The Paper the Shaped My Future by Peter

The Paper the Shaped My Future by Peter - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

I slammed the bedroom door, furious with myself. I had gone 5 straight games without a hit, I had no confidence. I was in what some would call a “slump” when you can’t buy a hit, but I knew it wasn’t me but my brain. I had a mental block that took me from batting first in the lineup to ninth. I needed something, anything, that would give me my confidence and push me to be my best self. That “thing” happened to be a single piece of paper.
It was my summer going into sophomore year, when I was struggling with baseball. I knew I had the skills to compete, I had batted .500 last season, but something was off this season. I had grown up playing club baseball since third grade, with Coach Todd. Coach Todd was a quiet, mysterious, simple guy, and he rarely ever complimented you. If he ever said “good job” you know you had an amazing game. At the end of the freshman season, we had a baseball banquet. At the very end of the banquet, he gave me something that changed my view on life forever. He gave me an award; the award was a certificate that said “Excellence is the constant pursuit of excellence.” This award was presented to me because of my hard work and pursuit for excellence, but I didn’t care about the award; I cared about the saying and recognition. The saying had constantly been emphasized in my mind to push myself to be better, and more importantly it gave me confidence. For Coach Todd to give you an award, it feels like you're on top of the world. This award has pushed me to be my best self not only on the field, but in the classroom too.
I have maintained a high school GPA of 3.88, while also being involved in sports and extracurriculars. I am a ski captain and have been a varsity skier for three years, as well as a varsity and club baseball player. I am a part of the national honor society, spanish honor society, and key club (volunteer club). Recently, I have gained interest in business, where I am developing an app to help teach community sports players important training, mindset, and mechanic tips for their sport. Achieving and doing all this does not come easy, and when I face hard times, I always think of this award and pursuit of excellence and confidence in myself.
In my academic journey, I plan to pursue my interest in Business Administration and Sports Management, an interest driven by the intrigue of both field’s dynamic, challenging, and rewarding nature. My aspiration is to graduate from a renowned business institution such as the University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Amidst distractions, I value hard work and staying focused, and there have been ups and there have been downs. Knowing that scholarships such as the Varsity Tutors College Scholarship Contest exists motivates me to keep striving for more, to continue pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve.
To conclude, I am a rising high school senior named Peter Litzau, and a single piece of paper has changed my life. This paper is not about being a baseball player, but a scholar. It has given me confidence wherever I go, while pushing me to pursue excellence in whatever I do. I am excited to connect my passions to my academic pursuits gearing towards higher education. This scholarship will not only help me, but become another award that further fuels my drive, and propels me closer to reaching excellence.