Playing softball since I was 5 years old has been a rewarding experience for me. While I like to compete at a high level, I also appreciate the camaraderie of playing with women who enjoy the sport. Softball has taught me a lot about dedication, competition and the need for hard work and discipline to succeed. My softball experience has carried over to my personal life - in academics and other activities.
My expertise in softball lies in batting although I am a very good fielder and smart all-round player. Physically, at 5;7" and 160 lbs, I have excellent hand/eye coordination and a very strong swing.. (My brother was an offensive lineman at Notre Dame). I have played most infield postions and catcher although my preference is for 2nd base. Last season, as a sophomore I was named to California's All-CIF Southern Section 1st Team (Division 6). Here are my verified stats for my 2011 high school team:
http://www.maxpreps.com/athletes/mtHfbqfyLUeCvui7_t5LvQ/softball-spring-11/stats-mireya-hernandez.htm
While I would love to play softball in a collegiate program, my goal is to gain admission to a selective academic institution. For me, softball is a means to achieve this and not a goal in itself. Therefore, my focus is on academics. As a junior, I maintain a 4.0 average at a very challenging girls' high school.where I am currently taking 4 AP & Honors classes. I took the SAT as a sophomore and scored 1330/2010 which I expect to improve upon this year. For 3 seasons, I have also played varsity tennis,serving as team captain this fall. Last year, as a sophomore, I was recognized by my school as the team MVP in both varsity tennis and softball.
As mentioned, I play sports, particularly softball, for the intangible benefits of being part of a team and because of my enjoyment of competition and athleticism. Because academics are my top priority and also because of my desire to play varsity tennis this fall, I made the difficult decision to turn down several Club softball opportunities. Instead, I have elected to play for my high school coach and several teammates in a competitive softball Saturday league in Burbank, CA (many club and high school teams play in this league). I am currently batting over .500 with a league high of 12 triples and 2 homeruns..
In addition to sports and academics, I have volunteered extensively with the National Marrow Donor Program ("Be the Match"). Last year, my oldest brother was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. My 3 other brothers and I were all tested to see if we were a bone marrow match as a transplant is the only cure for his disease. Unfortunately, none of us was a match. I also became aware that minorities, particularly Hispanics, are underrepresented in the national bone marrow registry. Consequently, along with my family, I have worked on several bone marrow donor drives at local schools. This past year, I volunteered over 100 hours iwith "Be the Match" of City of Hope Hospital.
Although I am uncertain about my college course of studies, I am considering biology or pre-med as a major. My hobbies include reading and creative writing so I am also interested in majoring in English.
Thank you for taking the time to read my personal statement. I look forward to hearing from you.
