Ashton Chowning
College Prep English
Autobiographical Essay
September 21, 2016
Bats to Brushes
“You’re not ready.” The words that my father spoke countless times, the words that I wish I would have listened to that one time. The one time that I begged him to let me try out for a softball team an age group higher than me; the one time that I have an aspiration prove him wrong by making the team. The one time I pulled my miscues, causing my sports career to come to a quick halt. Although my keenness for softball dominated my life; I consider withdrawing from playing my favorite mistake because it has helped me find a love for the fine arts.
My passion started when I was just nine years old at my older brothers baseball game. My brother, Skyler, was a catcher; since I can remember, I would throw him baseballs before every game to help him warm up. One particular game Skyler’s coach stood and watched me throw to him. After watching us for a period of time, he stopped me, telling me I should consider trying out for the 10-and-under traveling girls’ team he had. I had played softball since I was seven, but on a local team, and I was now two years older. Immediately, I told my dad what Skyler’s coach had said to me, and he backlashed with, “You’re not ready”. Being the naive child I was, I told him I would prove him wrong. I was terrified when the tryouts came; I was shaking outrageously, I’m not sure how I threw the ball. After a week I went back to field to determine if I had made the team. As I looked at the piece of paper with names of the girls who made it, my heart sank more the further I read. Then, second to last was my name, I had made the team.
After making the team, I was nervous yet eager to discover what was to come. It was not until my first game when my team was behind by two points, and I hit a triple, that I realized that I had a keenness for softball. Being the youngest on the team, I was delighted to play but, in the fifth game of the season, I was determined to show the coaches I was meant to be on the field. Even though I worked harder than the majority of the girls on the team, my new coaches did not appreciate me. While on second base I tried to steal the base to reach third base, but the pitcher saw me. As she threw the ball the third base, I turned to sprint back to second; I was in a “pickle”otherwise known as being stuck between two bases, running back and forth. As I made my last turn, of my last play, I turned too quickly and tore my meniscus.
After that game, I wore a brace for a number of months but eventually ended up sustaining knee surgery when I was 11 years old. My recovery took a little over four months, and the coaches told me when I was healed I was welcome back to the team . After my four months of recovery, I fastened my brace and off to practice I went. After about four practices of pain and ice baths, I realized my softball career would have no choice but to come to an end. Leaving my team was one of the hardest experiences I have gone through. To this day I wish I would have fought through the pain, but quitting made me find a new love for the fine arts. When I was not able to walk for four months, I decided I didn’t want to sit around, so I started to draw.
My love for the fine arts has helped me surmount the sport that took over my life. I do not regret playing softball, without it I would not have found my true passion. The most important lesson I will take away from this experience is that having a change of circumstance and finding a new passion is alright. Hopefully, I will never stop seeking a new passion.I take tearing my meniscus as a sign that I will continue to find new passions under the circumstances life gives me.
College Prep English
Autobiographical Essay
September 21, 2016
Bats to Brushes
“You’re not ready.” The words that my father spoke countless times, the words that I wish I would have listened to that one time. The one time that I begged him to let me try out for a softball team an age group higher than me; the one time that I have an aspiration prove him wrong by making the team. The one time I pulled my miscues, causing my sports career to come to a quick halt. Although my keenness for softball dominated my life; I consider withdrawing from playing my favorite mistake because it has helped me find a love for the fine arts.
My passion started when I was just nine years old at my older brothers baseball game. My brother, Skyler, was a catcher; since I can remember, I would throw him baseballs before every game to help him warm up. One particular game Skyler’s coach stood and watched me throw to him. After watching us for a period of time, he stopped me, telling me I should consider trying out for the 10-and-under traveling girls’ team he had. I had played softball since I was seven, but on a local team, and I was now two years older. Immediately, I told my dad what Skyler’s coach had said to me, and he backlashed with, “You’re not ready”. Being the naive child I was, I told him I would prove him wrong. I was terrified when the tryouts came; I was shaking outrageously, I’m not sure how I threw the ball. After a week I went back to field to determine if I had made the team. As I looked at the piece of paper with names of the girls who made it, my heart sank more the further I read. Then, second to last was my name, I had made the team.
After making the team, I was nervous yet eager to discover what was to come. It was not until my first game when my team was behind by two points, and I hit a triple, that I realized that I had a keenness for softball. Being the youngest on the team, I was delighted to play but, in the fifth game of the season, I was determined to show the coaches I was meant to be on the field. Even though I worked harder than the majority of the girls on the team, my new coaches did not appreciate me. While on second base I tried to steal the base to reach third base, but the pitcher saw me. As she threw the ball the third base, I turned to sprint back to second; I was in a “pickle”otherwise known as being stuck between two bases, running back and forth. As I made my last turn, of my last play, I turned too quickly and tore my meniscus.
After that game, I wore a brace for a number of months but eventually ended up sustaining knee surgery when I was 11 years old. My recovery took a little over four months, and the coaches told me when I was healed I was welcome back to the team . After my four months of recovery, I fastened my brace and off to practice I went. After about four practices of pain and ice baths, I realized my softball career would have no choice but to come to an end. Leaving my team was one of the hardest experiences I have gone through. To this day I wish I would have fought through the pain, but quitting made me find a new love for the fine arts. When I was not able to walk for four months, I decided I didn’t want to sit around, so I started to draw.
My love for the fine arts has helped me surmount the sport that took over my life. I do not regret playing softball, without it I would not have found my true passion. The most important lesson I will take away from this experience is that having a change of circumstance and finding a new passion is alright. Hopefully, I will never stop seeking a new passion.I take tearing my meniscus as a sign that I will continue to find new passions under the circumstances life gives me.