Angelina Ruiz Blk.

4 UC Personal Statement Prompt 2 (Word Count = 628)

At a young age my family saw the potential in me to become a phenomenal athlete. At
the age of 11 I started playing travel softball for Salinas Force 12 and under. From that I
experienced a bump in my road to success. While playing, I had a coach that did not see the
potential in me for he always lowered my self-esteem because he never gave me the opportunity
to prove what I am capable of as an athlete. My coach would point out the negative in me and
never gave me the confidence I needed by sitting me on the bench.
I soon then continued to play the game I grew a passion but for a new team and coach. I
was the starting center fielder for the Salinas Wildcats 16 and under which I then gained more
confidence in myself and was able to prove my skills on the field. My coach gave me hope that
there was more in my future for me as an athlete that I saw for myself. He would pull me aside
telling me that even though I did not have the opportunity to shine before he knew I would make
a statement on the field. For he then pushed me everyday by going over the fundamentals,
making me condition, and helping me work with my mental game. He always told me how you
react mentally when you make mistakes defines who you are as an athlete, therefore, he told me
to never let the little things brings me down but only make me push harder.
For that I pushed myself harder every day as making the Varsity team for Everett Alvarez
High School. For all three years in high school softball I played starting short-stop and/or center
fielder. Over the course of three years I received First Team All-League, Best Offensive Player,
as well as honorable mention for all-county. I continued to get compliments from other coaches
and players from the opposing team. With that, it motivated me to push harder to be even better
knowing that others started seeing so much more in me than ever before.
With my last years of travel softball I played for Salinas Wildcats 18 and under with a
coach that inspires me still to this day. My coach knew I had more potential in me to become an
even better player than I was. When we first met he told me my speed would by my key to
getting a scholarship for college. I soon opened my opportunities in becoming a switch hitter
and starting short-stop for his team. When adjusting to new tools I started receiving emails from
scouts being invited to camps and scholarship offers.
From this experience I learned to work harder in order to increase my skill level. In the
beginning when I struggled, it led me to the person I am today reaching my desired potential. I
push myself harder everyday to succeed. I am proud of what I have accomplished due to the fact
I never doubted myself as an athlete and not letting the criticism stop me from accomplishing
what I had planned. With all the blood, sweat, and tears it has brought me to where I stand on the
field and hit in the lineup.
The game of softball has always been my escape to get away from all the struggles I have
faced with the separation of my parents. It has mentally prepared me by believing I can do
anything if I put my heart to it. The numerous amounts of opportunities I have been given gives
me hope and determination for my future and that is what keeps me moving forward through the
obstacles to accomplish to what I have set.