Rishan Patel: Off the Bench

Becoming a student athlete changed Rishan Patel’s life. And now, he hopes to do the same for others — helping them off the bench and getting in the game. YR Media brings this Perspective.

As a kid, I used to dread my morning drop-offs at school. The thought of stepping into a classroom full of familiar yet distant faces would make my heart sink.

But then, I started playing basketball, and it was a game-changer. Almost overnight, basketball ignited a burning ambition to perfect my 3-point-shot, provided a crew of buddies to debate Warriors’ stats with and infused a surge of confidence that extended beyond the court.

Now, as a 17-year-old, sports have been an inextricable part of my identity. I love everything from the adrenaline rush of running the 400-meter relay to the camaraderie of being part of a team.

But access to sports is far from equal. According to a survey from 2022, 59% of families feel financial strain from participating in youth sports.

After learning about this, I started noticing how much great gear was being wasted around me. Bins in our garage were overflowing with my outgrown gear. My school had all this great equipment just sitting in storage. It got me thinking: why not collect all this gear and give it to kids in our community who could really use it?

With the help from friends and family, we raised enough money to buy a storage shed to fill with as much sports equipment we could collect. We installed the first “Lending Locker” in East Palo Alto. After only a few weeks, I started getting “thank you” emails from the kids using the gear. I was taken aback at the overwhelming amount of support for my simple idea.

This all started because I wanted to be able to share my love of sports with other kids just like me. And it’s now grown beyond my expectations. As I reflect on the impact of Lending Lockers so far, I continue looking for other ways to level the playing field. I want others to experience the same joy and magic I feel doing something I’m passionate about.

With a Perspective, I’m Rishan Patel.

Rishan Patel is 17 years old and lives in Atherton. His Perspective was produced by YR Media.