From making referee shirts with a black sharpie and randomly practicing my strike three call, I knew from an early age that officiating was a calling for my life. I umpired my first baseball game for Winfield Little League at the age of 13. One of the under-appreciated aspects of officiating is that you are able to watch young athletes develop a passion for their sport and enhance their abilities. Most of the games that I umpired were for the first-year player pitchers, so I helped the kids understand how to play within the rules of the game. Fast-forward six years later and these same kids are now playing their last home game as eighth graders, but the game almost didn't happen. I was traveling in from school when I received a call from the athletic director who informed me that there was a miscommunication that resulted in no umpires showing up! I rushed home, grabbed my gear, and went down to the field as fast as I could. When I walked onto the field, I received a standing ovation from the crowd, on both sides, which is a first-time (and probably only time) experience. It was truly an honor to umpire a game between two talented teams in our area, and while my ultimate goal is always to umpire with wisdom, fairness, and clarity with no interest in the outcome, it was an added benefit that a kid I had umpired since he could barely get the ball across the plate had a fantastic night on the mound. It was an unforgettable evening where many fans offered their gratitude on social media, but, for me, it was a special game where I was able to give back to the sport and community through a craft that I deeply cherish. Officiating has played a key role in my maturity. I have become a better communicator in various leadership positions and have exercised effective methods of acting as a fireman to extinguish the flames of tension during heated conversations. Officiating has allowed me to embrace the tenets of integrity by acting as an impartial enforcer of rules. This profession is also one that mandates humility and accountability where I have to understand that perfection is unattainable and that I must take on the responsibility of growing from mistakes and “failing forward.” Lastly, officiating has enabled me to cultivate a resilient attitude where I am able to thrive during high-pressure situations while also not becoming discouraged after making an unpopular ruling. My self-confidence has grown, and this makes me more willing to step outside of my comfort zone to reach my full potential. Officiating is more than just a part-time job; it is a driving force of my lifestyle! I hope to make officiating a lifelong pursuit. My ultimate goal is to officiate at the college level, which I hope to accomplish by attending numerous camps to learn from valuable constructive feedback. Understanding the dedication required, I am also going to focus on building rapport with fellow officials and pushing myself to the limit so that someday I will have the opportunity to officiate a state championship game. Lastly, I seek to start a nonprofit called “The Third Team” that will oversee weekend camps, offer officials equipment, and will provide officiating classes in high schools and colleges. In my short time as an official, the relationships, memories, and life lessons have already made me a more well-rounded person. I just hope to pay these experiences forward by being an enduring advocate of officiating and hopefully inspiring others to join this extraordinary family!