Golf
Freshman year of high school was my first time picking up a set of golf clubs. I simply joined the high school team for social connections and to honor my late great-grandfather. I never expected to grow a true passion for the game as another reason for playing gold was to replace baseball as my spring sport. On the first day, I walked in not knowing how to hit the ball or even how to grip the club, but from then on I knew I wanted to be the best on my team. I saw my friends hitting the ball farther than I ever imagined, which became my new motivation. I started to play even on my days off to help develop my skills. I loved going every day and seeing the fresh cut grass, feeling the club make good contact with the ball, and realizing that there is nothing better than seeing the ball roll into the hole after a good putt. I was living a true first-one-in but last-one-out mentality but to me I was just having fun trying to practice. I achieved my desired goal in golf when I was named First-Team All-League and made State Districts in just my second year of playing golf.
I was extremely proud of myself for accomplishing that knowing my hard work was paying off. I couldn’t wait for my Junior year to be team captain and be a leader on and off the course. Sadly, that junior year golf season didn’t ever happen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In April and May when everyone was still locked inside, everything was still canceled. All I wanted to do was play golf on a nice sunny day. I put nets throughout the backyard and would chip to myself, walking back and forth constantly, or I would use the putting mat I set up in my room just by putting alone for hours. Even just doing that with no other sports going on or anything to do, golf continued to be a relaxing lifeline for me.
When applying for colleges I knew I wanted to go somewhere sunny and I could play golf close in more than just the late spring. I came to the University of Miami not just for golf, but it helped the decision. Since getting to Florida, I have been able to meet so many new people through golf, play courses I couldn’t have imagined playing all while my game has been getting progressively worse. I feel grateful for the stories and memories that golf has been able to give me as a fan and as a player and I’m excited to make more in the future on and off of the course.
