- December 2017
Personal Statement
My name is Ethan Tease, and I love the game of baseball.
Because of my father's work I have lived most of my life outside of the United States. I became interested in baseball at a very young age while living in Canada. As an American, I had to learn to speak French while living in Montreal. Learning the French language helped me to meld with my teammates and coaches while playing baseball in Montreal. Academically, I was in a Montessori program. My teachers felt I should be advanced a grade because of my emotional maturity, so I moved one grade ahead of my peers. When I returned to the United States in the 6th grade, I realized that the advancement meant I would have to compete for a position against kids who were one or two years older than I and in a small town where I had not grown up and established a reputation as had the other kids. At first, this seemed an impossible task. But I decided that to play I had to be willing and able to play any position. My 8th-grade year my team needed a catcher. I convinced the coach to let me catch. In doing so, I moved into the starting lineup and was named the defensive player of the year. It was a relief to have finally earned my place and established my reputation as a player, which is so important in a small town like Athens, Alabama. I wasn't satisfied, however, because I knew that I could utilize my speed and arm strength better in the outfield. So my sophomore year I asked my coach to let me play right field, and I have started on varsity as the right fielder since that year. My speed enables me to bunt effectively in any situation to reach base safely a good percentage of attempts. This summer I began hitting the ball with power as well. At only 16 years of age, I know that my body has not fully matured and that I will continue to gain strength and power over the coming months.
Academically, I want to be an engineer. In my junior year, I made the highest score in the history of the school in advanced computer technology, so it is important to me that the school I attend has a strong engineering curriculum. Also, while I speak French fluently, it fades with time, so it is important to me to continue my studies in that language so that I do not lose the ability to speak it.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read my personal statement. I hope it gives you a good sense of my character and my potential. My versatility as a player, strong drive to compete and win in any circumstance, my diverse background and my strong commitment to teamwork make me a good addition to any baseball program looking for players that aspire to achieve excellence!
