My first two years of college, I played fast pitch softball at George C. Wallace Community College. Even though I had played since I was five years old, it was a huge adjustment balancing the demands of academics and athletics to be successful on and off the field. Being a college athlete is very tough, mentally and physically. Each player is a student first and must learn to manage their time very wisely in order to get everything done. Most people have heard the saying sports builds character, well if you play the game long enough it not only teaches you character it also teaches you how to be successful in every aspect of your life. I was an outfielder and I started in centerfield. To play this position, you not only had to be quick on your feet and communicate with the other outfileders but you also had to be able to read the ball right off the bat. Reading the ball take a tremendous amount of practice and time. I had to practice this skill outside of regular practice. To be successful in any career, it takes practice to learn the right way to do things. Softball also taught me to hold my head up high even when I fail. Losing and failing is a part of life, it is unavoidable and a necessary to learn. As I maintian my course to join the poultry industry, I will use all that I have learned from softball to help me be sucessful in college and in life.