Game Changer Letter

After walking onto the field at seven years old, I found my passion, my strength, and my world. Softball has been in my life for the past ten years, and I intend to play in college if I’m given the opportunity, nevertheless, I am going to fight to play. Playing softball has changed my life; I do not know where I would be without it. It has given me the best experiences in life, and I have made long term friends while playing. I hit my first homerun at 12 years old, and have been a power hitter ever since.

The internal conflict between Max and his low self esteem is first demonstrated in the very first sentence of the book which is,”Ive never had a brain until freak came along and let me borrow his for a while, and thats the truth, the whole truth.”(1). This shows that Max seems to have a low opinion of himself ,especially his intelligence. This also implies that Max is going to make a very good friend. This internal conflict is further elaborated when it is shown that Max is afraid to speak in class because his “mouth shuts up when theres more than one or two people, and a full classroom full, forget it.” (82). This shows that Max seems to be embarrassed to answer questions in class. He seems to have the mental capacity to learn in a normal school but has interfering internal and external problems that have caused him to have difficulty learning. To conclude, Max’s conflicts are primarily internal ones that are a big part of how he develops as a

Imagine standing on a softball field expected to perform at the age of 5. Even though the butterflies in my stomach were starting a war, nothing was going to stop me from stepping on that field to play my first tee ball game as a Little Tiger. Fans cheered, but what I noticed most was a little boy in the outfield picking his nose. Standing in the box, I was terrified; the field looked huge. I had never seen anything like this before, but I knew that the little boy was the person I needed to hit the ball to, so I hit the ball as hard as I could. The ball went soaring through the air like a bird on fire. Dropping from the air, it rolled to the fence. At that time, I knew I had fallen in love with the game of softball. I was smiling from ear to ear, I couldn’t believe I had hit the ball that far! Both sides screamed, yelled, and shouted with excitement. Was all this commotion for me? I rounded first, but I couldn’t go to second because my teammate, Kylie Leach, didn’t run. I didn’t know what she was doing. Sadly, the batter after me hit a ground ball to the pitcher, and the other team threw him out at first.

I have always played sports. Softball, soccer, and swimming before I started kindergarten, later, basketball and volleyball. My passion is and always has been softball. I love competing and being able to make friendships and memories with my teammates that will last a lifetime.

My mother has been playing competitive softball since before I was born. Even to this day, at the young age of 66, she still enjoys playing on the circuit. My brother was a talented basketball player in high school and junior college until a car accident thwarted his dreams, I myself, was a 3-sport star in high school and I earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I was taught from a very early age that my performance in sports rests with my ability to consistently control my emotions. I have been trained to respond positively inevitable changes and

Starting at such a young age my passion for the game has grown. Playing in the spring for Little League and then continuing to play throughout the summer, strengthened my love for the game. With being apart of Plainville League created a family between me and my teammates. Not only did our team become close, but also our families. Between working in the concession stand, fundraising, and the team get togethers all made us feel a part of the Plainville community. The fundamental skills I learned back then stayed with me today, improving my skills each day. Plainville Little League helped me to find my passion. Without my start playing for Plainville League through seven years I would never have found my passion for softball. Playing on a high level team at such a young age taught me to work hard. I knew I wasn't the best player on the team, but I knew I was the most determined. I would always work hard and perfect my game so I would one day be as good as my older teammates. Whether it would be extra hitting time in the batting cages or practicing at home, I was always trying to improve my

Foremost, being a pitcher made me realize how important it is to have a short-term memory. When I was on the mound, I knew that the result of the previous batter had no bearing on what the next batter would do. For example, when I gave up a big hit, before the next batter came to the plate, I had to forget about what just happened. In softball, it is important to not dwell on the negatives, but learn from them. Because of pitching, I know yesterday’s failures can turn into tomorrow’s successes. I plan to have the same attitude in the legal field when obstacles come my way.

Hard work never goes un-noticed, and although I did improve, I had acquired the label of ‘outfielder’. The position that wasn’t home to me, but I was forced to recognize as my spot on the field. My first year of Varsity softball arrived and I made it clear infield is where I wanted to be, but my coach’s confidence in me continued to lack to match the level of mine, along with the fact the returning third basemen was a veteran. And the outfield is where I was sent, yet again.

Ever since I was seven years old playing t-ball I dreamed of playing high school softball. Every year I waited not so patiently for the season to start. My junior year in high school I was the second basemen for my school softball team. That year my team and I were more determined than ever to get our team to the state finals. Before the state tournament we had to win conference, sectionals, and super sectionals. My junior year my team and I had our hearts set on being the first team in Somonauk history to ever win to the state championship.

Since I was five years old softball and sports have been a huge part of my life. In softball, specifically, there are many times of failure and success. High school sports, for me, has taken a lot of my time, effort, and commitment. From the first day I stepped onto the court and field to the last, I want to be able to say I did my best. It has been tough and frustrating at times. I experienced failure many times, even when I did not want to admit it. My moments of failure within high school sports have turned me into the character and person I am today. It has taught me how to take failure and turn it into success. Failure has made me realize that the only way for you to succeed is for you to fail first.

Have you ever had so much passion for a sport you have been playing for almost your whole life? I love playing all positions of softball and I admire everything that comes with it that includes battle wounds, road trips to games, making memories to practicing out on home field getting ready to bat some love into their lives. Softball is not an easy sport at all but it’s my passion and a privilege to be able to stand on that field. So much love, effort and hard work has been put in over the years. After 12 years of truly knowing the sport these are my favorite things out on the field such as pitching with strength, sliding with passion, and batting to hear all of your support to make a home run!

Blood, sweat and tears. All for one sport you love. Going to the fields, putting my cleats on and batting.(Cumulative) From the time I stepped on the diamond, I knew softball was going to be something I was good at. Usually most people start off playing t-ball and work their way up to the big leagues. Not me. I started my third grade year. Of course I was hesitant (nervous), but I got over that fast enough. I played every position possible. I was a strong hitter (usually making it on base every time). But that’s 10 u. Over the years, I became exceptionally good at softball. I had many compliments on how good I was. Parents were telling my parents how good I was. But that was only the beginning.

To accept the opportunity to step on the field with the varsity softball team started as a child working hard in everything I do, striving for success, and never expecting anything less than what I know I am capable of. I always took running two miles every morning during the summer to running the bases at practice after school very seriously. By this, I became a courtesy runner

“Not everyone is going to see or accept you for who you are, and you have to accept that.” I was told this quote everyday by my mother. Today was no different, walking up to the raked field, quote on my mind , eyes on the fresh red clay, and the sound of my metal cleats against the concrete. I was ready for this day. After months of hard work from November to February , the tryouts for Central softball team were over. Over the span of four months, I pushed myself harder than I ever thought I could, but what I did never seemed to be enough for the team.

From the time I was able to walk I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I always fantasized it being game seven of the world series, with my team down three runs, the bases loaded with two outs, and I was up to bat. Of course every single time I fantasized about this, which was a lot I might add, I knocked a 400 foot home run in the left field bleachers to win the world series. I played in numerous amounts of wiffle ball games with my brother, sister, and my dad in backyard even when I was only two years old and would run the bases backwards. By the way, my family is super competitive, so there were some intense games in my backyard. Baseball has been my love since day one. The word “ball” was even my first word. I have played in probably a billion baseball games in my life and I have not regretted one second of it. I have had an amazing career playing and I am truly blessed for the ability I have been given, but I know I will never actually be able to