RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
Mia Galella, a 1B/OF/power hitter who is #25 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100 and a member of the Virginia Glory organization, frequently blogs about her softball adventures for Extra Inning Softball and, in this Thanksgiving edition, touches on the four areas in her life for which she is very thankful…
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1. I am so thankful for God being present in my life each day.
God has provided me with everything I have. I’m thankful that he has provided me with such amazing and loving parents.
He has provided me with the opportunity to play the sport I love, softball!
I’m so thankful for God providing me good health and a new start every day. He has given me hope because no matter what is going on in the world or in my own personal life, I always believe in God.
2. I am thankful for my family and pets.
My family, especially my parents, have always been there for me. They have always provided me with support and encouragement during any type of difficult time. They always find a way to make things seem better no matter how bad they may seem.
My Dad has always taught me to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Taking that type of approach, no matter what the task may be, has allowed me to be in a better position to succeed.
I also love my dogs, Zeus and Chloe so much. They are such a huge part of my family. My younger sister Jules is my best friend in the whole world. She is someone I can always rely on and is always there for me.
We are a very traditional family and there is nothing better than celebrating a family tradition just like Thanksgiving this week. The smells in the house from the turkey baking in the oven early in the morning while we watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and wait for our family to come and enjoy being together and eating so much until we can’t move!
My Dad and uncles always seem to find their way to the couch and recliners to watch football. It’s these types of traditions that make the holidays so special to me!
3. I am thankful for my friends and teammates.
They love me for the person I am and are always supportive when others may not be for whatever the reason. They share funny stories, laugh at my lame jokes, and ask me how I’m doing because they care.
I do my best to be as thoughtful and kind in return because having relationships such as this, make us better overall people in my opinion.
Respect, support, and love from friends and teammates are the things I truly value most because the one thing I have learned, it’s not about “me,” but “we,” which takes me to the final thing I am going to mention I am so thankful for…
4. I am thankful for Coach Suzy Willemssen.
Coach Suzy is an inspiration to everyone in the softball world, but she is especially a true inspiration to me.
She always supports every single one of her players and pushes them to be the very best they can be. She demonstrates how a coach really loves a team. Her energy and passion bring out the very best in anyone within an arm’s reach of her.
I am so excited that I now can play for Coach Suzy! She has a very special bond with all her players like no other. I look forward to her daily words of inspiration and guidance she posts on her Twitter, and I do my best to apply that inspiration and guidance into my daily life, not just to softball.
Coach Suzy goes wayyy above and beyond for so many players that may not even directly play for her. I truly believe in my heart that God has brought Coach Suzy into my life!
My dream is to play college softball at the highest level, and being placed in Coach Suzy’s hands, for that, there is no one on Earth I’d rather play for. I know she will always have my back, as she does all her players, and will do whatever she can so I will see my dreams become a reality.
Thanksgiving is a time of year where we recognize all that we are thankful for and all of this is what I am so thankful for!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mia Galella
Class of 2025
VA Glory – Willemssen 18U