Personal Narrative: My Challenger Baseball Journal

Key.Session1.Journal In my young life, I have been through many experiences that have altered my path and my thinking in some fashion. There is one experience in particular that stands out the most. I was a 16-year-old student athlete with no real worries or responsibilities. All I cared about was being the best baseball player I could possibly be. Little did I know that this sport would present me with an opportunity to do something I had never thought of. The opportunity came to me when I was asked by a family friend to help with the Challenger Baseball Program. This program was created to give kids with special needs a chance to play baseball. All of the participants have some sort of handicap and this program allows them to feel like a normal kid. Each player has a “friend” with them at all times. The “friend,” is a volunteer that goes to their position with them in the field and to the plate when they hit. They are there to assist the player in any way possible. I

I know that this event occurred 9 years ago, but I had to overcome some blinding obstacles and figure out what I was passionate about in life. Going to college straight out of high school was to chase a baseball dream and not an educational one. I wasted three years of a chance at an education by only worrying about baseball. After that, I chased money in the oilfield for four years and was eventually laid off. Being laid off was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. I thought a lot about what I wanted to do and that experience with the Challenger Baseball Program and Daniel stuck out. I finally knew what I was passionate about and what I was meant to do. Knowing that I am finally striving towards something that I am passionate about is what makes me extremely motivated to reach my goals to become an educator. The only thing that can stop me from achieving my goal is myself. That will never