In the weeks since my last post, a lot has happened for J. He was accepted into Belmont Abbey College. BAC is the school that is interested in having J play for them next year. In fact, we've progressed to the point that they are putting together a financial aid package for him. He's thrilled to have this opportunity and is looking forward to hearing from the coach there soon. In addition to being accepted at BAC and being offered the chance to play baseball there, J has also been accepted into Saint Leo University here in Florida. We're not sure yet if baseball will be a possibility there; we're waiting to hear from the coach. In the coming weeks, J will have some big decisions to make regarding his college plans. Which brings me to the point of this post. Two years ago, I asked Coach C to do a guest post regarding his thoughts on J's training and progress. If you missed that post the first time around, you can read it here:
A Word From Coach C. So much has been happening for J lately that I thought everyone would enjoy hearing from Coach C again. He was all set to do another guest post when he sent us the letter of recommendation that he wrote for J. He sent it to me via email, which I opened and read while sitting at dance class waiting for A. It took approximately 15 seconds for the tears to start pouring. As a parent, one of the things I hope for is for my children to be fortunate enough to have people in their lives who appreciate their gifts, support them in their dreams, and above all else, love and respect who they are. When I read Coach C's letter, it only reinforced what I already knew, that J has all of those things in Coach C. So instead of having him write another guest post, I asked him if I could simply post the beautiful letter of recommendation he wrote for J. He agreed, so I will let it speak for itself. I omitted J and Coach C's full names for privacy. Other than that, the letter is exactly as Coach C wrote it.
To
Whom It May Concern:
The dictionary defines the word
superlative as being of the highest kind, quality, or order. Surpassing all
others, and in doing so reigns supreme. I define the word superlative as J.M.: an ambitious young man of the highest kind, quality, and order. A
person whose dedication to the betterment of humankind surpasses all others,
and whose compassion for his life and the lives of those around him, reigns
supreme.
I first had the pleasure of meeting
J when he tried out as a freshman for my travel baseball organization. As
both a catcher and a corner infielder, I was thoroughly impressed with his arm
strength, soft hands, and seemingly advanced knowledge of the game for someone
of his age. First and foremost, J is one of the last of a dying breed: a
true leader of his peers. His happy go lucky attitude and fierce playing style
inspired his teammates on numerous occasions to push themselves to limits they
never knew they could reach. He displayed a love of learning that was
refreshing to me, and in him I saw much of myself at his age. From day one I
was very excited with his unyielding drive to better not only himself, but also
all those who surrounded him. At the plate he led a fairly young 16 and under
team by example, constantly coming through when his team needed him the most.
Over the past few years I have come to
view him as a young person with tremendous potential—a guaranteed future
leader. His intellectual and scholastic success, coupled with his commitment to
his team, masterful leadership abilities, creative drive, and unshakable will,
form a foundation for future full of possibilities.
However, while his accomplisments
are outstanding to say the least, they pale in comparison to his most shining
attribute: his awe-inspiring ability to inspire. From my experience with this
exceptional young person, I have come to learn that J does not purely plan,
but acts. Does not simply succeed, but excels. Does not solely enhance his own
life, but enriches the lives of all he touches. To truly understand what makes
this remarkable young man so successful, one must only look to the words of Mr.
Mark Twain: “Keep away from people who try to
belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make
you feel that you, too, can become great.” J.M. is among these select
few that we deem as great in our society, not merely because of his wide array
of impressive accomplishments, but because he has been blessed with the
capacity to inspire the ordinary to aspire to the extraordinary. He has been
endowed with an unparalleled ability to make others feel through example that,
they too, can become great: and in a world where it is quite easy to get caught
up solely in the affairs of one’s self, this level of maturity is unrivaled and
of incalculable value.
If you have the
opportunity to meet this incredible young man, please do so. I promise you will
not regret it, because words simply cannot measure such an immeasurable degree
of character. We owe this shining star all the support we can give, because the
world deserves, desires, and desperately needs leaders of his kind, quality,
and order. I assure you that your program emulates all the values that make him
the remarkable young person he is today, and that in any tasks you require of
him, he will reign supreme. With all this being said, I recommend to you,
unconditionally, Mr. J.M. I know that he will make as large an impact
on your lives as he has made on my own. Thank you for your time.
Best Regards,
Coach C
Head Coach Top
Prospects 16u
