Growing up, family members, teachers and adults would always ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. My answer was always the same, “I want to be a pro baseball player.” Whatever your sport is, we all are driven by the dream of stepping onto a field in front of thousands of people. However, to make that dream a reality, you have to be good. Like, the top 1% of baseball players good. As time has moved on for me, I have begun to accept the fact that I will not be stepping foot on an MLB field as a player. 

This does not change the fact that baseball has been, and always will be, my favorite thing besides my friends and family. It’s something that has been in my family since before I was born, and something my dad and I have bonded over ever since I put on my first glove. He has always been my number one supporter; whether it is cheering me on from the right field fence, or being the first base coach on my little league team. I will never forget the countless Cardinals games I have been to with my mom, or the hundreds of Facebook posts that made me feel like I was Mike Trout. 

The thing I love about baseball the most, is that it teaches you so much about life. Baseball is literally a game of failure. The best hitters only get a hit three out of ten at bats. This game will make you feel like you are on top of the world one day, but will eat you up and spit you back out the next. One thing is for sure, you have to forget about the bad games, and continue having a positive attitude in order to succeed. I will forever cherish my time playing the greatest sport in the world.