Personal Statement
Tiger Woods is reported to have said, “People don't understand that when I grew up, I was never the most talented. I was never the biggest. I was never the fastest. I certainly was never the strongest. The only thing I had was my work ethic, and that's been what has gotten me this far.” I have never been the most talented, the biggest, the fastest, or the strongest, but I work hard to out play those who are the more talented, bigger, faster, stronger opponents or even teammates. This mindset has helped me progress to the point where I replaced a four-year-starter at shortstop who is now is a D1 player and was considered the best in the state. I also think it will make me a valuable college player and teammate in the future.
My first year playing Babe Ruth baseball was a key in my development. I made the all-star team, which made it to the championship game of the regional tournament. Without starting one game, I got an opportunity to hit in the bottom of the 7th with our team down by two runs. I led off with a single and later scored. We lost. Losing sucks and so did not starting. It fueled my desire. The next year I again made the team and the same teammate still started at shortstop. We made it to the World Series. In another elimination game, I drew leadoff walk in the 7th inning of a tie game but did not score. We lost to eventual national champion New Jersey. Losing sucks and so does not starting. That same shortstop is a grade ahead of me and this past summer was on the same summer league team – the future Portland High School varsity team. Our coach kept him at third and put me at shortstop. I proved I could play and am now the starting shortstop. I continue to improve. I continue to strive to win. Tony Robbins has a motto he teaches that I try to adhere to - CANI, constant-and-never ending-improvement. I believe that is an attitude that is contagious and is no coincidence that I am usually on winning teams whether I am starting or not. It will make a great asset for any college team.