Curiosity Came First
Long before college or baseball, I was a curious kid who loved figuring things out, teaching myself new skills, and exploring whatever caught my interest.
Rubik’s Cube
Learned to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under 30 seconds, then challenged myself to master it blindfolded before age 10.
Cup Stacking
Turned an early fascination with cup stacking into competing in organized competitions.
Ninja Warrior Training
Set my sights on Ninja Warrior before I was old enough to compete, then trained constantly in strength, agility and balance while teaching myself advanced gymnastics and tumbling. Press the link to take a look at some of it.
Magic
Performed magic for friends and family while steadily increasing the difficulty and complexity of my routines.
Guitar
Taught myself guitar and learned to play by ear, figuring out songs through listening and practice.
Volunteering
Community service was a central part of my childhood, from food drives and homeless shelters to regular volunteer work throughout my community.
Finding Balance in the Keys
Piano Taught Me About Perspective.
I started teaching myself piano as a freshman in high school. I would go into my sister’s room when she wasn’t home to practice on her keyboard because she didn’t want me to play while she was there. Yes, it sounded that bad.
I kept working. Listening. Practicing. I learned my favorite songs, and slowly fell in love with the instrument. A few years later, my parents surprised me with a baby grand, which I still play every chance I get when I’m back home.
I wrote my Stanford application essay about the balance between baseball and piano, two very different pursuits that have both taught me discipline, creativity, perspective, and above all, patience.
Baseball, a Platform for Growth
More Than a Game.
Baseball gave me a platform to compete, grow, and learn some of the most important lessons of my life. It taught me resilience, teamwork, accountability, and what it means to perform under pressure. It taught me about failure. Those lessons shape how I approach challenges in every area of my life.
