Aria performs as Tamika Catchings at Historical Halloween

Aria's school, Montessori at Samish Woods, celebrated Historical Halloween again this year. Aria Choose to portray basketball superstar, Tamika Catchings.

The following video shows her presentation and how she choose to spend the rest of her day at home.

Here is the text of Aria's presentation:
Hello, my name is Tamika Catchings.  I was born on July 21, 1979 and grew up in Abilene, Texas. 
When I was a child, I had to wear big ugly hearing aids and was teased a lot.  It was so painful that one day I threw my hearing aids in a vacant lot.  My mom got mad at me, and my hearing aids were never replaced. When I was in sixth grade my parents got divorced. 

My life was stressful, but when I got stressed I played basketball.  When I was happy, I played basketball.  I played basketball  whatever mood I was in.

After a lot of practice, I got really good with my sister Tauja, who was my ears and voice.  We became famous.  This was hard because I had a speech impediment and people made fun of how I talked.  I just wanted to be a regular kid.
My parents supported my goals and never said I couldn’t join the NBA.

When I was 15, I was named Ms. Basketball in Illinois and was the youngest person to win that award.

After high school, I decided to go to the University of Tennessee to play for the legendary coach Pat Summit.   The first day I went to college she said I wasn’t playing the right way, and I had to play her way.  It was hard work but I became a better player.

After college I joined the Women’s National Basketball Association and went on to win four gold medals on the Olympic team.  Just last year I retired after 15 years playing for the Indiana Fever.

What I want to tell you is that despite any disability, with hard work, through thick and thin you can do it!