Looking at me now you would have never thought I was an athlete.

I'm accident prone and can usually be found listening to show tunes. However, I played softball for ten years. I also consider one of my biggest accomplishments being the first person on my tee ball team to hit the ball without the tee. Without softball, I can safely say I wouldn't have the skill sets I have today. Thank you softball for the memories.

Thank you for teaching me character. Through softball, I had to learn to be a good winner, as well as a good loser. I was taught not to quit and always to keep striving for my goals. I tried out for my town's travel team twice before making the team but I kept going until I made it.

Thank you for showing me how to have courage. Softball taught me to be confident in my abilities. I had to have courage when I let the coaches take away the tee. I had to have courage whenever I had a catch with friends because I was scared of the ball.

Thank you for giving me amazing memories with my dad. My dad started off coaching my team as just something to do. He went on to become the manager and then managed the travel team as well. Eventually, he won manager of the year. Because of my years in softball, my Dad and I always have something to talk about and we can always have a good time.

The greatest lesson I learned was loyalty. For the years I played my best friends were the girls on my team. We would do anything for each other and were always there for each other. I didn't make the travel team when I tried out the first time, but I still went to their games and cheered them on.

Playing sports has given me memories to last a lifetime. To most people 15-0 means nothing, but to me that's the time my team went undefeated. That was the year we strived to be the best and would not settle for less.

Little League gave me the social skills, leadership skills, confidence, and courage to pursue everything I do now. I try to be as outgoing as possible and would never betray a friend. I take on leadership roles in many activities all because of what I learned from softball.

4-years-old me would never have thought that softball would have given me so much but here we are now. When I look back on childhood, I think of softball and I say thank you for the memories and the skills.