Transitions are traditionally accompanied by a period of discomfort, a period whose length is determined by one’s willingness to accept its inevitable changes and adapt to a new method of attaining success. Making the jump from middle to high school is full of awkwardness that stems from drastic maturation differences and at times, a struggle to fit in.

The college endeavor is one defined by “leaving the nest” and making it on our own, riddled with temptations and the realization that this next series of decisions lay the foundation for the rest of our lives. After the metaphorical protective blanket slips off and we roll past the edge into the real world, it’s time to find our own identity. It’s time to use our gifts and acquired endowments to become a unique individual, hopefully full of dreams and aspirations to not blend in. Through my experiences in athletics, academics and life in general, I have learned that just blending in can destroy dreams …

It takes boldness and courage to be different. It takes these on top of resiliency and perseverance to make a difference. Through high school it took making sacrifices and giving up weekends to ensure my grades and physical capabilities were on par with the prerequisites demanded from where I wanted to take my next step. In college, it meant painfully long hours, lots of muggy, pungent library cubbies, and crippling lactic acid pooled as a trophy in each growing muscle. As I make my most recent transition into the dream-filled world of minor league baseball, the idea of blending in has never been so poignant.

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