Wednesday, October 12, 2011

College Draft

a.) this essay rose to the top because the other ones weren't very good. b.)this essay describes me effectively. c.) in this essay i need to work on my repetitiveness and my grammar. d.)is it clear what i value in life?


Values


Placement is everything. Speed is everything. Consistency is everything. It’s true, as a pitcher placement, speed, and consistency are very important, but in my mind I know that confidence is the key. All I need is one strike, and if I don't throw it then the game is in jeopardy. I could try to place the pitch, I could try and throw the pitch as hard as I can, but if I let my instinct take over and just let it fly, I know that I’ll be alright. I wiped the sweat from my forehead, and I felt the sting of my hand wiping across my perspiring face. I stepped on the mound and got my sign from the catcher. I could feel my instinct kicking in, I blocked the crowd’s noise and I zoned in on the catcher’s mitt. I began my windup and it seemed as though time slowed down. The ball rolled off of my fingertips and the friction from the seams aggravated my already blistered hand. All I could do now was watch, watch and hope. The ball cruised in to the bottom left of the strike zone as the umpire signaled and yelled "Strike Three". Instantly a feeling of success swept over me because my human instinct prevailed.
Since the first signs of life were evident on Earth, human beings have been the superior species. What makes them superior? Human beings are unlike any other creature. Not because they are physically different, but because they are mentally different. Humans have a much greater capacity for knowledge and sense than most other creatures do. Human beings are logical when it comes to solving problems, and that is the difference that separates us from other creatures.
                Much like any currency human beings have value to them. What makes a human being’s life valuable is based upon what that human being has accomplished. To accomplish certain things one must be a well rounded individual who must be able to overcome adversity. Adversity is what separates the boys from the men so to speak. Achieving value in life is contingent upon whether or not you can rise up in the face of adversity or not. Being able to confront adversity is a great accomplishment and it shows true character.
                Over the past years I have been getting much better at confronting adversity and overcoming challenges. Frequently I have been finding myself confronting these challenges and I don’t even know it. An everyday challenge to me could include solving a complicated problem for school, standing up for someone, standing up for yourself, being honest in a situation, a sporting event, and especially overcoming self doubt. Through facing adversities I have been able to boost my confidence and terminate my self-doubt. As a baseball player I know a lot about having confidence. When you’re hitting you always need have confidence in yourself, if you don't then you will never hit the ball. You need to go up to the plate every time expecting to succeed. If you doubt yourself for the slightest moment, you won't be able to hit the ball. Through this method of thinking I am able to be successful at baseball.
                The ultimate test for man truly is a confidence check to see if they have what it takes. The most successful people in the world overcame insurmountable challenges to get where they are today. I truly admire people with the drive and ability to overcome these obstacles and to reach for their dream or to stand up for what they believe in. To me, these are the human beings who have value, and I hope through my future challenges I am able to garner value.