Personal Narrative: How Baseball Changed My Life

My diverse summer was full of exciting and memorable experiences such as baseball, a
new job and incredible experiences with both new and old friends. From winning a
baseball tournament for the second summer in a row, learning multiple lessons on life and
friendship at a new job at Chick-fil-A, meeting a Red Bull sponsored eSports athlete to making
new friendships, my summer was full of new and old experiences. Though over too soon, I
can’t wait to relive these experiences through this essay.

Of all the different things I do each summer, baseball has been the one constant . For 11
years I’ve been playing baseball, and with all the different teams, teammates and coaches, I’ve
always loved the game, and that most certainly didn’t change this summer. One of the things I

love most about baseball is the family bond that I formed with teammates and coach. Through
ups and downs you’re always “there for” your teammates, both on and off the field. Whether
it’s problems in the family, injuries or just the typical baseball slump we got through it together
as a family.

Although we had a tough start to the summer as we lost a few nail biting games to
city rivals, we were able to come together as a family, get our heads right mentally, and
ultimately finish the season strong with a 37-15 record and a tournament win to cap it all off.
All in all, baseball has always been the one motivation, passion and love of my entire life, and
with this summer in the books, I can say without a doubt that that this will change.

Terrific as it was though, baseball does not even begin to explain my wonderful summer.
In late June of 2015 I applied to and was hired by Chick-fil-A Fort Collins. I wasn’t sure what it
was going to be like going in, but I was most certainly not expecting it to make the impact on
my life as it has. Whether it’s all the friendships that I’ve formed, the lessons I’ve learned from
my managers and boss or simply the money that I’m making, my new job was and is a very
educating and enjoyable experience this summer. I have learned so much about customer
service, hard work, excellence, and relationships this summer thanks to my job. But work isn’t
all about working and learning, is it? My job was much more than just work, it was

an
experience like none other. There were many days this summer where I was looking forward to
going to work and couldn’t wait to get there to see my friends and work a job that I truly
enjoyed in a Christian environment. All in all, my summer wouldn’t have been the same without
the friendships made and the lessons that I’ve learned working at Chick-fil-A, and I can’t wait to
see what God does with me there in the future.

All my life I’ve realistically only had one real friend. Having multiple friends has never
been something that I’ve ever been able to experience. But that all changed this summer. As I
was able to meet new people and form new relationships with people through experiences that
I will never forget. Whether it was meeting and getting to know Matt Haag, a Red Bull
sponsored online entrepreneur, and spending three weeks with him and two YouTube and
internet stars Jenna and Justine Ezarik in Los Angeles. To getting to know the Heideger’s, the
family of the college baseball player that we’ve hosted for the past two years. To getting to
know and spending a lot of time with friends from work such as Rachel, Lauren, Jared, Brittany,
two other Andrews and most importantly my special friend Alyssa, I’ve most certainly built
special relationships that I will never forget and can’t wait to grow with together in life. All in all
I am extremely thankful to God for all the friends that he has put in my life this summer
because without them my life wouldn’t be the way that it is today, and my summer wouldn’t
have been complete without them.

As much as I hate to say it, all good things do come to an end. My summer of 2015
was full of thrilling experiences that I’ve never been a part of and that I’ll possibly be a part of
again. Through the ups and the downs I’m very grateful for all that I experienced and how
much I grew as a man, as a friend, a brother and most importantly as a child of God. Looking
back at my summer makes me extremely thankful to my amazing family, wonderful friends and
gracious God as the experience would have been nothing without them. Goodbyes are
always hard. Whether they’re temporary or permanent no one wishes to ever have to utter
what can be the hardest word to say to someone or something they love. But with every door
God closes He opens another, and with every goodbye comes a hello. Even though I will never
forget everything and everyone that I love from this summer, and I hate to think that it’s gone, I
say goodbye and look forward to the future with the ones I love. Here’s to the summer of 2016.
May it come soon and be better than the last.