Prompt #1

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.

 

We often consider a 30% success rate to be bad. In most cases this is true; in  baseball it is not. In my nearly thirteen years of baseball, I have been through many ups and downs. With each failure and setback, I have strengthened and learned valuable lessons for success including perseverance, controlling emotions, and finding the positives in those experiences.

Striving for success has been a constant in my athletic and academic career thus far. The life lessons that I have learned in baseball come in handy in all situations. To be prepared for the upcoming season, training starts when the current season ends. This means 6 A.M. workouts to build muscle mass, increase power, and maximize speed. Starting in January, it is necessary to begin a throwing program to ensure a healthy arm, which requires tension band workouts, throwing, and icing. It is easy to fall behind and get off track with these steps, but determination and perseverance will likely lead to success.

Throughout a game, many things can go wrong: committed errors, poor plate performances, loss of composure under stress, questionable calls, and even the ejection of a coach. Controlling attitude, emotions, and composure are gargantuan components. In a game of failure, maintaining composure allows the player to focus and keep nerves under control, increasing the likelihood of peak performance.

As a leadoff batter, it is important to be the spark to the fire. Knowing that, starting the game with a “K” is not desirable. Learning from the poor appearances and adjusting to the pitcher correlates with life where we learn from past mistakes to better the odds of successful future performance when life throws a curveball. Even when each step is implemented with precision, falling short and losing is still a possible outcome. By being resilient despite personal shortcomings and the challenges encountered in life, I can continue to learn and grow.

The constant throughout the entirety of baseball and anything that anyone wants to achieve is perseverance. It is easy to make excuses and avoid the work needed to become successful, but determination is what gets me through it. Being determined as a team led us to a regular season of thirteen wins and two losses with an .809 win percentage. Likewise, determination pushes me through life with every curveball I encounter.  Keeping composure is also critical to effectively handle life’s challenges, while seeking the positive lesson in any situation. Though I may not be ready for every curveball, life will never fool me with the same pitch twice.