How Has Softball Impacted My Life

Softball Field of Dreams: How the Sport Impacted My Life
The smell of freshly cut grass. The taste of ranch sunflower seeds. The feeling of diving for the ball. The sound of a base hit. The sight of smiling teammates. Nowhere in the world do I feel more comfortable than on the softball field surrounded by twenty-three girls I now consider my sisters. Softball has always been my first love. I vividly remember watching the sport growing up and wanting to be out there on the field. Athletes like Cat Osterman and Jennie Finch were my role models for the sport. They taught me passion and respect for the game that has never wavered. Softball has given me the opportunity to travel, compete, and discover myself in ways that school could never teach

me. The softball field is where I am perfectly content because it provides me with a place to learn, relax, and be 100% authentic.
Softball is a game of failure.

If you are not willing to put in the extra work, progress will never be made. Thus, I view softball as an instrumental learning tool that has shaped me into who I am. I have learned more than the fundamentals of the game; I have learned how to overcome adversity as well as the rewards of hard work. Adversity comes in many forms – a hitting slump, losing a starting position, an injury, etc. – and the field is where all my issues seemed to be resolved. Whether it is more batting practice or a confidence boost from a teammate, success comes from working hard. Because of the hardships on the field, I have been able to translate the valuable lessons into the real world and plan to take them with me in my future career. I have learned that I am stronger than I previously thought, regardless of the challenges that lie ahead. I have become aware that being successful is not given but earned. I have realized that life and softball have more in common than I initially

realized.
Although softball seems to bring about hardship, the field gives me the ability to destress. When I am feeling drained or having a tough day, the softball field has always been an escape. I am relaxed at the field because I am reminded that the game of softball is not life or death. It brings me back to the little girl that fell in love with the game for reasons far bigger than winning or losing. Having a catch with friends or hitting the perfect pitch helps me forget about my other responsibilities for an hour or two. The field represents an oasis where I am at peace. In other words, it gives me an outlet to be completely reassured that everything will eventually work out.
Lastly, the softball field has seen my most genuine laughs and tears.

Softball has filled me with some of my life’s highest of highs and lowest of lows. I joke that some of my teammates know me better than my long list of extended family. I love that the softball field is like a second home where I can be myself with no judgments. Entering college, I had an easier transition because of how comfortable I was on the field as part of the team. I felt as though I had so much in common with my teammates because we had made it to this point in our career. Even though we all had unique backgrounds, we put aside our differences for the few hours each day we spent on the field together. Being a part of a team has become second nature to me, and it allows me to be able to work alongside people with different experiences for one common goal. I will always be grateful for the safety blanket that the field, along with my teammates,

represent.
Overall, the softball field has been home to some of my biggest life lessons. I attribute my success in life thus far to the person the sport has molded me to be. I hope that one day the lessons instilled in me through this sport and on that field carry over to my future career in healthcare. In a year from now, when I hang up my cleats, I know that I have given my all to the sport. However, I never anticipated how much the sport would give to me in return. I will miss the feeling of being on the field every day, but I know that whenever I return, the emotions will all flood back. I will feel perfectly content knowing that after years of hard work, the field will still represent a place to grow, unwind, and reflect.