Growing up, softball was always my get away. I knew the second I stepped on the field and put on my cleats all my worries would be washed away. Just picture yourself sitting on the beach on a nice summer day, drinking your favorite drink and someone feeding you grapes. That, to me, is how I felt when I walked onto the clay.

I have always been the type of person who was able to make friends easily and get along with everyone. Playing softball at Sadie was the best time of my life. Everyone knew me, everyone always had smiles on their faces, and we just played softball for fun. We were also competitive but we knew how to keep friendships and our competitiveness separated.

I was always on the team where we would win 1st place in every tournament, undefeated throughout our whole season, on all stars every year. It was the life; knowing that every other team looks up to you, and every young softball player is watching you and learning from your every move. I always knew I wanted to play softball at a more competitive level. And for me, high school was the next step.

Going into high school I was so nervous and scared if I was going to make the softball team or not. I went and talked to the coach about when tryouts were and got all the information I needed. She was so nice and willing to inform me of everything. I was so excited and pumped to potentially get the chance to play at the next level in my softball career.

It was the day of tryouts I was nervous I wasn't going to make the team. I worked my little tail off to do everything I could to wear that maroon and white jersey. And I did just that. The next day I was informed I made the varsity softball team!

The coaches loved me, I had a good relationship with my teammates, and I was starting every game. It was great!

A few weeks had gone by, and coach soon noticed that I was not the type of person who likes to kiss butts to get a spot on the field. I was not the type of person to go sit in her classroom every class period and distract her from "teaching" her students. That was not me, and for that, it was obvious to me (and to everyone else) that she and her little puppets did not appreciate that. I would get rude comments said to me, and dirty looks were for sure her favorite. She could hardly even look or talk to me.

She took my get away right from under me and turned it into my worst experience. I dreaded going to practice or my games. I would pray that it would rain or something happened to where I did not have to see her face that day. She took softball away from me. The only reason why I stayed all four years through high school because the love and passion I had for the game was too strong to leave. I knew I could push it through just for a few years to keep playing the game I loved.

But I will end on this and say thank you. Thank you, for showing me that I can be the bigger person and not let someone get to me. You made me a strong person in the sense that I will not take anyone's pettiness to heart. I will never kiss up to someone just to get a position. I know how to work hard for what I want in life.