Pursuing my Dream at Rice University by Andersen

Pursuing my Dream at Rice University by Andersen - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

A variety of factors continue to motivate me throughout my academic pursuits. I am currently a freshman at Rice University majoring in Statistics and Sport Analytics with a minor in Data Science. Additionally, I intend to pursue a master’s degree in Data Science, also at Rice. Ultimately, I believe degrees in these fields will best prepare me for a career in the baseball analytics industry.
Rice currently has the No. 1 sport management program in the country, and I feel honored to learn from professors like Scott Powers, a former assistant general manager for the Houston Astros whose data science knowledge is unparalleled. Attending Rice also afforded me the rare opportunity to intern as soon as I stepped foot on campus. Since August, I have interned with Rice’s Division I baseball team, serving in their analytics department. In my role, I have engaged in a variety of hands-on experiences that will prepare me for a successful career. Some of my tasks have included creating biometric reports, conducting scouting reports on opposing pitchers, collecting and processing video from bullpens and games, running KinaTrax motion capture video, and logging games on TrackMan or BATS software.
As rewarding and exciting as these opportunities are, it can be easy to feel overworked or burnt out when balancing this internship, a heavy courseload, and the demands of social life or other work. To motivate me to pursue my academic goals, I simply remember the career that I am trying to foster. I have been an enormous baseball fanatic since just four years old and have grown increasingly obsessed with the process of using analytical methods to answer some of baseball’s most complex questions. Michael Lewis’ Moneyball book, while outdated, offers insight into the type of groundbreaking work I hope to achieve through analytics and sabermetrics.
I also find motivation in the form of my classmates, whom I respect and admire. We are all working towards a common goal — employment in pro sports — so while we are all very friendly with each other, we also push each other to reach our maximum potential. This type of environment is truly special and I’m fortunate to grow in a program with so many other insightful, like-minded students
It’s easy to stay focused when I’m in a sport management class or completing work for my baseball internship, but what about during electives, distribution requirements, or quiet moments on campus? In those cases, I maintain my focus, dedication, and work ethic by keeping an open perspective and ready-to-learn mindset. I pride myself in my curiosity, which has allowed me to stay focused and excited even when my motivation or attention might be dwindling.
With that said, taking a break from the rigors of a Rice University education can be very beneficial, too. I truly enjoy putting aside my work for a little while to hang out with friends, eat good food, or attend a Rice sporting event (as a spectator rather than an intern). These activities are all terrific for my mental health and sanity, and I enjoy using them to strike a balance between hard work and leisure.
Ultimately, I am proud of how I’ve pursued my academic goals and stayed focused during my first year at Rice. I look forward to expanding my knowledge, gaining more experience, and remaining a positive presence when I return to Houston as a sophomore next August.