Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Even though I have an older brother and sister, I never really lived with them because since they're much older than me, they moved out of the house for college and to pursue their dreams before I even got to middle school. Due to this, it was just my grandmother, mother, and I. I never had a father figure growing up. Therefore, my mom and grandma did as much as they could to make sure that I lived a better life than they did. And although it was very tough for them because we were poor, they still found a way to make it work. They would always look out for my best interest and would always be my motivation through hard times, especially when I played baseball. And even though they were both my motivation when it came to overcoming obstacles, things changed when my junior year of high school came along. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. At this moment in my life, I didn't know what to do because both of the people I lived with my entire life were gone. There weren't any words that could describe how I felt at the time. However, because I knew that life still goes on no matter the circumstance, I chose to keep on going and pull through. To make sure that I finished high school and wasn't put into foster care, my older brother chose to move back to my hometown and live with me until I turned eighteen. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season during my senior year. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, they gave me the motivation to "FIGHT" for the goal I want to achieve which is being that spark for other people to help better themselves and the people around them. Although my mother and grandmother are no longer here physically, I know for a fact that they'll always be watching over me and guiding me to the light. Even though my story is far from being over, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to achieve all of my goals and make sure that I inspire the people around me to do the same.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. I never had a father figure growing up so my mother and grandmother were all I really had. Although I do have an older brother and sister, I never really saw them because since they're much older than me, they moved out after high school for college and to pursue their careers before I even got to middle school. To make sure that I finished high school and wasn't put into foster care, my older brother chose to move back to my hometown and live with me until I turned eighteen. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, they gave me the motivation to "FIGHT" for the goal I want to achieve which is being that spark for other people to help better themselves and the people around them. Although my mother and grandmother are no longer here physically, I know for a fact that they'll always be watching over me and guiding me to the light. Even though my story is far from being over, I'm willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success in whatever career I choose to pursue and make sure that I inspire the people around me to do the same.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. Looking back on it now, I came to the realization that I can achieve anything I put my mind to as long as I stay disciplined, humble, diligent, and most importantly consistent. Although I still make mistakes to this day, I always try to learn from them so I can be able to not only gain wisdom but also grow as a person.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother didn't let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and be self-confident. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player/athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I got cut again. I became emotional and wanted to quit to solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being 100% healthy. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I plan on making a positive impact on the world by being that spark for other people and helping them shine their light to better themselves.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Growing up, playing sports was something that not only helped me stay active but also helped me put my worries to the side and just have a good time. However, as I got older, sports ended up becoming much more than that. Although I played a little bit of everything throughout my childhood, baseball was the sport I ended up sticking with. Baseball taught me how to be tenacious, self-disciplined, humble, diligent, and most importantly self-confident. But those weren't the only things I got out of that. Baseball was the reason why I took so many risks in my life that luckily ended up rewarding me in the end. Even when times felt tough, I knew that giving up was never an option. Choosing to keep going after facing adversity has helped me grow physically and even mentally. My experiences playing sports really shaped me into the person I am today and I am forever thankful for that. Facing adversity was an experienced I've encountered over and over again in my life. And even though I didn't always easily overcome the obstacles that came my way, I for sure ended up getting through them. Throughout my eighteen years of living, getting knocked down was something that happened to me very frequently whether it was in school, sports, etc. However, that never fazed me because I knew that pain was only temporary as long as I chose to get back up; and so I did. As many know, baseball is one of the only sports where an individual will fail more times than they'll succeed. And although many people choose to not play the sport because of that, the thing that many don't realize is that baseball isn't just a sport. In reality, It's life on a field. In life, those who choose to keep on going even after failing multiple times are the ones that end up becoming successful. And that is why baseball not only helps with humility but also character development. Although I no longer play baseball, every single memory I have playing the game will always be cherished. Also, all the lessons I've learned playing this sport will be used to better myself and the people around me. And although I still make mistakes to this day, my goal is to learn from those mistakes and grow from them. I am currently a freshman at Michigan State University majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on either becoming a sports medicine physician or a physical therapist. These two careers were always neck and neck for me because my dream was to always help athletes recover from their injuries so they can get back on the field healthy and hundred percent. Although I can't predict the future, I know for a fact that whatever career path I choose to pursue, I will for sure be great at it.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Growing up, playing sports was something that not only helped me stay active but also helped me put my worries to the side and just have a good time. However, as I got older, sports ended up becoming much more than that. Although I played a little bit of everything throughout my childhood, baseball was the sport I ended up sticking with. Baseball taught me how to be tenacious, self-disciplined, humble, diligent, and most importantly self-confident. But those weren't the only things I got out of that. Baseball was the reason why I took so many risks in my life that luckily ended up rewarding me in the end. Even when times felt tough, I knew that giving up was never an option. Choosing to keep going after facing adversity has helped me grow physically and even mentally. My experiences playing sports really shaped me into the person I am today and I am forever thankful for that. Facing adversity was an experienced I've encountered over and over again in my life. And even though I didn't always easily overcome the obstacles that came my way, I for sure ended up getting through them. Throughout my eighteen years of living, getting knocked down was something that happened to me very frequently whether it was in school, sports, etc. However, that never fazed me because I knew that pain was only temporary as long as I chose to get back up; and so I did. As many know, baseball is one of the only sports where an individual will fail more times than they'll succeed. And although many people choose to not play the sport because of that, the thing that many don't realize is that baseball isn't just a sport. In reality, It's life on a field. In life, those who choose to keep on going even after failing multiple times are the ones that end up becoming successful. And that is why baseball not only helps with humility but also character development. Throughout my years of playing baseball, there have been several times when I just wanted to quit. However, my mother and grandmother never let that happen. They always motivated me to continue going and not give up because they've always believed that it's important for me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. And because of that, I was able to learn so many key lessons that I plan on using for the rest of my life. Fast forward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University majoring in kinesiology. Although I no longer play baseball, every single memory I have playing the game will always be cherished. Also, all the lessons I've learned will be used to better myself and the people around me. Although my mother and grandmother aren't around anymore, they are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although my sports career is over, my dream is to inspire others to overcome their struggles and be the best people they could possibly be.

Since the age of four, baseball has been my passion. Growing up, I was always known for being the best on the field. However, everything changed when I got to high school. Although I was extremely excited to play baseball for my high school team in my freshman year, I, unfortunately, got cut from the team. Not making the team was something that I had never experienced before, and it greatly affected the assurance that I had in myself and my abilities. I felt like giving up. However, my mother and grandmother did not let me. They both told me that I needed to keep going and believe in myself. Therefore, I decided to take their words of wisdom to my advantage to grow my skills as a player and athlete. Because of my dedication and commitment to becoming a better player, I made drastic improvements. Going into my sophomore year, I felt better prepared for tryouts and was eager to show how much I had developed. Unfortunately, for the second time, I did not make the team. I became emotional and wanted to quit baseball and solely focus on my academics at this point. Again, my mom and grandma motivated me to continue going and not give up. They always inspired me to learn and grow from all situations that I encounter. Their belief in me allowed me to regain my confidence, pushing me to continue playing baseball. That year, I worked harder than before and pushed myself like I never had. As a result of my resolve and determination, my efforts were rewarded in my junior year, when I made my high school’s varsity baseball team and became a starter. As incredible as this achievement was, this joy was short-lived. Towards the end of my junior year, my mother passed away due to the Coronavirus. Losing my mother greatly impacted me, as she was my only parent, but most importantly, she was my motivation during hard times. At first, I was unsure how I would move on without her, but through the grief, her words of “keep going” carried on, and that's what motivated me to keep going. Although I thought things would get better, they, unfortunately, did not. Towards the end of my senior year, my grandmother passed away as well. Even though losing both my mother and grandmother in the span of only ten months while still in high school was the greatest setback I ever had, I knew for a fact that they both would've wanted me to keep on going and be great in everything that I chose to do. In honor of their memory, I graduated high school with a 4.1 GPA and ended up winning the Most Valuable Player Award for having an amazing baseball season. Fast Foward to the present, I am currently a Freshman at Michigan State University and I am majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on pursuing a career in physical therapy where I can help injured athletes regain the self-confidence needed so they can get back on the field playing better than ever while also being healthy and feeling 100%. Although the loss of my mother and grandmother were very sudden and tragic experiences for me, these events were what truly shaped me into the person I am today. They are still the spark that helps me find my way back when I feel lost and reminds me of what is important. And because of them, I want to give back to the community by being that spark for other people.

Growing up, playing sports was something that not only helped me stay active but also helped me put my worries to the side and just have a good time. However, as I got older, sports ended up becoming much more than that. Although I played a little bit of everything throughout my childhood, baseball was the sport I ended up sticking with. Baseball taught me how to be tenacious, self-disciplined, humble, diligent, and most importantly self-confident. But those weren't the only things I got out of that. Baseball was the reason why I took so many risks in my life that luckily ended up rewarding me in the end. Even when times felt tough, I knew that giving up was never an option. Choosing to keep going after facing adversity has helped me grow physically and even mentally. My experiences playing sports really shaped me into the person I am today and I am forever thankful for that. Facing adversity was an experienced I've encountered over and over again in my life. And even though I didn't always easily overcome the obstacles that came my way, I for sure ended up getting through them. Throughout my eighteen years of living, getting knocked down was something that happened to me very frequently whether it was in school, sports, etc. However, that never fazed me because I knew that pain was only temporary as long as I chose to get back up; and so I did. As many know, baseball is one of the only sports where an individual will fail more times than they'll succeed. And although many people choose to not play the sport because of that, the thing that many don't realize is that baseball isn't just a sport. In reality, It's life on a field. In life, those who choose to keep on going even after failing multiple times are the ones that end up becoming successful. And that is why baseball not only helps with humility but also character development. Although I no longer play baseball, every single memory I have playing the game will always be cherished. Also, all the lessons I've learned playing this sport will be used to better myself and the people around me. And although I still make mistakes to this day, my goal is to learn from those mistakes and grow from them. I am currently a freshman at Michigan State University majoring in kinesiology. After I finish school, I intend on either becoming a sports medicine physician or a physical therapist. These two careers were always neck and neck for me because my dream was to always help athletes recover from their injuries so they can get back on the field healthy and hundred percent. Although I can't predict the future, I know for a fact that whatever career path I choose to pursue, I will for sure be great at it.