I've played softball practically my whole life. For as long as I can remember I've been a softball player, my best friends are softball players, and even though I'm no longer playing competitively I will always consider myself a softball player.
I had the pleasure of playing with the same group of girls from 10U rec ball, to travel, to junior high and all the way through high school. These lovely ladies will always hold a special place in my heart. Together surrendered our right to playing for ourselves to play for each other, our team. Through this process we not only built everlasting friendships but we got to build a legacy at our school. We won countless championships and made it our goal to always be the best. These girls are my sisters. I even got the pleasure of signing my letter of intent to play college softball along side these talented athletes that I've known for what feels like my whole life.
From the time I was 4 years old to now I have had nothing but love for my game. My best friends have always been my teammates and for the most part they still are. Then one day, I wasn't technically a softball player anymore...
I played my two years of college ball at my junior college and had made the decision to hang up my cleats to focus on finishing my degree. I was at a new school, a bigger school, and I knew no one. For the first time in my entire life, I didn't have a team. It was weird being here and in the beginning it nearly broke my heart because, for the first time in my entire life... I had to actually make friends.
And let me tell you, it wasn't as easy as it seems (especially when you're a girl, girls aren't always friendly). As an athlete I've always surrounded myself with other athletes so when I got to this school, it became very clear I wasn't one of "them" anymore I was just a regular student. It took awhile for me to find my nitch here. I kept trying to befriend people I thought I was suppose to fit in with and that was my biggest problem.
The people I ended up becoming friends with are very far from anyone I've ever associated myself with. That's when I realized I wasn't just a softball player, there was a lot more to me than a bat and a glove. Don't get me wrong I will always be a ball player and I will always love the game. However, I went from thinking the end of my career was the end of my life... to this is just the beginning of who I am.
It was almost like I had this moment of awe where I realized I'm not just this one thing. Often times we limit ourselves and even other people to a single definition of who they are, to a solitary label on a person made of more than just one thing. The girls close to me here are the farthest thing from my teammates but to be completely honest I think that's why I love them so much. I've discovered a part of me that isn't tied to the game. I no longer think of myself as one single definition.
Hanging up my cleats for good might have been the hardest thing for me to do but it was also freeing at the same time. I miss the smell of my leather glove, the feeling of the seems on my finger tips, the endless bus rides to tournaments and making music videos with my team. However, as much fun as all of that was life on the other side is pretty fun too.
I was an athlete, I'm not anymore. Coming out of my comfort zone was hard, but I think this is how I know I'm growing up. I'm discovering things about myself I never knew, befriending people I would've never talked to, people who just might become as big a part of my life as my softball sisters.
I've dedicated most of my life to the game but the beauty of the end is... It's only the beginning.
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1. The Freshmen 15? It's real.
WARNING: The buffet style campus dining spots are a TRAP. If you're eating and out drinking on the weekends, it is EXTREMELY LIKELY that you're going to gain a little bit of weight. Gaining weight isn't really a bad thing, but staying healthy is definitely important. Take a walk or a run to even out that junk food intake, but feel free to sneak that late night five-cheese panini at 1AM.
2. Make friends with some of your floormates.
Your first year of college is arguably the most memorable time of your college life. You live with your floormates for two semesters, and you see them in the hall all the time. Make it a point to say "what's up", it'll definitely make your year more fun.
3. College is hard. Don't sell yourself short.
Higher education. It's not high school, your professors are a little less prominent than your HS teachers. This being said, you are responsible for your own eucation. It's a little hard having all this freedom and responsibility for (probably) the first time in your life, but it's important to realize that it's a little harder because you're sort of on your own.
4. You don't HAVE to have sex to "get it over with".
This is IMPORTANT. Deciding to have sex when you get to college? Cool. Deciding you want to wait? Awesome. Having sex because you just want to get it over with? Hm, think about that. Your decision is your decision, but if you're iffy about entering the "college hook-up culture", PLEASE really think about how important it is for you to have sex.
5. Be careful who you hook up with and who you open up to.
As I said earlier: beware of the infamous "college hook-up culture". IMO, it's a chance for college guys or gals to lead the other on (the majority of the time). It's not possible to control your feelings, but it's possible to cut a hook-up off/talk about how you feel. Better for you in the long run, trust me.
6. Work around scheduling a class before 12PM.
You might have the idea that, "Oh, I got up at 8AM in high school. I can do it again." No. No, you can't. I have very little explanation for this. You'll enjoy the extra sleep. If you don't believe me, schedule a morning class, and see how you feel.
7. Dress how you want to dress.
You wanna dress up? Slap on some make up, put on some heels, and head to your lecture. You were up late last night? Roll out of bed in what you fell asleep in last night. The good thing about college? You realize that no one is really focused on you, so it's a good time to just "do you" and rock it.
8. The drinking every chance you get? Not healthy. Stop that.
9. When you DO go out, be safe.
Check your drink, make sure you're pacing yourself, don't wander home by yourself, etc. The essentials.
10. Spend your money frugally.
Living the ramen/ easy-mac life is a real thing. There's a reason why it's a college student's go-to: it's easy to make, and it's cheap as heck. It's important to practice money saving tips- even though it seems almost impossible.
11. Those events your RA hosts? Go to them. Some of them are awesome, some offer free food.
As a poor college student, the word free resonates in all of our ears. RA events are not only a gateway to free food, but are also a way to meet more people on your floor/ in your building.
12. It's not all about school- enjoy yourself.
College is a new time in your life where you're working towards your future, but it's also a time where you meet people and have experiences like no other. Let yourself breathe sometimes, and just enjoy this experience.
What about combined income from two minimum-wage workers? Wouldn't that put them above the poverty line? In a nuclear family with two working parents and two children, their combined yearly wage would be about $30,160. That's only $7,846 above the poverty line. Now, let's take into account rent, food, gas, utilities, car insurance, health insurance, school supplies, clothes, and tuition. Try and see how $30,160 would cover all those expenses in a year – it doesn't. The minimum wage is not a living wage.
The minimum wage is not a living wage.
StableDiffusion
Here are some myths that I would like to present and debunk:
Raising the minimum wage will kill jobs. This is false. In a March 2011 report, the Center for Economic and Policy Research concluded that raising the minimum wage would not only help workers but actually have the possibility of increasing job openings. Better pay leads people to spend more money, and the cycle repeats.
"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."
influential nations
StableDiffusion
On June 2, 2014 , Seattle changed the city's minimum wage to $15 dollars. Following that procedure, unemployment decreased 17.46 percent – falling from a previous 6.3 percent to 5.2 percent.
Raising the minimum wage will hurt small business. Not only has a higher minimum wage worked in cities across the United States, but a 2006 study by the Center for American Progress and Policy Matters compared small business performances and found that the small businesses who paid the higher wages were more profitable.
Mostly teenagers work minimum-wage jobs. Again, this is false. Half of minimum-wage workers are 25 years old or older. Most minimum-wage workers support their family on this income – and 28 percent of these individuals have children.
Raising the minimum wadge
The minimum wage is not sufficient to uphold and support an individual, especially individuals with families. I've often heard: "It isn't fair that someone working in a fast food restaurant will get paid the same as a college professional!" If we raise the minimum wage to, let’s say, $11 an hour, it would still be a lower amount than that of a college professional. Even so, someone not having a college degree doesn't make their worth any less valuable. Nobody deserves to live in poverty. Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet. We are a nation of equality and opportunity – it's time to let some of that opportunity flow.
What is the current minimum wage at the federal level?
Federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour. Many states also have minimum wage laws, and the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages. (U.S. Dept. of Labor)
What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?
A higher minimum wage means less workers living below the poverty line, more workers being able to make ends meet and potentially spend beyond that, and workers would be more productive upon the increase.
What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?
California is at $15.50 per hour, Washington is at $15.74, and Massachusetts is at $15. These are the only states to have a $15 minimum wage as of Jan. 1, 2023. (The Economic Policy Institute Tracker)
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