Personal Statement
The biggest challenge of my life began the day I found out I had torn my UCL. Baseball has always been my passion, so hearing that I couldn't play for a full year was devastating. At 14, a year feels like an eternity. It never even crossed my mind that I wouldn’t come back from this injury. I just wanted to play, and I was sad that I was going to have to miss one game, let alone an entire year or more. After Tommy John surgery, several months of rehab, arm care and an intense lifting program, I am proud to say I am back—bigger, better, faster—and, if anything, my love for the game has only grown stronger. I learned that no matter the obstacle, through perseverance, hard work and prayer, I can get through it.
Off the field and on, my coaches and teammates have always considered me a leader. They tell me that everyone else is just better when I am there. It’s more of an attitude than a skill, I believe. An attitude that falls under my personal mission of glorifying God, honoring family and loving others. I strive to make a significant and positive impact on any program or team I am a part of—to use my God-given gifts to inspire others.