Nine years after losing her father at the hands of armed criminals, 13-year-old Lauralee Basdeo has refused to let the trials of life define her.Basdeo was only four years old when her father was murdered in a shooting in central Trinidad.She spent most of her life being cared for by a family who took her in after his death.Within the last few years, she has lost most of them to illness.Now living with her mother again, one of only two surviving relatives, Basdeo has since faced an uphill battle, pushing against the odds to make something of herself.Despite this, her mother says, the 13-year-old has never shied away from a challenge.Her mother, Laura Singh, told the Express last week that her daughter, an avid footballer, cricketer, tassa player and 5K runner has been making a name for herself.Basdeo has immersed herself in her interests, recently winning a scholarship from professional cricketer Nicholas Pooran to be trained as part of his batting academy.Last year, she took the stage at a local mall to play tassa alongside pannist and world record holder Joshua Regrello.On Indian Arrival Day, she was invited to entertain shoppers with her tassa-playing at Gulf City Mall in La Romaine.In addition, her mother says, she has been participating in many team sports as a student at Holy Faith Convent in Couva—the school that was her first choice.“Even in the midst of everything, she is resilient. She does not give up. She lost her father so young, she lost her grandparents. If I pass away she has no one, nobody to take care of her. But God sent good people in our lives.“We want to show people that you can become something even in these situations. She passed for her first-choice school which is an accomplishment by itself; it was a big achievement.“We did not see that coming with all the deaths and writing an exam and passing for your first choice despite everything that we went through,” Singh explained.She told the Express that without a family to depend on, Basdeo has been nurtured and helped by a multitude of people who recognised her drive and talent.“It feels like when you lose in some areas, God gives you and supplies...She is still able to achieve good things. We want people to know you should not give up in life. Whatever you may be facing, study your work, put God first and keep pressing on. Keep pushing,” she said.‘Never give up’Asked what message she hoped to convey to young people like herself, who may be facing difficult circumstances, Basdeo said, “Every moment offers a chance for a fresh start and a new direction. Don’t let past mistakes define your future.“Instead, let them be lessons that guide you toward better decisions. Keep striving, keep being a boss, and never give up on your dreams. Most importantly, keep your faith in God, and don’t let anyone else’s opinions or negativity dim your spark.”