- 2021 Spotlight
Personal Statement
One of the most pivotal experiences that shaped me as a player and teammate was in my early years in Little League. I loved playing baseball but I had not been selected to be on a traveling team after attending several tryouts. I was disappointed that I could not play more and I saw other teammates advancing their skills each year because they were playing on select teams and practicing more. After the final tryout of the year I had not made a team. I knew that I had to try something different. I spoke with my dad about what I could do to make a team and we came up with a plan to help me get on a select team. We created weekly workout routine that was 10-15 hours of practice a week. We religiously followed the plan and spent a lot of hours at the local field and batting cages. When the next set of tryouts came around I was ready for the challenge. I went to several tryouts and finally landed a spot on a great team.
Making the team was a great achievement, but the more important lesson I learned was the importance of hardwork. I continued my rigorous workout routine even after I made the team and I began to realize that there were kids with more talent but none of them could match the amount of effort and time that I was putting in. Eventually I started to pass up the kids who had a lot of raw talent but did very little work outside of practice. I learned that if I put in the extra hours and worked harder than anyone on the team that I could do great things.
As I continue my baseball journey and advance to higher levels, I know that the work ethic and mindset that I developed back in Little League will help me achieve my goals as a student and athlete. If I have the honor and privilege of playing on a college baseball team, my dedication and work ethic will be a tremendous asset to any coach and team.
