Invaluable Life Skills Learned From the Varsity Baseball Team

Baseball has been a significant part of my life since grade school and has had a profound influence on my growth and development. It has taught me valuable life lessons that extend beyond the confines of the playing field and provided me with opportunities to take on leadership roles. Baseball instilled in me qualities such as discipline, perseverance, time management, and resilience.
In my freshman year of high school, I was one of two freshmen selected to play on the varsity baseball team. On one hand, I was thrilled to be part of the varsity team, but on the other hand, I was somewhat apprehensive because I was surrounded by physically more developed, experienced, and skilled players. However, because I knew many of my teammates from playing with North Park Little League I was able to form bonds and establish rapport within the team.
Overall, being part of a varsity baseball team taught me invaluable life skills that extend far beyond the confines of the game. It taught me the value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. These lessons continue to shape my approach to challenges and opportunities, both on and off the baseball field.
Being a part of the varsity baseball team taught me a great deal about the game and the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and adaptability.
Unfortunately, during my sophomore year, I suffered an elbow injury that prevented me from pitching and playing in the outfield. While this setback was disappointing, it provided me with a different perspective on the game. I learned to approach baseball from a strategic standpoint and focused on improving my hitting and baserunning skills, which allowed me to continue contributing to the team's success.
(Talk about what I learned from being a part of varsity baseball skills, position, coach’s name (i.e. being injured taught me a different approach to baseball.) elbow/no outfielding
-Talk about how I still contributed to the team by hitting and baserunning.
In my Junior year, the idea of creating a baseball mentorship program started to take shape. I envisioned creating a varsity baseball mentorship program that would create a bridge between North Park Little League and San Diego High School. To turn this idea into a reality, I started developing the mentorship program. I wanted it to be more than just a way to teach kids how to play baseball. I wanted it to be a platform that fostered inclusivity, teamwork, and personal growth. With these goals in mind, I reached out to Greg Spielman, the president of North Park Little League, and outlined the structure and objectives of the mentorship program. Initially, Mr. Spielman did not respond to my emails, so I contacted him multiple times. When he responded, I was invited to present the program to the Board of Directors four weeks later. To make a compelling case, I prepared for the presentation by formalizing the structure and objectives, obtaining the commitment to participate from varsity teammates, and support from San Diego High School. I explained to the Board that my vision was to create a program that supports Little League coaches and provides vetted varsity baseball players with the opportunity to give back to the community and programs that brought them up. The benefits of the mentorship program would be multifaceted, in that it would positively impact both the young Little League players and the varsity players involved. I highlighted how the program would not only enhance the baseball skills of the younger players but also instill values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership.
-Overuse of mentorship
- Involve texting Mr. Spielman multiple times to get the presentation
-Get the reactions from the board.
-Talk about the management of the program
-Action verbs (i.e. needs of the teams, in communication with coaches, and suggestions)
-More details of the program itself
Looking back on my journey from playing in grade school to joining the varsity baseball team, I am proud to have taken the initiative to develop a mentorship (take out mentorship and focus on the volunteering aspect) program that has the potential to impact the lives of aspiring young players positively (Talk about how I gathered teammates who played different positions to fulfill player needs). It is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and a desire to give back to the sport that has shaped me into the player and person I am today.