Personal Statement
Having older siblings, I started learning how to play baseball as a toddler. In fact, I credit my left-handed batting to my sister. She is a true left-handed person, so while she was practicing hitting off a “T” in our backyard, I would simply pick up the bat and do the same thing.
I’m grateful to have had my dad as my first coach. He taught me not only the fundamentals of baseball, but also the knowledge and strategy of the game so that I could be of value to my team in multiple positions. On my current teams (high school and summer league), I primarily play centerfield, shortstop, third and pitcher. I recognize that colleges may be looking for specific positions to fill, so I hope my utility performance allows me the opportunity to be considered where a team may have a need.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned growing up playing sports is that you win and lose as a team. I have always found that I enjoy seeing the improvement of other's character as well as physical attributes over winning a ton of games. Obviously, I love winning, but I would rather lose a close game, learn from it, and improve from it, than win by a complete blowout. I find that learning and improving in the game of baseball are for me, more rewarding than anything else and I feel that there is always something else to learn. This is the same mentality I take into games and practices as I venture into college ball.
So, as I think about college, I think about the hard long nights studying and the hard work that it takes to be a student athlete, but I also think about the freedom, opportunities, and possibilities, not just athletically but also academically. My parents have always made it clear to me that school comes first, then baseball. I want to take the skills I've learned from pursuing a US Congressional Bronze Medal in the National Leadership Council program, being a House Captain for my school, and the years of baseball experience, to further develop my character, leadership, and responsibility into college.
