be a major challenge in her young life. You see, Ténin was shy. Really, really shy. She talks about the early moments in her young life where she struggled with her self-confidence because of how shy she was. Ténin said that "growing up, life was not easy. I struggled to make friends. My parents sometimes struggled to understand what I was going through. I felt lonely more often than not." As a child trying to learn how to navigate life and the challenges of everyday, life can be tough. For Ténin, that struggle was multiplied.
 
Enter the game of basketball. Ténin started playing basketball at the age of eight. At first, she was not good. In addition to not being good, the game was forcing her to do something she hated, talk. She spent the following two years playing a game that she hated. Basketball was everything she didn't like. It was talking, interacting, and being with other people. In addition to that, she was struggling to pick up the game. Then, at 10 years old, Ténin changed teams and began to play every spot on the court. As she became more comfortable with the game, she began to gain self-confidence. That self-confidence, in turn, helped her begin to enjoy the game. At 12 years old, Ténin found herself entering the Formation Center for Basketball. This sport that she once hated had quickly become her escape.
 
As Ténin went through formation school, life threw more challenges at her. Whether it was a string of injuries during her time in formation school or other challenges along the way, Ténin had to overcome a lot to just continue playing this game that she loved. When you love something, you are willing to fight for it. And that is exactly what Ténin did. She fought through challenges and overcame more than most teenagers could ever fathom. The once shy young child was becoming a resilient, confident young adult.
 
So, how does someone go from being extremely shy to feeling accepted and having confidence in themselves? Look no further than the game of basketball. Ténin said, "Basketball has given me self-confidence. I wasn't confident before. I was lost. Basketball is where I found myself."
 
So now a confident and determined Ténin is ready to begin her journey in the United States.  A new set of challenges await her. But she is ready. When asked about what Flyer fans should know about her, she smiled and said "I may be shy, but I am secretly funny. I use to be really shy, but basketball has made me less shy." The game of basketball transcends the confines of sports. Basketball can change lives. For Ténin, if it wasn't for basketball, she wouldn't be where she is today.