Rachel Keshin '17 Recruiting Profile

Ever since I started to play at the age of seven, I have loved the game of softball with all my heart and I haven't stopped since then. It has become such a huge part of my life, devoting almost all of my time to it in every season. Even though I had less time to do the things that other people my age usually do, I didn't mind because I was doing something I love. I want to continue playing this sport in college with the same passion that I have for it now, because of the role it has played in my life for eight years. I have met some of my best friends through softball, and it has taught me discipline and how to work hard, which also helped me in the classroom. My academics are equally, if not more, important to me than softball, and succeeding in it would be my main goal in college. While I am there, it will be very critical for me to balance softball and schoolwork, but if I am handling it now and have been for a long time, I don't think it will be too hard to transition into college life. 

I think I would be a good addition to a college softball team because I am able to create strong bonds with both my coaches and my teammates. This is important to me because I was taught that having team chemistry is what separates a good team from a great one. I believe that going the extra mile to get to know the people on your team and creating a relationship with them could not only create friendships, but stronger relationships on the field, which helps you win games. Additionally, being the competitive person that I am, winning is a priority for me when playing softball, but I am not opposed to losing, only because of the opportunities that losing a game brings to realize the mistakes that you made, improve on them during and after practice, and show that you learned from the previous mistakes in the next game. So, overall, because of my ability to mesh with my teammates and coaches and my willingness to learn from them, as well as my versatility and desire to win, I truly think that I could bring something different to a college team.

I recently made the decision that I would like to become a teacher, because similar to how I can bring something different to the softball field, I can make a difference in how kids are learning. I haven't decided whether I want to be an elementary school teacher or a high school English teacher, but I would enjoy doing either as my career. Over the years, I have picked up on what my classmates like and dislike about their teachers as well as my own opinions, so using these, I think I could be a teacher with qualities that students want, such as being understanding, intuitive, fair, and fun (but serious when necessary). My main goal in college is to be overall successful, specifically in academics and softball, which I will do through hard work, discipline, and dedication. If I do this, I think I will achieve my dreams, whether it is being a college softball player or a student's favorite teacher.