In our lifetime, there are very few things that shape us a person, dreams that we have… In our lifetime, there are very few things that shape us a person, dreams that we have achieved or memories that we will never forget.

Every year in this country, thousands of high school students aspire to play a college sport, and for those with the ability and work ethic, it is an incredible experience. It was always my dream to play college softball, and my life has for many years been dominated by that game. As a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, I am entering my last season.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to play baseball with the boys, and could not accept that there were coaches who thought girls did not belong on the baseball diamond. I went to every game and sat on the bench waiting for my turn to play, although it never came.

For most, this would be devastating, but it only sparked my interest and strengthened my spirit. My dad, always believing that I could do anything, would stay after the games and practice with me because I had not gotten to play.

As I got older, I eventually played softball, but the determination was the same. I would spend extra time on the field or in the batting cage with my father. Yielding only to darkness, he taught me how to not only play but to understand the strategy and appreciate the game. Never having been the star player, I have always had to work very hard. I always believed that I could become the player and person I aspired to be.

My father passed away my senior year of high school, and I did not know if I could play without him. He had always been there, coaching or sitting in the stands. He was a constant in my life, always with an encouraging word, pushing me to throw further or swing harder. I was afraid that the game would be different; that I couldn’t play a game he taught to me love without him. With time, I realized that it was different, but the magic was still there, that the game had become the constant. I learned then that in life and softball, there are losses and awful days, but all we can do is come back the next day ready to play.

There are many commonly misconceived notions about college athletes – that they are spoiled, or that they have everything handed to them on a silver platter. Yes, I will admit that there are perks, but playing a college sport is hard, and it requires ultimate dedication. All our actions are in preparation for the next game or the conference tournament. Weight room hours begin early, practices run late and trips are often endless.

College sports are about heart and committing to a team that is bigger than one man. It is about representing a university and the pride of wearing your school colors. There is not an off-season, because there is always next season. Teammates become part of our families, as there is nothing stronger than the bond of the game. We are accountable to each other, and we would do anything to contribute to the team.

No one can play a college sport and put in the hours that are required unless she is devoted to the game. It is our utmost passion; it is what lights us up inside.

For me, softball has become about so much more than the score or a good hit. The game represents my struggles and triumphs; it is about the drive to succeed on a field where competition is fierce. The game has become my life; it consumes who I am and what I will ultimately become. It is my sweat and tears, it is my commitment to remain a challenger in an arena of feudal enemies.

As I approach my senior season and the last games of a career that has meant so much to me, I cannot help but wonder – what am I supposed to do next? I have spent my life committed to a game that I love. It scares me to think that I will have to find something else to hold on to, that I will have to find a new dream.

I am left knowing that as I wear my jersey for the very last time this spring, I will have to say goodbye to a part of who I am, a game that has taught me so much about myself and life, that every inning – every moment – is precious.

E-mail Kim at [email protected].