The Beginning

Spring in Minnesota is always unpredictable, and provides plenty of heat waves and even blizzards as summer rapidly approaches. As unpleasant as the weather may be for this time of year it gives me an excuse to be inside watching college softball. Every year since I can remember I have watched the NCAA WCWS on TV. But for some reason this year is different. Sitting here on my couch watching Maddie Shipman turn a double play for Tennessee or Meagan May bomb another homerun for Texas A&M, I realize that is what I want to do. I want to be one of those amazing players on TV that first inspired me.

I was inspired by Katie Burkhart of the Arizona Sun Devils in 2008 when she led them to victory in the world series. You may think Arizona, why Arizona? I am from Mesa Arizona and have always been a big ASU fan because of it. Like Katie, I used to want to be a pitcher. But at the age of about 12 I changed my mind. Now I play 3B and sometimes SS. After watching the games I thought to myself, how much hard work she has had to put in to become that good. So, I now set out on my journey to make that dream a reality.  One day a little girl will say, I want to grow up and play like her. My name is Vanessa Anderson. I am 16 years old and live in Rochester, MN. This is my journey and I hope to show how my hard work pays off and in the end how I will fulfill my dreams.