--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, seeing little kids that were in my…" description: "\"Now, seeing little kids that were in my AAU program, seeing where I came from, the same spot that they're in, now I'm in the NBA gives them a little ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg" --- # Now, seeing little kids that were in my AAU program… ![“Now, seeing little kids that were in my AAU program, seeing where I came from, the same spot that they're in, now I'm in the NBA gives them a little hope and, I guess, just opening their eyes a little bit that, with hard work and dedication, anything is really possible no matter where you're from.” quote by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg) > “Now, seeing little kids that were in my AAU program, seeing where I came from, the same spot that they're in, now I'm in the NBA gives them a little hope and, I guess, just opening their eyes a little bit that, with hard work and dedication, anything is really possible no matter where you're from.” [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing his own journey reflected in younger players inspires hope that dedication can overcome background barriers. **In simple terms:** Seeing his own inspires kids hope. Key Takeaway Share stories to inspire others. Themes inspiration hard work hope Mood optimistic determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - youth sports programs - mentoring - community outreach Key Concepts role models social mobility Questions to Reflect On - How can we expand mentorship for underprivileged youth? - What barriers still limit equal opportunity? A Different Perspective Not all have access to resources or mentorship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dedication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedication/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Hard work and dedication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work-and-dedication/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work And Dedication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-and-dedication/) ## Related quotes > [I just continue to do my work with dedication. Really, it's my listeners who have given me 40 years of bhushana. However, my ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-yesudas/i-just-continue-to-do-my-work-with-dedication-really-it-s-my/) [K. J. Yesudas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-yesudas/) > [“What we so admire and call "single minded dedication" was really "obsessive self-involvement". What in that exactly is admirable?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/what-we-so-admire-and-call-single-minded-dedication-was-really/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I learned patience, perseverance, and dedication. Now I really know myself, and I know my voice. It's a voice of pain and victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hamilton/i-learned-patience-perseverance-and-dedication-now-i-really-know/) [Anthony Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hamilton/) > [“Very little is enough for hope to exist! There is no need for him to see a sun in the darkness, even if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/very-little-is-enough-for-hope-to-exist-there-is-no-need-for-him-to/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“A whole stack of memories never equal one little hope. —Charles M. Schulz”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/a-whole-stack-of-memories-never-equal-one-little-hope-charles-m-schulz/) [Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/) > [Without peace, there is little hope for human rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-ennals/without-peace-there-is-little-hope-for-human-rights/) Martin Ennals > [I have no faith, very little hope, and as much charity as I can afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/i-have-no-faith-very-little-hope-and-as-much-charity-as-i-can-afford/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [It's morning again, little hope, and the world's drying of with fresh-laundered sunshine. Life's face is never the same though we may look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolbein-falkeid/it-s-morning-again-little-hope-and-the-world-s-drying-of-with-fresh/) Kolbein Falkeid > [“There is so much hope in a little flower and so many flowers in a little hope!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/there-is-so-much-hope-in-a-little-flower-and-so-many-flowers-in-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [A little hope, even hopeless hope, never hurt anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-little-hope-even-hopeless-hope-never-hurt-anybody/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [A little hope goes a long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-gleitzman/a-little-hope-goes-a-long-way/) [Morris Gleitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-gleitzman/) > [“All kids need is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/all-kids-need-is-a-little-help-a-little-hope-and-someone-who-believes/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [If you have a little hope, don't give up so that someone who is completely hopeless may be encouraged to hold on as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/if-you-have-a-little-hope-don-t-give-up-so-that-someone-who-is/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [“A little belief, a little faith, a little hope is sometimes all we need, to see the light.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/a-little-belief-a-little-faith-a-little-hope-is-sometimes-all-we-need/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [There is precious little hope to be got out of whatever keeps us industrious, but there is a chance for us whenever we cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-tomlinson/there-is-precious-little-hope-to-be-got-out-of-whatever-keeps-us/) [H. M. Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-tomlinson/) ## More by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander > [I'm just trusting my work. Putting it in everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-trusting-my-work-putting-it-in-everyday/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I've noticed that throughout my experience, when you keep positive energy, positive things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-ve-noticed-that-throughout-my-experience-when-you-keep-positive/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I don't worry about starting. I'm not worried about accolades or things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-don-t-worry-about-starting-i-m-not-worried-about-accolades-or/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I'm just confident in my abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-confident-in-my-abilities/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [Life's about ups and downs, season's about ups and downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/life-s-about-ups-and-downs-season-s-about-ups-and-downs/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I just think we're all high-level basketball players, best in the world. And no matter the outside circumstance, we still have to play basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-think-we-re-all-high-level-basketball-players-best-in-the/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I'm not playing this game just to be a good basketball player. I want to be one of the greatest to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-not-playing-this-game-just-to-be-a-good-basketball-player-i-want/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I've always been a basketball junkie... Always watched videos, slowed them down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-ve-always-been-a-basketball-junkie-always-watched-videos-slowed/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I'm just really confident in my abilities and how hard I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-just-really-confident-in-my-abilities-and-how-hard-i-work/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I'm a learner. I just soak things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-m-a-learner-i-just-soak-things-up/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [Learning how to play on a team full of future pros, it's not as easy as everyone thinks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/learning-how-to-play-on-a-team-full-of-future-pros-it-s-not-as-easy/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I just love the game. It's brought me so much joy in my life. I have no choice when I'm playing it, I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-love-the-game-it-s-brought-me-so-much-joy-in-my-life-i-have-no/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I just work hard, keep my head down and be true to who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-work-hard-keep-my-head-down-and-be-true-to-who-i-am/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I just soak things up and learn as time goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-just-soak-things-up-and-learn-as-time-goes-on/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) > [I want to be one of the best point guards to ever play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/i-want-to-be-one-of-the-best-point-guards-to-ever-play/) [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) [Explore all 100 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/) ## More Dedication quotes > [I know the importance of highly trained awareness of the “moment” and the immediate and intuitive response of the photographer. It should be obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-adams/i-know-the-importance-of-highly-trained-awareness-of-the-moment-and/) [Ansel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-adams/) > [Erase from your mind that your preparation must be perfect. Hard work + dedication = a shot at your dreams. Keep believing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-goucher/erase-from-your-mind-that-your-preparation-must-be-perfect-hard-work/) [Kara Goucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-goucher/) > [If you're going to preach dedication, work ethic, teamwork, unselfishness, and being part of a team to accomplish a common goal, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/if-you-re-going-to-preach-dedication-work-ethic-teamwork/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [In many traditions, hawks are sacred: Apollo's messengers for the Greeks, sun symbols for the ancient Egyptians and, in the case of the Lakota…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnside/in-many-traditions-hawks-are-sacred-apollo-s-messengers-for-the/) [John Burnside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnside/) > [You'll know you're amazing when you get devoted to making other people amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-ll-know-you-re-amazing-when-you-get-devoted-to-making-other/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I probably should've listened to Michael a year ago when he said that Charles will never win a championship because he doesn't show any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-pippen/i-probably-should-ve-listened-to-michael-a-year-ago-when-he-said-that/) [Scottie Pippen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-pippen/) > [To be an entrepreneur, it just takes a lot of persistence, dedication, and drive. No matter what happens, you have to be wiling to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeet-banerjee/to-be-an-entrepreneur-it-just-takes-a-lot-of-persistence-dedication/) [Jeet Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeet-banerjee/) > [U cant expect every1 to have as much dedication as u have..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/u-cant-expect-every1-to-have-as-much-dedication-as-u-have/) Hemantsmarty > [Now it is time to sit quiet, face to face with thee, and to sing dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/now-it-is-time-to-sit-quiet-face-to-face-with-thee-and-to-sing/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“To move forward, one need only take the first step,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-neill/to-move-forward-one-need-only-take-the-first-step/) Chase Neill > [Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It's dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/natural-talent-only-determines-the-limits-of-your-athletic-potential/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [I was at Mount Tamalpais near San Francisco hiking when a boulder came hurling down the mountainside and smashed my left hand. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/i-was-at-mount-tamalpais-near-san-francisco-hiking-when-a-boulder/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [“Everything on this earth belongs to God and therefore the more your dedication draws you closer to him, the more you will draw closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/everything-on-this-earth-belongs-to-god-and-therefore-the-more-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) [Browse all 1,006 Dedication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now, seeing little kids that were in my AAU program, seeing where I came from, the same spot that they're in, now I'm in the NBA gives them a little hope and, I guess, just opening their eyes a little bit that, with hard work and dedication, anything is really possible no matter where you're from.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-aau-program-seeing-where-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dedication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-aau-program-seeing-where-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92b/shai-gilgeous-alexander-5690_dedication_now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-a_1547025.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Now, seeing little kids that were in my AAU program, seeing where I came from, the same spot that they're…” — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Shai Gilgeous-Alexander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shai-gilgeous-alexander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Now, seeing little kids that were...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-aau-program-seeing-where-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shai-gilgeous-alexander/now-seeing-little-kids-that-were-in-my-aau-program-seeing-where-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```