Introdcution
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I chose to write about softball because it is an activity I've spent more than 100 hours on in the last four years. I have dedicated myself to our high school softball and competition softball teams. Every spring, I lace up my cleats and step onto the field with a smile. Softball has shaped me and my future by showing me how to connect and work with others in situations of pressure and stress, as well as excitement and fun. Working with a team can show you how to be collaborative and engaged. In my years of playing softball, I have learned what it means to be a part of a team and how important it is to be confident in not only myself but also my teammates. I think this skill of teamwork I have acquired over the last four years will help me to be a good partner or team player in any situation I face in the future. Whether that be a project group in college or a team in a future profession. The pressure of being on the field when it feels like everything is on the line has helped me to work well under pressure and in stressful situations. I will be able to apply these skills to every aspect of my future. Although I will not be playing softball after high school, I can use my problem-solving skills and my teamwork to benefit myself and others wherever I end up. Being a part of a team has shown me kindness and hardship, and how to get over mistakes and make myself stronger. I hope to bring these skills with me when I leave home.
S2 is perseverant and resiliant in producing quality work.
Throughout my four years at SLV, I have been a part of the Girls' softball team. As a student-athlete, I have learned the importance of perseverance and resilience in striving for excellence in school and softball. As a softball player, I push myself day in and day out to be a stronger player and a stronger leader. In school, I use the resources around me to allow myself to strive and become the best student I can. When I was a sophomore in high school, I struggled in my math class. I was getting Cs on my tests and receiving low grades, something I try my best not to have. I was unimpressed with the C on my transcript, and I was discouraged. Instead of giving up, I persevered through this hard time and looked for resources to help me (S2). I sought out a tutor and made time to go, even if that meant not going to softball practice once a week. To be an athlete and a student, I had to find what worked for be to be able to strive in both. After a few weeks of tutoring I saw a significant change in my grade and my overall understanding of the class. Homework got easier, and my test scores improved. I watched my C move to an A. Not only did I receive an A, but I was also awarded the math department award from my teacher for showing resilience and perseverance (S2). After working hard on my math skills with a tutor, I was able to stop going to keep a good grade in math on my own. Now I dont miss practice and have more time to put into my team and my skills as a softball player. With this experience, I can show how I am resilient when I am met with challenges that make me feel discouraged and small, I can persevere and rise to the challenge. I can fight and come out stronger. I use this resilience in softball to push myself at practice and in games to produce quality at-bats and strong defense. I can use the skills I've built in school and in the field of being resilient and perseverant to always push myself to produce quality work and be a strong student and employee when I leave high school.
L3 demonstrates integrity and responsibility
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On the softball field, I carry the title of captain. I am a leader, I am followed and looked up to. I carry myself with confidence and pride to give my team confidence in themselves. Captain to some may mean best player, starter, or highest batting average. But to me, it means courage, kindness, hard work, and determination. It means being the first one on the field and the last one off. In my four years of playing high school softball, I haven't been a starter; there was always someone more skilled than me, and that is okay. I didn't pout or complain; I supported my teammates and worked harder. My freshman year I sprained my ankle playing soccer, so I was on crutches for the first few weeks of softball. I was behind, and I knew that, but I pushed myself that much harder to catch up. When I did, I was still often benched, but that didn't stop me from loving the sport and wanting to show up. I had fun being with my friends and playing the sport I loved. When I was still often sat or benched or a pinch runner in the following years, I still did not let it get me down. I was always supporting my teammates and in the game doing whatever I could to help. In games when I didn't play, I still found ways to be in the game, whether that be cheering and being loud and supportive or charting and keeping track of the other teams' offense. No matter where I was on or off the field, I was always in the game and always kept a positive attitude. Although being benched and overlooked can feel defeating and frustrating, I never let it get me down or stop me from working hard. I used it as motivation to build skills and become a leader. All that dedication and hard work, and perseverance through frustration put me in a position to be a leader. As a senior, I was awarded the title of captain. I take this as a sign that I was seen and my hard work paid off. I started in games, and I have a leadership role. With this experience, I have demonstrated integrity and responsibility (L3). I pushed myself to work hard even though I felt defeated or overlooked, and I showed responsibility by being responsible for how hard I worked and how I carried myself. I will continue to be responsible for my actions and not complain about my situation, but work harder to improve it. And I will continue to show integrity and work hard for the benefit of myself and my future teams.
V3 engages in collaboration
I have played softball for 8 years, 4 of them in high school. Softball and being on a team in general require teamwork. It also requires individual strength, but if you are individually talented without a well-connected and engaged team, then you are nothing. You know what they say, no “i” in the team. So in the last eight years, I have learned that Softball is a lesson in collaboration, communication, and trust. The game serves as a powerful reminder that success is rarely the result of individual effort alone. It is born from working together, supporting each other, and striving for a common goal. (V3) One of the ways softball makes me engage in collaboration is the need for communication on the field in a game setting. We practice communication every single day, and it is still one of the hardest things to push in a game. Whether that be because you are too hyper-focused on the play in front of you, or you can't drop a mistake you made. But without communication on a softball field, no one would know what to do. So, being connected and communicating with your teammates can save games. I know once in practice we stood on the field for two hours practicing the same 5 or 6 plays so we could get our communication right. I play first base, so I am the cut man from the outfield. It is a long distance from the outfield to home, and when I'm there to cut the ball, I have tunnel vision; I see nothing but the ball, so I fully rely on my catcher and other infielders to relay the message of where I need to throw the ball. The game is all about trust, I trust my team more than anything. With a team behind you that supports you and loves you, you can push yourself to be the best player and teammate. Because we work together to make each other better and make our team stronger. Having confidence in each other can boost confidence in individuals. Any way you support your team is collaboration and makes the team stronger, so always supporting and being kind is a way to push a strong, connected team. By playing softball, I engage in collaboration and communication. It has taught me so much, I can take my skills of trusting and communicating into my next steps in life.