Just a few weeks after National Softball Day, here's a huge thank you to the sport I fell in love with at the young age of four and never looked back.

In the words of Sue Enquist, a former UCLA Softball Alumni and Coach, "the game will always be there for you." As I have grown up, I've learned to see that statement as true. The game has been by my side since I began. The softball field is where I learned I could be myself, have fun, learn, and if I needed to escape the reality of life, just being around the presence of a softball field made my life just that much better. I learned that no matter how poorly I played, or how mad I was for my performance, or if I were mad at something else, and I chose to take it out on the game, the game itself never left me. I learned to be a leader on the field while catching and that is now becoming transferable in life, where I am a leader now, and not a follower.

As a young adult, growing up I often wondered why I picked the sport I did, I mean out of every option I had to chose from, I chose the sport with a twelve-inch yellow ball, sixty foot base paths, and a distance of about 220 feet to the center field. But, reaching the age of 16, I realized I picked the sport that I loved, but I also thought loved me back. I learned to have respect for the game, and my opponents. I learned to have a relationship with the game, one that only I, number 88, would be able to understand. I learned to love this game for all of its highs; great memories, awesome teammates, making unbelievable plays and clutch hits. But I have also learned to love this game for its not-so good attributes; from making errors, striking out and losing the game for the team.

This game of mine, has truly taught me so many life lessons within itself, and I have honestly, learned to love this game for all possible parts of it. I never once thought about quitting, because the game has never left me, and I should never leave it, not for all the positives it has brought into my life, and how much it has helped me grow up. I picked this sport because I knew I could make it mine, and I am so blessed to be able to wake up each day, and live out my dream of playing competitive softball, and being part of something bigger than myself, a team. Here's to hopefully fulfilling my dream of one day, getting able to play the greatest sport in the world in college.