Personal Statement
Hi, I'm Heather Holly of Hopkinton High School. Academics are really important to me. Truthfully, I enjoy school, and am a huge nerd. This year, I am taking 6 honors classes, and next year hope to take AP classes. I really want to push myself to be the smartest I can. Even if I struggle in those classes, I will continue to take the class and do the best I can. This is what I did my freshman year, and will use this philosophy for my remaining 5 semesters of high school. As a student, I am very organized. I believe that has contributed to my academic success. Though I really enjoy softball, school has to come first, as my softball career will on last a short bit of time, while academics will carry me throughout adulthood. I hope to major double major in college in either science or history, as well as secondary education. Science and History are not only my best classes, but also my favorite classes. I have always loved going to those classes. However, I mainly want to major in secondary education because I want to give back to something that gave me so much. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for my teachers. They have influenced my life an incredible amount, and I want to make the same thing happen for somebody else. I really enjoy tutoring other kids, and I believe teaching would provide me a way to share my passion with the next generation. I truly believe that teachers make a difference, and I want to help make that happen.
This year, I am playing for the Rhode Island Thunder 18u showcase team, and am the starting pitcher, and play first when not pitching. However, it was not easy getting there. When I was younger, I was constantly told I was uncoachable because I was never good enough. Coaches would give up on me because they felt like I would just end up quitting just like everybody else. But I didn't. I wanted to be the best I could be. I continue to use this philosophy today. I strive just to get a little bit better every day. To do this, I lift every other day, and work on pitching mechanics at least 30 minutes a day. Anyway, in order of importance softball is the third most important thing in my life behind friends and family as well as academics. For the past several years, I have trained at Planet Fastpitch in Uxbridge, MA. There, I have not only grown as a player, but also a person. They have helped take my game from average, to great. But I will not stop there. I am constantly pushing myself to get better everyday, and that is something I take pride in. As a pitcher, I focus more on my mechanics than my speed. Currently, I am pitching at about 57-59, but that speed is increasing at a fairly constant rate. With proper mechanics, I hope to increase that speed to about 60-62 by the end of the season, but will not stop there. I have several pitches including a drop-ball, changeup, curveball, and a screwball. I have over 25 rotations on all my pitches, including 27 on my changeup. Hitting, I consider myself a power hitter, and take pride in being able to hit the ball far, and hard. Whenever there is an opportunity, I always take swings. Whether that be on a tee, or staying after practice to take some more cuts of the machine, I will. Currently, my bat speed has reached over 95 mph and still climbing.
