Turning Something I Didn’t Enjoy Into Something I Look Forward To by Matthew

Turning Something I Didn’t Enjoy Into Something I Look Forward To by Matthew - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

I have studied the game of baseball for a long time, and I notice that just slight changes, like a different stance or a different team, can make a huge difference in a player. Studying these changes helped me understand the number of outcomes and possibilities in a game. Learning stats helps me see things that people don't notice.

Something challenging for school is keeping myself accountable and being responsible for my own work. It can be difficult to be motivated when I don’t feel connected to the subject. Traditional school hasn’t always reflected my abilities. Baseball is much easier for me because it is something I enjoy studying and watching. It interests me because of the infinite outcomes any game can have. It doesn’t feel like work.

Something I’ve learned on my own is how to study something if I don’t enjoy it. I can easily find ways to make something that I’m not interested in into something I look forward to. AI-powered tools help with this by presenting information in different formats, allowing me to learn in ways that match how I think. It gives students a way to learn and study in a way that they can understand, which has helped me stay motivated and improve how I learn.

Once, my classmates started naming random players, and I would tell them their career path and some of their stats. For me, some of them weren't that hard, but my classmates seemed dumbfounded. I felt proud of myself because it made me realize that I am good at this, and I can get better.

I became better at asking peers and teachers for help. I used to be scared that I was going to ask a bad question or ask about something that should be obvious. But now I learned that asking questions can be helpful and useful. I like to work in groups of 4-5 so that everyone can have an opinion and work together better. I like being able to help everyone equally on their own part in the group as well.

There were times where new people came to my school and didn't know anything or anyone there, so I helped guide them and get more comfortable in the school: helping with homework and keeping it stress free. I volunteer at my church, and whenever someone new comes to help, I try to teach them the best I can while being uplifting and positive. This helps me improve my communication and patience skills.

From baseball, I learned that making mistakes is okay. Everyone makes mistakes, but what is important is how you respond to them. One of my coaches told me that I would be a good scout. I hadn’t thought much about it before, but I realized I could be a pretty good one. From this, I’ve learned that there is always room for growth and improvement.

I want to major in sports management because I hope to become a baseball scout. Through sports management, I hope to make a positive impact by helping others succeed. I use my passion for baseball to help others and build community while continuing to learn more so I can make a difference in the game.