Kaylee Rucker College Preparatory English College Application Essay October 4, 2016 Perfect Memories
To many people, softball is just a sport that is no different than any other. Softball, to me, is much more than that. There is no better feeling than having a whole team supporting me and cheering me on. When I make a mistake or start to doubt myself there’s always people there to pick me back up. The game has taught me to believe in myself and the people around me because my teammates and I need each other in order to succeed. The game has taught me that being selfless and working towards a goal for others as well as myself is incredibly rewarding. Softball, to me, is growing up on a field with a family of girls and learning what it is to put oneself last for the greater good of the team.
Putting oneself last can be a difficult task to learn how to do, but some people are fortunate enough to have grown up caring about a group of people enough that it comes naturally. I am one of those people. My teammates and I play for each other when we step out on the field. I am no longer an individual on the field; I am a part of the team. My actions affect all the others as well -- my attitude, how I play, and even my emotions. The team blends together as one and it is truly a beautiful sight when that happens. Hard work always has a motivator behind it; my motivator in softball is the eight other girls on the field with me. Softball has given me all the work ethic I have. Ever since I was a little girl, hard work sounded appealing to me when it came to working on softball. To me, that wasn’t work; it was a privilege. To play the game I love and to share it with a group of people who care for it as much as I do is amazing. I have been truly blessed with the best coaches and teammates that I could have asked for throughout my softball career. They all played a huge part in helping me grow up and learn many lessons; I am grateful for that.
Softball, to anyone who hasn’t played, is just another sport. What those people don’t understand is that it’s actually a life choice. When I made the decision to play, I also made the decision to be a part of a family. I made the decision to work hard for others as well as myself. I made the decision to prioritize softball over all else in my life. I made the decision to miss out on many events that other kids got to go to because they weren’t at the ball field trying to better themselves in just one sport every single day. I made the decision to dedicate everything I had to one game, and it was the best decision I have ever made.