Gerald Smith '16 Recruiting Profile

Yeah, I've thought a lot about what to say for my profile.  One thing I've not thought about is making stuff up just to get want I want.  My folks have always taught me that what you believe in is worth more than money, more than fame, more than anything.  Without your word, without what you believe, you're left with nothing but a hollow empty shell.  The purity of competition is in itself what has always drawn me to sports, to baseball. I believe in doing whatever it takes to win.  Without giving all of yourself to your position, to your team, to your coach, to the crowd and to your school; it is worth nothing.  There are 2 sides in competition, the winner and the loser, right?  I know what the scoreboard may say but if you've given everything you have to give, how can you truly lose? Some say losing is the opposite of winning.  I say it's part of winning, because without losing you'll never know how to win; or how sweet winning truly is.  There is more going on besides just the ballgame that's taking place on the field.  There are many lessons from life to be learned in the game of baseball.  Even from my days of starting in "T-ball", until now I'm still learning and will continue to learn long after I've walked off the field for the last time as a player.  Which leads me to college and beyond.  My dad always says that I'm living my "glory days", the best days of my life but he never said they stop the minute I graduate high school.  I want to take the next step into my future, to continue my glory days.  Where will that lead me?  I don't know, because it's not important.  Taking the next step is what's important.  That's why I've come to NCSA.  To help me with that step, but it's me that has to take that next step and I'm ready to do it.  To have the chance to further my education, get a career in the field I want to work in.  So that when I've hung up my cleats, put up my bat; I want to provide a future, a very possible future for myself and hopefully one day a family.  I'm just a normal small town guy that wants to see the world outside of mine.  To see what the world has to offer and what I have to offer the world.  Going to college is just that first step, but a very important first step.  All I can do is tell you the awards I've won, show you the scores, the patches on my jacket, my accomplishments as a ball player, as a student.  It's up to you to take a chance on me.  I can promise you this much; you take a chance on me & I'll give you everything I've got in the classroom & on the field! Thanks so much for looking at my profile.

  Gerald M. Smith (Junior @ Ava High School, MO.)