Category: Advice

The dirt. The cleats. The cheers. The sunflower seeds.

I played softball for 12 years and I still love the sport immensely. I recently played on an intramural co-ed team the last quarter of college to get back into the game. Softball was a huge part of my life and thanks to the sport, I developed so many skills I know I have forever.

When I was a junior in high school, I committed to playing collegiate softball in the Pacific Northwest. At the time, it was my dream and I couldn’t imagine not playing softball competitively. In the end, I didn’t end up signing the contact, but I learned a lot in the process.

Some Tips:

In Southern California, to get recruited you pretty much have to be on a competitive travel team. I competed in showcases, which were tournaments that recruiters were specifically invited to attend and scout for new talent. It also helped in my case to have a coach who was well connected with other college coaches. I had older teammates who committed to schools and it made it easier to have the contact of those teams as well. My travel coach had a strong connection with a collegiate team and I was able to use this contact to create an opportunity for myself.

As well, you can make a recruiting video and send it to multiple college coaches by email so they see your skills. I sent one out and afterwards, some coaches contacted me and some even came to watch me play in games. The coach who ultimately recruited me watched me play in a tournament after I sent my video in. It really opened the door and created even more opportunity to get noticed out on the field.

Beside from that, the least you can do is continue working on your game and becoming more physically fit. If you’re a great player, a coach won’t want to miss out on you! If you’re tall and strong, even better. I was pretty short and if I had wanted to play in a higher division, I would have needed to reallyyy hit the weights back then.

While I did not end up playing softball in college, the recruitment process taught me how to persevere, better handle pressure, and really believe in myself. I miss the game so much, but it turns out the world doesn’t end when you stop playing softball. While it would have been fun to continue playing, I now can experience lots of other opportunities I would not have been able to explore fully if I had continued.

Getting recruited was certainly a process. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to play in college and choose to do so, definitely leave it all out on the field. One day, you may not have the chance to do so as much anymore.

Here’s a list of the top shows that are hands down worth the watch on Netflix this year:

1. Grey’s Anatomy: It really can’t get better than watching a show where its life or death in every episode. This shows pulls at your heart strings and takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, but it’s overall worth the long ride. The characters are so real and portray common struggles that many can relate to such as losing a loved one, battling exhaustion, personal insecurities, the LGBT community, poor mental health, etc. The stories of the patients treated in Seattle Gray’s Hospital puts life in a whole new perspective and reveals the strength humans have for one another under the hardest circumstances.

2. Gossip Girl: Great Gatsby at its finest! This show is a classic- are you Serena… or are you Blair? Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf SHINES portraying the flaws and layers of emotion that make her someone people can easily relate to. This show teaches that looks aren’t everything and underneath all the wealth is a bigger picture  that tends to not be as happy and care free as its original image.

3. Stranger Things: This show is AMAZINGGG. It has this unique, sci-fi vibe to it (who doesn’t love the theme song??) and because of this, it stands out from other hit shows. The time being set in the 80’s makes the sets more interesting and the character’s clothing is to DIE FOR. The young actors are super talented  and loveable and each episode never fails to catch them uncovering a new secret about the Upside Down World.

4. Gilmore Girls: Love is the main factor of this show and its story is played out beautiful by none better than the Lorelai-Rory relationship. It is beautiful to see a community that cares about each other love one another even through the hardest times. Rory’s ambition is inspirational to watch and this show motivates you to become a more ambitious and caring individual. Also, I can’t say no to a show where coffee is almost a character in itself!

5.  Thirteen Reasons Why: This show brings so many valuable lessons to the table. It spreads the message that people need to show more compassion and kindness towards one another. People need to try and understand a person before they make assumptions and girls need to be respected instead of shamed. It depicts struggles that many teenagers face and is a valuable guide to adults (since most simply don’t understand) and teens to become more aware of people’s emotions and how your behavior effects others.

6. The Office: Lets be real, this show is more of a culture than a TV Show. There’s the inside jokes, the reactions of the characters, the scrappy camera angles, amazing acting, and overall the perfect sense of humor that brings this show to life. It is truly unique and can be enjoyed by all ages (its okay if the kids don’t get the jokes) and never fails to be entertaining.

7. Riverdale:  This show is far fetched at times but it never disappoints. The mysteries that lie within the town are never ending and every episode unlocks a new piece to the puzzle. The characters exempt bravery and are strong-willed with every action they take. The high school setting also adds drama as everything is heightened by the community of teens that surround the main characters and also makes the show more relatable at times.

8. 90210: This show  presents so many bold lessons to its viewers despite it being based off a show in the 90s. It features strong characters who struggle with  bipolar disorder, teen pregnancy and abortion, drug abuse, drunk driving, rape, coming out as gay,  etc. You name it and 90210 has effortlessly demonstrated how people can face any challenge and must always stay true to who they are while following their dreams.

9. Law & Order SUV: Justice is served and wrapped up in a bow by the end of every episode! It is fascinating to see the behind the scenes of  these notorious attorney hard at work to uncover the truth. Morality is met head on with crime in punishment in this thriller of entertainment.

10. Girl Meets World: I gotta admit that I was worried for Disney Channel once “Good Luck Charlie” finished airing, but the channel hit it big with this one. It such a strong representation of friendship and the struggles teenagers go through with trying to figure out who they are and what they mean to others. It deserved a fourth season. Period.

11. Scandal: There is never a moment in this series that is not a shock factor. The characters are well developed and plot lines never fall flat. It is never a disappointment and is a show you can always return to and never get bored of.

12. On My Block: Every episode there is a plot twist and ends leaving you on the biggest cliffhanger. It’s interesting to see the incredible bonds a group of teenagers in the show share and it is inspiring to see how they care for each other and watch out for each in the dangerous streets of their neighborhood in LA.

13. Supernatural: This show has an amazing playlist that keeps everyone feeling uneasy about what will happen next. The script is dark, but is always lightened up at the perfect moment by puns! It also happens to feature some of the most attractive people surrounded by  supernatural forces- need I say more?

14. Dear White People: This show is witty and well humored with fun characters who bring quality entertainment to the table. It sheds light on several social issues in today’s society. involving racism and the stereotypes that surround blacks. It incorporates the struggle of black lives and allows white people to understand the extent of their privilege. It spreads the message that we must all overcome bigotry and love one another no matter what skin color, because at the end of the day we are all human and equal beings.

15. Atypical: This show allows people to understand what kids with autism may be going through. It teachers viewers to have compassion and opens their eyes to what a life with a disability would look like. It’s funny, charming, and eventful.

Yesss its officially the long awaited time of the year-SUMMER! I am so pumped to have more time in my life to spend however I wish. Here in Southern California, the June gloom is just wearing off and the heat has come in full force. It’s temping to stay inside and chill while watching Netflix all day, but I for one know that gets old after awhile. Here’s a bucket list for your summer of 2017 that can free you from boredom and make the break one to remember…

• Find a summer job and make $$$: For me, this was an obvious because I have a tendency to want to do a lot of things, but end up not having enough to spend. To really have fun this summer and go out a lot, it’s time to learn how to be independent and support yourself while realizing that everything has a price.
• Explore your local area: There’s going to come a time where you will leave your community and go off on your own to figure out your life one day. For some people like, after graduating high school, we will not be living in the same city that we grew up in. Make it a priority to go out at least once a week and visit a hidden gem in your city you may have never seen. You could also do all the fun touristy things and be surprised at how little you actually know about the place you have live in for years.

• Actually read all the books you sparknoted throughout the school year: This may blow your mind, but your teacher didn’t just randomly assign you to read all those books in one year. She or he saw lesson or morals in the novel that were worth teaching a perhaps, even life changing to high school students. There’s always that one or maybe few books that you couldn’t get through to save your life (for me it was Grapes of Wrath) but maybe, just maybe, you could read the other novels and gain some important insight and (this may sound crazy) even enjoy them!

• Create a workout regimen: Monday= leg day,  Wednesday= abs, Friday= arms, etc. If you make a workout plan, you may feel more motivated to get yourself up and go to the gym or pick up those weights at home. Exercise is a great way to start the day and give you energy for other activities. Not to mention, summer is the perfect time to work on toning your body and getting the abs you’ve always desired. I would start slow and not set unrealistic goals, but hey, a little exercise goes a long way. Get those gains!
• Find a new hobby: Summer is the best time to experiment and find out more about your passions and talents. This is the best time to finally pick up something that has interested you, whether it’s a sport, instrument, or finding recipes to cook something new! The possibilities are endless.

• Have “me” days:  Sometimes it’s best to be selfish and have days dedicated only to you. Make sure to schedule where you can relax and focus on discovering more about yourself and who you are as a person. It’s important to be alone with your thoughts and it’s nice to experience some downtime while you can.
• Spend time outside: Be one with nature this summer and go on a hike! Travel the world to experience other cultures or even take a trip to a hidden gem in your local area. Go on a roadtrip with your friends and feel the freedom of the outdoors. The world has so much to offer and every destination is worth the journey.

• Spend time with people who make you happy: Have a family night or take a trip with your closest friends. It’s important to spend time with the people you truly love and celebrate those who have had such an immense impact on your life. Time is never wasted when spent building unbreakable bonds with others and making memories that will last a lifetime with people you hold so close to your heart.