"Build A Boat" by Colton Dixon brought words of encouragement during an uncertain time. Our Rodriguez High School’s Varsity Baseball team had finished the season as League champs, and my stats were among the Top 5. My confidence going into playoffs was short-lived. With one foul ball, I immediately lost feeling in my left hand. On the next swing, my bat flew out of my hands because I couldn't grip it. I immediately knew that something was wrong with my left hand and that I wouldn’t be able to finish the postseason. After multiple appointments with orthopedic surgeons and a CT scan, I learned that my left hamate bone was refractured and the next step was an excision surgery. My summer, once filled with college camps and showcases, was now slated for my recovery. I lost a crucial recruiting period and opportunities to follow up with college coaches. Around this time, the lyrics “Everything You say is gonna happen; Even though I haven't seen it yet” spoke directly to my heart. I have loved baseball since I was five and always knew baseball would be part of my future. However, my dreams of playing collegiate baseball seemed to be out of reach. My trust in God, His plans, and His timing never wavered, though. The song encouraged me to keep going even when it didn’t seem like things were working out for me to play college baseball. It could still happen. Once released to resume baseball, I worked on building back my strength and skills. As I continued my college search, God led me to a college where the head coach had already seen all he needed before my injury to offer a baseball scholarship. God’s plan was in the works even when I couldn’t see it.

Our Rodriguez High School Varsity Baseball team is close-knit. We are friends on and off the baseball field. Egos go out the window when we come together. Our talent, drive, and commitment to play the game as a dominating team led to a season with first-time Rodriguez High School athletic accomplishments. Our last season consisted of two perfect games, 23 consecutive wins, and the Monticello Empire League Championship title. Baseball is considered a game of failure, but I see it as a game of continual growth. No one will ever master the game of baseball. There is always room for improvement. I love that about this sport. Just when you think you have mastered your skills, there is something around the corner that will knock you down. You are continually challenged to grow and improve and there are no guarantees. You’re constantly working as an individual and a team, as every little detail matters. We all need to work on our position-specific skills as we continue to build our trust and team camaraderie. This is a game that requires everyone on the team to come together, whether you’re in the dugout encouraging your teammates on the field or players on the field. The Giants are my favorite team because watching them for the first time was what drew me into baseball. One day, my dad and I went to Bass Pro Shops and grabbed a bite to eat at Chilis before the hour-and-a-half drive home. Playing on one of the television screens was a Giants’ game. My eyes immediately fixated on the pitcher, Tim Lincecum. I was awestruck by the movement of his body and the way he pitched that ball so that the batter could not hit the ball. From that day on, I have followed and cheered for the Giants. As I started to follow the Giants, I went to a Giants vs Phillies game in San Francisco. As the catcher, Buster Posey, came onto the field, he caught my attention. He wore my favorite number 28, my birthdate. His gear also fascinated me. Buster Posey has been my favorite player since that day. He is a phenomenal player on the field and an inspiring person on and off the field. His ability to control the field; his presence; his catching and hitting; and his character make him my favorite player of all time. Being a catcher is second nature to me and part of who I am. There is no other position I’d rather play. Since the first day of Little League, I’ve been in love with catching. There’s nothing like the feeling of the ball lodging perfectly into the pocket of my mitt. As I progressed into travel baseball, I improved my receiving, transfer, and blocking skills. Throwing opponents out as they attempted to steal bases started to become a regular occurrence. Pitchers love it when I remove players off the bases because it relieves stress and shifts the momentum. As a catcher, it’s one of the best feelings to know your hand transfer, footwork, accuracy, and strength beat the speed of the runner. I love the leadership aspect of catching. You are the only player that is involved with every pitch. You control the tempo of the game by how quickly you throw the ball back to the pitcher, with the pitches you call, and the vocal direction you give your teammates on the field.

The change I would love to see in our community, the country, and the world is for everyone to love like Jesus. If we could learn to truly love one another and treat each other with kindness, compassion, and respect, all the issues and conflicts that currently exist could be resolved. To name a few, racism, judgment, harassment, and mistreatment would be fleeting memories of the past. When people know in their core that they are worthy and loved just as they are, they will pay it forward by caring for and loving others. Every Saturday that I am available, I volunteer at We Love Our City Adopt-a-Block. We love our cities and are taking responsibility for them. We connect resources to the under-resourced by sorting through, crating, transporting, and distributing fresh produce and dry goods to blocks in Solano County. Our mission is to create an atmosphere of change in our community by adopting underserved neighborhoods and the individuals and families who live in these areas. When people are seen and served, space is created for genuine and authentic connections to form. At first, the residents at the Sunnyside block were cautious with their interactions with us, but over time, they anxiously awaited our arrival each week. The food we brought made a difference in their lives. It lessened the burden of the high cost of groceries. The way we greeted them with a smile and volunteered to carry their groceries to their doors showed them how we care for them and their needs. It may seem like it’s just a block that is being served, but those people who serve and are served interact in circles outside their block. Each will bring the love and light they receive elsewhere.

Engineering applies scientific principles to troubleshooting, designing, building, and implementing solutions. I am passionate about studying mechanical engineering so that I can make an impact in this world while pursuing something I have always been drawn to. I have always had a passion for understanding how things worked mechanically. Ever since I was young, I learned how bikes worked and watched my dad work on cars. As I got older, my dad let me help him with bike and car repairs and maintenance. The more experience I gained from working with him, the more I fell in love with learning and the more I wanted to learn. I cannot wait to immerse myself in studying mechanical engineering in college. With a college degree in mechanical engineering, I plan to apply my knowledge and experiences in the automobile industry. With gas prices rising, limited resources, and global warming, I envision leading a team designing more efficient, cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and durable automobiles. Engineering will be the vehicle that open doors for me make a difference in this world and I will pave the way for others to do the same. I am beyond excited to see which doors open on my engineering journey.

A college degree opens doors. There are no guarantees with degrees, but there are opportunities. Although a college degree is only one factor in job placement and advancement within a company, it is usually one of the first steps to progress. I have witnessed firsthand how my father, who may not have a college degree but has a wealth of practical knowledge and experience, get surpassed by those who have a college degree and minimal work-related experience. It is heart-breaking and frustrating to see how even the most qualified may not necessarily receive the promotion or raise because that person does not have a college degree. One of his biggest regrets is that he did not go to college. It’s important to have studied your area of desired expertise in depth while in college. Attaining a college degree demonstrates that you have been able to complete a curriculum in a specific area of study. My desire to pursue a college degree also stems from seeing how my mother's college degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has allowed her to utilize her chemical engineering degree in various industries. The college degree was not what enabled her to pivot and excel in the refining, biotechnology, teaching, and entrepreneurship. Her degree showed others that she had a level of expertise in her area of study. A college degree may seem like a fancy piece of paper, but it represents years of college study and life-changing experiences. By attending college, I know that I will grow as a student, athlete, and person. I will be attending a college over 2300 miles from home, so it will be a season of growth and independence for me. You don't know what you don't know and I'm certain there are things my family has taken care of for me that I have not been aware of and have taken for granted. As I experience life as a college student in a different area of the United States, I will become exposed to a different culture and gain an appreciation for a different lifestyle. Lastly, I am pursuing a college degree so that I can make an impact in this world. I have always had a passion for understanding how things worked mechanically. With a college degree in mechanical engineering, I plan to apply my knowledge and experiences in the automobile industry. I envision being part of a team designing more efficient, cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and durable automobiles. A college degree opens doors and I am excited to see which doors open with my college degree.