This is a student athlete named Johnathan Anderson who plays baseball at Eisenhower High School. Baseball has always been something that Johnathan loves to do and has a passion for it. He loves the intensity of the game and wants to continue to work hard. In his 8th grade year he tried track and field at Kucera Middle School.
He plans to work and train hard so that he can make it to Major League Baseball. As he’s in high school he already completed one of his goals which is to make varsity as a freshman. Now he wants to be the best hitter on the team so he’s gonna work at it. He wants to go to a D1 College after high school preferably at LSU or really any D1 College and then get noticed by the Major Leagues. Although the dream is difficult, Johnathan is determined to make it happen and if not then he wants to be a computer engineer.
There are challenges of being an athlete like being disciplined and balancing things of life. Johnathan has stated that the challenges of being an athlete are practicing when you don’t want to and adding in things to your schedule when it feels tight. But that’s where discipline comes in and that helps you in life. Johnathan is also balancing school work, baseball practice and going to church. As a man of God, Johnathan knows that going to church is important and tries to get there even when it’s tough. Johnathan said to plan your days out and know what you can or can’t commit too so that things don’t get crazy.
But there are times when people feel like giving up in sports. Johnathan has felt like that multiple times but when scheduling everything it made it a lot easier for him and he knew he still wanted to do this. Even when it’s rough he thinks back to his younger self and sees the growth he’s had along the way and helps motivate him to continue. Especially when he’s in a slump he remembers that it’s just a game and he needs to have fun. With his friends, teammates, parents, and coaches he is able to be pushed through those hard times and have fun.
Some would ask why though? Why play baseball and what purpose do you have? For Johnathan, he doesn’t play just to play but plays to make a living off of it and because it proves who you are as a person and helps you be disciplined. Sports isn’t something for everyone. Johnathan said that if you don’t want to do sports then do something you want to do. He did learn this from Tom Brady and it’s to try a sport at least once in your life because it strengthens your mentality and helps you to be a better person and builds your character. Baseball is special to Johnathan because of the friendships and memories he made along the way and he encourages people to try it. Baseball isn’t for everyone but try it. Johnathan tried track and field and it was fun. It’s fun to experience the intensities and rivalries of the games.
Some wonder if there is a difference between being cocky and confident. Johnathan says yes and says that being cocky is being prideful and thinking you’re better than everyone but confidence is having faith in yourself and having a mindset of being good. Being cocky is bad because there is always gonna be someone better than you and coaches want someone who is coachable not someone who thinks they know it all. Lastly Johnathan says this, “If you really want it you can tell yourself you want it but still lie to yourself because you’re not putting in the effort. If you put the work in and show you want it then you’ll be seen. If you want it then work for it. You won’t get better overnight. It takes being consistent.”
