My Youth

In the beginning it’s so exciting. You get introduced to something new and it is so fun. For me, it was introduced because my brother was currently playing the game, along with being coached by my dad. I naturally got dragged to practices and games at a very young age, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Once you enjoy watching it, you want a turn at it, just like any kid would. So, I was finally put into t-ball and that is where it all started. My young self found something that I excelled at, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world that I was better than most of the boys on the team. That I could throw farther than them, hit harder than them. My young self for sure thought I was going to be something great. A year later, the transition to softball happened. I was hesitant but I had no other choice if I wanted to continue. I was looking forward to playing with my school friends. The first year was a blast with my friends and I got asked to be on the all star team. I was SO excited to be an Evergreen Park All-Star. It felt like such a privilege. After 1 more year of rec-ball, my parents decided for me that they wanted me to venture out to a more competitive league. I had mixed emotions about this decision because I did not want to leave my friends and somewhere I was comfortable playing, to instead go play with girls I never knew and harder competition as well. Turns out, this was one of the best decisions my parents persuaded me into. Within my first year of travel softball, I had made so many new friends, grew as a person and a player, and traveled to places I otherwise would have never even heard of. Travel softball then became an every year, every weekend in summer type of lifestyle. Traveling all over the Midwest for tournaments, with some of my best friends for years. It really could not get better for a young girl who loved softball. That little girl loved those years of my life and will cherish the memories I made with my team each and every year. I am so thankful my parents pressured me into leaving my comfort zone, and seeing my potential to be better than I was at the time. It shaped me into the player I am today, gave me some of my best friends, and truthfully, my first true love.

The Peak

The peak arises when I get to high school. I have been playing softball for about seven years at this point. Six of those years required traveling the whole summer. It takes a toll on you.

Yes, I was young in completely capable shape, but other things seem to be getting in the way. I wanted to be with my friends. As would most 14 or 15 year old girls. Well, if you played travel softball you know this wasn’t an option. You missed every weekend of summer fun. Every. Single. Summer. After 7 or 8 repeated years, it gets old. I still loved softball, but telling myself I was not going to be missing anything with my friends was becoming harder. It came to a point where I was dreading a weekend trip, or a 2 hour practice on a Friday night. My parents made it clear that they won’t waste money on this and that I was setting my priorities wrong. Yeah ok, try telling this social butterfly that her priorities were wrong at 15. Yikes! I still loved the game, I just wanted to be a normal kid. Around junior year, I began to think about college. I am awful at making decisions so I knew this was going to be a long road. At about 16, my coaches repeatedly were pushing my recruiting process for college softball. Yet, I was so hesitant. Did I want to play in college? I was self aware I wouldn’t be recruited to a D1 university. So, did I really want to miss out on that ideal college experience at a large university? To play softball? By senior year, I still had no idea what to do. In case you forgot, I am awful at making decisions. Time was ticking, I had to decide soon. By winter of senior year, I narrowed it down to playing softball at SXU, or going to UIUC. My final two options could not be more opposite from one another. One was staying home, and playing a sport at a small school. The other was going away with no sport. I was torn. After starting my senior season in February, I realized this could be my last season of softball. I really couldn’t picture myself ending my career. I self reflected. I realized that the ideal big college experience I thought I was going to have, was not for me. I needed a sport in my life. So, I chose SXU to continue to play softball.

I felt that I wasn’t allowing myself out of my comfort zone or allowing any change in my life by choosing to play a sport. I was mad I chose the safe option. However, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. I am so glad I continued to play the sport I love. If you ever feel like you’re at a peak in life, or the climax, and you’re convinced it is only going down from there, just feel it out. You never know what will come from your peak.

Wrapping up