Brett Brakel Memorial Scholarship

Softball has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been a place where I’ve grown, been challenged, and discovered who I am. My time on the field has shaped my character in countless ways, teaching me lessons I carry into every part of my life. It has helped define my work ethic, strengthened my resilience, and showed me the power of mentorship, perseverance, and community—values that align deeply with the spirit of the Brett Brakel Memorial Scholarship. From the first time I stepped onto the field, I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. Softball taught me how to be a team player—how to trust others, communicate effectively, and work toward a common goal. I learned that it’s not always about personal stats, but about doing what’s best for the team. That mindset has shaped how I approach life. Whether I’m working with classmates, volunteering in the community, or supporting students with special needs, I always try to show up with the same level of commitment and teamwork that softball taught me. The game has also taught me the value of perseverance. There have been moments of struggle—times when I struck out in a big game, made an error in the field, or felt like I wasn’t performing at my best. But through those moments, I learned to keep pushing forward. Softball taught me that failure isn’t the end; it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and come back stronger. That lesson applies far beyond the field. It’s helped me stay focused in school, navigate personal challenges, and remain driven toward my goals even when things get hard. One of the most powerful aspects of softball has been the relationships I’ve built along the way. I’ve had coaches and teammates who believed in me, encouraged me, and helped me become not just a better player, but a better person. Their mentorship showed me how impactful it is to have someone in your corner, and it’s inspired me to be that person for others. Whether I’m mentoring younger players or helping students with special needs, I try to lead with patience, encouragement, and heart—just like my coaches did for me. These experiences have shaped my goals for the future. I want to build a life and career rooted in service, leadership, and compassion. I plan to work in education or social services, where I can continue making a difference in the lives of young people. The lessons I’ve learned through softball—resilience, teamwork, and the importance of community—are lessons I’ll carry into every role I take on. In honor of Brett Brakel’s legacy, I hope to continue making an impact both on and off the field. I want to be the kind of person who lifts others up, who mentors with intention, and who never stops working to bring people together. Softball helped shape the foundation of who I am today, and I will carry those values with me always.

Baseball and teaching has always been a part of my life. My dad is entering year 35 of coaching baseball and year 30 of teaching, while my mom just retired from teaching. Before I got to college, I never saw myself being a teacher. I switched from playing baseball to coaching and realized teaching and coaching was what God wants me to do. Baseball was always my escape from life. I lost 2 grandpas, and the next day I would go play and it would allow me to forget about it for a small period of time. My grandma was going through cancer last year, I would go coach and it would let me forget about it for a while. Even though I used baseball as an escape, I learned a lot during my time playing. The sport taught me how to be a good teammate, which turned into how to be a good friend. It taught me to hold my teammates accountable and be a leader, which led into me wanting to be a teacher. In my first year of being a head coach of the Legion team in my area, I learned that every kid is different and needs to be taught different ways. Which also helped lead me to want to be a teacher. Working with Parkway South, I have learned from people on how to build a program. Also simple life skills like budgeting, organization skills, travel itineraries, how to recruit kids to your team, and even things like planning out a camp or a practice. I have always struggled in school. I was the kid who would stay after with teachers to get help because I could not figure out what we were doing. One teacher changed the way I looked at things. As I started college, I started to realize that everything he said made sense and it helped me become the student I am now. I am no longer the kid who has to ask a million questions or to meet with the teacher to understand what I am doing. Taking everything I have learned from baseball, and my parents along with my history teacher, helping kids was just in the cards for me. I believe God put me in this position to be a positive impact in the life of students to help them. Whether it be their baseball skills or their education. I firmly believe I can make a impact on kids lives and I am excited to graduate, get my first teaching/coaching job, and to help as many people as possible.