Playing the Game by Kalmia

Playing the Game by Kalmia - February 2014 Scholarship Essay

Growing up famous quotes made their way into my life by means of books, movies, and even listening in on the adult conversations at the dinner table. I certainly never thought the most impactful quote in my life would come from one of my favorite romance movies as a young girl. The profound words of Babe Ruth, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” impacted me from the moment Hillary Duff recited it from the hidden wall of her deceased father’s former diner in A Cinderella Story. I took this to mean that you should never let the fear of what could happen defeat you or keep you from trying your best. The quote quickly became my personal mantra for overcoming my fears in gymnastics and standing up for myself when I felt I was being treated unfairly. It always amazed me just how helpful this simple statement could be in times of doubt or even fear.

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” proved to be a tremendous ally through all my adolescent struggles, but there is one in particular I will never forget. When I was first began struggling with a severe medical illness at age ten, I quickly fell into a rut of self-pity and confusion as to why I had to be the sick one who felt awful all the time. It did not seem fair that I spent my time getting poked and prodded in hospitals while my friends were out riding bikes or having weekend sleepovers. The doctors often had no idea what was going on or how to treat me, and yet I had convinced myself that sitting and waiting for a cure was my only option. I was so afraid of worsening my pain, so afraid of never getting better that I had stopped fighting. However, none of this was who I wanted to be. I was not inclined to fall victim to this illness, and Babe’s quote helped me find strength within myself. I could not be afraid of the “what ifs” or I would surely never recover. My life’s game had just begun and I was not done swinging! After repeated pep talks and support from my family, I got back up to the plate and started swinging. It has been nearly nine years since I first became ill and I am still playing the game!

I can attribute many personal accomplishments and acts of bravery over the years to this quote and the amount of confidence it instilled in my impressionable mind. I am honestly not too sure if it was the words themselves that initially affected me or if it was seeing the epitome and immediate confidence boost young Hillary Duff experienced because of them. Either way, this quote made its way into my life and it is here to stay.