- 2015 Game Highlights
Personal Statement
When I was asked to write a personal statement by my recruiting coach, my first instinct was panic. That was followed by indignation and finally acceptance. You see, I am a rather introverted person and talking about myself is not my strong suit. However, I decided that describing my personality without all the usual clichés and/or egotistical phrases was a challenge that I could “step up to the plate” for. With that being said, here goes nothing…
My name is Isabella Garibaldi and I am NOT your typical 15 year old girl. Sure, I go to high school, attend dances, pep rallies, school sporting events and hang out with my friends. I also enjoy music, reading and spending time with my family. I have an unusual sense of humor, which only my close friends can appreciate. I am a fairly good student, but there is always room for improvement. I am interested in psychology and would like to pursue a career with the FBI in the Behavioral Analysis Department. But, what sets me apart from other teenagers is softball. I can go into all the details of my batting average, pop time, run time from home to first, how many practice hours I put in, etc., but all those stats are listed on my profile. I don’t want to talk about how softball has, “changed my life” or “made me the person I am today” because, quite honestly, I’m not entirely sure who I am or who I will be. What I CAN tell you is how softball makes me, Isabella Garibaldi, feel……
When I gear up for a game and step onto the field I feel powerful, nervous, excited and anxious. All these emotions come at me in an instant, until that first pitch: the release of the ball from the pitcher’s hand, the spin as it travels the 43 feet from rubber to home plate and the snap of leather meeting leather. It’s that snap, like a switch being thrown, that triggers my metamorphous. I immediately transform from a simple teenager to a serious competitor. All my weaknesses and differences that are a part of my social and school life, melt away and all the preparation and hours of practice kick in and everything comes together like a well-run machine. I am in my element. It is a feeling like no other. It isn’t ONLY about winning or losing. It is about camaraderie between teammates, between players and coaches, about developing skills and finding solutions to the situations that are presented to you on the field. It is about setting and meeting goals and then pushing to surpass those expectations and move up to the next level, always learning from each game. It is about the ability to apply that knowledge toward improving and developing yourself into a better player on and off the field in the biggest game of all….LIFE.
Do I think I have all the answers? Of course I do! I am a teenager, after all. Just kidding….No, I don’t have all the answers, I don’t even know what I am having for dinner. But I can tell you what I have discovered thus far. I have learned that my differences and perceived weaknesses are what make me strong and unique. Strong enough to undertake life’s challenges, both on the softball field and off, and unique enough to accomplish those challenges with grace, humor and perspective. I am “geared up” and waiting “behind the plate” for whatever life has to throw at me!
