Many people my age get asked, "What is your major or what do you want to do once you're finished with school?" Personally, my response is usually quite simple as I reply, "I dunno," but then when I really think about what it is that I know the most about it is never a subject in school, in fact school can't teach what I know the most about.
What I "know" is baseball, it is a sport I was raised with.
I have played it year around for as long as I can remember, so what I know is not some equation in math or an element from the periodic table, but how to play, run, organize, lead, and manage a baseball team.
I have played the game of baseball my entire life and I am now entering a new chapter in my life at 22 years old where the game is about to be taken away from me, at least being able to play the game.
I'm going to have to make many decisions in my near future from where am I going to live, get a job, and financially support myself on my own.
All of these things absolutely terrify me, however I feel that I will be tough enough to handle whatever is thrown my way.
As a college athlete, you learn that not many people have to go through some of the things you have to.
For example, waking up at 4:15am just to get your body brutally punished through non-stop weight-training and running to then having to endure three full classes, practice, and homework to top it off your day.
It is going through days like these that make you mentally and physically strong.
As a 5th year senior on the Western Carolina baseball team, I have managed to graduate in four years with a 3.
6 GPA in Sport Management after previously attending two different schools in two different states for my first two years.
I have had many bumps in the road to get where I am now, but the one thing that has never left my side has been baseball.
I have been told that playing a sport will help you become a better leader and help you learn how to work with others once you have a job.
I personally tend to agree with this statement as I feel that there many similarities in how an athletic team and business operate.
So, as I continue to search for my next career path, I know that I will be able to look back on all the people, players, coaches, and managers I have played for and with and learn from them.
One thing I have been able to take in is how different types of people react to punishment, criticism, and other verbal directions given to them by coaches and even peers.
Being a part of so many teams has allowed me to see these different reactions and has helped me learn how to approach different personalities.
All in all, baseball has been a part of my life for a long time and whether it will continue to be or not is still up in the air.
But I do know that I have learned many life lessons through playing the game and I hope that I will be able to use some of those lessons to help me become a successful leader and business owner.