Assignment 19: Parker Carroll

            I feel that I have received more than my fair share of advice for my age. That being said, in my short life I've only ever received one piece of advice worth hearing. I took this piece of advice to heart and embraced it to such an extent that it defines who I am today.
            I began playing baseball when I was six years old. My father, being an ex-college player himself, helped me every step of the way throughout my ten years of playing. I was still very young when he realized that I was far from the most talented player on the field. My father, being the great man that he is, waited until I was emotionally mature enough to tell me that if I wanted to be a competitive player at the next level I would have to work at it. Which I did because I love the game.
             My father was the same type player that I was. He wasn't the most talented guy out there so he had to work hard to earn his spot. His recognition of himself in me as a player led to him giving me the best advice I have ever gotten. He said," Its the same in every sport. The guys with all the talent, it comes easy to them. So they either never work at getting any better or they get bored with the sport. If you're ever lucky enough to find a sport you enjoy and have real talent for don't piss it away because just like in baseball, there will be a million guys out there wishing they had as much talent as you that would actually work at it." This advice really hit home with me because every day in baseball I'd see guys with all the talent in the world wasting it away by not working hard. I always thought to myself," If I had that much talent, I wouldn't take it for granted. I'd work my ass off and reach my full potential."
              Fortunately, I was lucky enough to find a sport I enjoyed and had real talent for, cheer leading. When I was told of my natural ability in cheer leading I remembered all those kids from baseball. I decided not to take my talent for granted, work hard, and reach my full potential. Although, I don't have the love for cheer leading that I do for baseball, I refuse to let my talent go to waste.