Connor (CJ) Mills's Baseball Recruiting Profile

Personal Statement

“Grit is having the courage to push through, no matter what the obstacles are, because it’s worth it.” This quote by Chris Morris has personified my high school experience and inspired my future career pathway. Throughout my life I have experienced many hurdles as a student and athlete; however, the greatest test of adversity occurred my freshman year of high school.  I have always been a true competitor in all aspects of my life. As a freshman, I was determined and passionate to play varsity baseball. I set high expectations for myself in the weight room and refining my fundamentals on the field. All the hard work and persistence made my dream come true of earning a spot on the varsity baseball team. Unfortunately, I experienced one of the biggest challenges of my life shortly after the season started: I was hit in the face by a baseball, which resulted in a severe concussion. For several months I struggled mentally and physically trying to overcome this obstacle. Post concussive symptoms included: severe headaches and eye strain when using technology, fatigue when attempting to focus on a task, loss of short-term memory, and difficulty following simple step directions. My life felt like it was collapsing before me. This serious injury was devastating for an honors level student and a varsity athlete. Rehabilitation took a long time, and when I was finally cleared to play I realized I had  limitations. Without bandages wrapped around you, people don’t  realize how much it takes to come back from a concussion injury. It was an uphill battle that tested my mental and physical strength to be able to compete at the same level as before, let alone exceeding the expectations of a varsity level athlete. Yet, through the hard times, my passion and determination of not giving up, and wanting to improve was the overall goal. My work ethics in team practices, individual training, and rigorous course work showed my commitment to personal growth. Grit has driven my purpose, passion, optimism, and refusal of not giving up. It fueled me to succeed as I was recognized for the role of being our varsity captain my senior year; I am very proud that my persistence to overcome these challenges earned the respect and belief in my abilities from both my teammates and coaches. As a student, I challenged myself to advanced placement coursework in preparation for college. This is a true testament of my character. Angela Duckworth stated that grit is “a marathon not a sprint.” Meaning that with the proper preparation and conditioning even the most difficult challenges are obtainable. This quote guided my career path for the future. My own injury and personal story has inspired me to pursue a career in helping others who have also faced pain and struggle with adversity. At this time, I would like to  focus my career on becoming a physical therapist through the field of exercise science. As an athlete I welcome the opportunity to play as long as I can and perhaps earn a minor degree in sports management. My ultimate career pathway is to work with collegiate athletes who may have similar stories related to mine.  Through my experiences I understand that grit is the drive, stamina, and resilience to push through any challenge or obstacle until success is achieved. It is through these experiences that I have developed the work ethics to prepare me to become the best athlete and scholar I can be.