United Pitching Academy Softball Leadership Award

A pitcher is the at the center of the field, all eyes are on them every pitch. To be a pitcher you have to practice harder than all your teammates on the field, to be a great pitcher you have to practice harder than everyone else. I started pitching in 5th grade, and I did not have the skills or dedication at first. I thought it would just be a fun thing. I was okay, I didn’t learn much and had horrible attitude issues until 7th grade. I distinctly remember a coach saying to another girl who was trying out for his team I was uncoachable. That was the day I decided to pull my head out of my butt and work hard without complaint. It was hard at first but It is so much more rewarding to be able to push past the struggles I once allowed to control me to become a better person and athlete. I have improved myself and try to get others who I see acting like I once did to see it does not help. I currently give pitching lessons and a lot of the girls I give lessons to remind me of my younger self in that regard, and I am learning how much of a pain I really was. Since improving my attitude, I have also been able to deal with hardships throughout my softball career. Unfortunately a lot of my coaching has been difficult, I know what I deserve and often coaches make empty promises. I have recently learned to stick up for myself in relation to that, speaking my mind when I believe situations are unfair. A few years ago I would have sat and taken it, but as I have grown as a pitcher I have also learned what I deserve and what I have accomplished is worth my coaches time. Noticing I am worth a coaches time instead of sitting in my own self-pity and ignoring situations when I know they are not right is just something I have grown to do. People look up to me for this, knowing I would stick up for them just as I have myself. This is what makes me a phenomenal leader and great to hold the pitcher position, as at the center of the field I am able to lead rather than cower when it gets hard. I have since been committed to play softball at the next level, and am going to attend a small division 3 school. I plan to lead my team to future wins and continue to improve my skills. The money from this scholarship I would use to help pay for my tuition as I have not quite gotten enough scholarship money to be able to afford school just yet. I am going to school to study Speech Pathology, and to lead and help people is what I am best at and what softball has taught me to love doing.