Kourtney Huang

Kourtney Huang’s decision to drop out of Stanford didn’t come without a price. Her parents, who had always stressed the importance of a stable career, were disappointed. They’d never fully understood her passion for basketball, seeing it more as a hobby than a legitimate career path. At first, they encouraged her to pursue something practical—business or engineering, something with a future. She had majored in economics, a field her parents deemed sensible. But basketball kept calling to her. It wasn’t just the game; it was the drive, the rush, the sense of purpose she felt on the court. So, she made the bold choice to leave behind her education and take a chance on the Aurora Hoops League. Despite gaining the starting shooting guard spot for the New England Nova, her parents remained unsupportive. They saw her choice as reckless, a gamble they couldn’t understand. Throwing away a college education. The risk of injury. The unstable job in a new basketball league. The rift that grew between them was inevitable—each call from home became more strained. Her decision had alienated her from the family, and while she had her basketball career to focus on, the absence of support from her parents weighed on her more than she let on. Still, Kourtney’s resolve only strengthened. She’d chosen the life she wanted, and while she missed her family’s presence, she wasn’t going to let anything hold her back now.