S
ince I was 7 years old, I’ve spent
most of my time—three days a week
and most weekends, to be exact—
with a glove on my left hand and a
softball in my right. Softball was my life…
and the last thing I wanted to doubt.
It wasn’t until my freshman year in high
school when doubt began to fill
my mind about my ability to play
the sport I loved.
“I play for this club team.”
“Check out my new bat.”
“Look at my glove! It’s brand new!”
When my teammates and other girls I
knew who played the sport began flashing
their new equipment and talking up the
teams they were on, it became difficult to
see the sport for what it really was. My dad
would tell me, “A new bat isn’t going to help
her swing any better, and a new glove isn’t
going to make her catch a ball any better.”
As a 14-year-old girl, this somewhat
made sense to me. But I still felt doubt when
girls would crack out their brand-new
equipment. It wasn’t until my dad shared a
famous quote that resonated with me and
put everything in perspective.
“Not all that glitters is gold,”
he said.
Suddenly, I felt my insecurities die and
itched for tryout season to come faster.
I wanted to show my high school coach I
wasn’t only good enough to make varsity, but
also that playing for a club team and buying
the newest equipment shouldn’t matter in
high school sports.
Tryouts came in February and I was as
ready as I have ever been, getting scrapes on
my arms from diving on the course dirt for
a ground ball; running as fast as I’ve ever
ran before; and focusing on making contact
with the ball when hitting.
After, when I opened the letter stating
my results, I learned I made the junior
varsity team.
I couldn’t help but cry once I got into
the car. I know I’m good enough to make
varsity, but why am I on JV? Once again,
my dad shared another quote with me—the
best one yet—that I will never forget.
“If you know you are good enough, then
that is all that matters.”
My entire attitude changed about this
season and I felt optimistic. I made JV and
there was no changing that. But the friends
I made and the bond I built with my coach
was unforgettable.
– Milan Andrade
FALL 2017
maskmatters.org
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ALL THAT MATTERS
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