Dream Team by Brandon

Dream Team by Brandon - February 2019 Scholarship Essay

After almost a six hour flight, I should be tired. But as I get off the plane in California, I have nothing but energy coursing through my veins and can’t wait to see the field. I’ve heard many times that it’s one of the best. My home field in Pittsburgh is also one of the best, so I’m excited to make the comparison. And I am hoping to hit one into McCovey Cove.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Currently, I’m just gearing up for my final spring season at Jesuit High School in Tampa, FL where I’ll be graduating from in May. As a middle infielder, I play both second base and short stop and my goal is for my team to bring home the state championship this year.
In the fall, after what I’m sure will prove to be a summer that flies by, I’ll be attending Canisius College in Buffalo, NY where I signed to play DI baseball and study business and finance. I’ll be working out and eating strategically to add muscle to my 6’0”, 165 pound frame while I get acclimated to the school, put in a strong effort with my studies, and prepare to proudly wear the Griffins blue and gold for the spring season in February.
When I’m not practicing or playing, I’m certain I’ll be studying on planes and buses because I want to be as prepared for my career AFTER baseball as I will be during my time in the majors with the Pirates. So not only do I have one dream job, I actually have two. I could write volumes about what I think it will be like to play major league baseball, hear the home crowd cheer when I make a game-winning out and work toward a World Series ring, but I also want to convey how important the second part of my plan is where I become a financial advisor to other professional athletes.
I’ve been a saver ever since I was little. Instead of spending my birthday money on baseball cards or video games, I gave it to my mom to put in my bank account. When shopping with my dad, I would talk him out of buying gadgets he didn’t need. Growing up, I would see sports icons strike it rich, buy ridiculous cars, homes, planes and yachts, and then be left with virtually nothing after their careers ended. I’ve seen others make bad business investments. I want to ensure that doesn’t happen to me and I want to help others avoid that fate through wise financial planning. Many don’t consider the taxes on their mansions or the cost to maintain them. Sadly, they don’t give a second thought to the insurance or the cost of a boat slip or the salary of a pilot. I can talk them out of these dangerous decisions to purchase things they don’t need, just like I did with my dad.
And just as I plan to someday hit a dinger into the water to the left of the Giants’ right field foul pole that sits a mere 309 feet away from home plate, I want to help my fellow athletes hit a financial home run and guide them through their careers while planning for their continued success in the years to follow.