Grace White is a college senior who plays first base for Union University, a DII school in Jackson, Tennessee, and is majoring in Journalism. She is the Sports Editor for the Cardinal & Cream, the school’s student publication, and has a younger sister who plays in the Virginia Unity club organization.
In today’s Inside Pitch and, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, Grace writes an open letter to those who’ve made a big difference in her life: her current college coaches and also a former teacher…
I’m sure we can all agree that we wouldn’t be where we are today by ourselves.
We are shaped by our families and friends and we meet people along the way that give us opportunities and teach us new things. For athletes, I believe that some of the most influential people in their lives are coaches and, in some cases, teachers.
There may have been a coach that, at the time, you really didn’t like, but looking back, he or she taught you something that you use even today. Maybe there was a coach who mentored you and helped you reach your highest potential… or, perhaps, there was a teacher that unlocked your passion for a certain subject and inspired you to do what you do now.
I know that my coaches and teachers impacted me and that I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
I want to take this opportunity to write a “Thank You” letter to two coaches and a teacher that really stand out in my mind, and I want to give you the chance to do the same. If there’s a coach or teacher that you want to recognize, email your letters to extrainningsoftball@gmail.com, and we will select some to publish.
Here are mine…
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The first is to my coaches at Union University: Sydney Sturner and Mark Ritchhart.
Dear Coach Syd and Coach Ritchhart:
I’m so glad God used Union University and softball to bring us together!
As coaches, of course, y’all want me to be the best softball player I can be, but more than that, you want me to be the best person I can be. You encourage me in my faith. You are proud of my accomplishments off the field. You have helped me gain confidence in who I am, and you have helped me find joy in softball again, something that I wasn’t sure was possible.
I could say a whole lot more about how y’all have impacted me, but I don’t know that words would do it justice. I’m just so thankful to be led by y’all in this final year of my career. I love y’all!
Coach Syd:
God definitely knew what He was doing when He led you here last year as our assistant coach. We didn’t know then what was coming, but I truly believe it wasn’t mere chance that you were put in our path a whole year before Coach Mack decided to leave.
Getting to play for someone I knew already instead of having to get to know a brand-new person as head coach has been such a blessing, especially as a senior. I’m thankful for your leadership and for your desire to make the game fun even when it’s tiring.
I’m also thankful for your willingness to do workouts with us. I believe one of the marks of a great leader is that they don’t make their followers do something that they aren’t willing to do themselves, and you exemplify that trait all the time.
Coach Ritchhart:
From asking to pray with me when I wasn’t feeling good to taking time to work with me on hitting and help me form an approach that would work for me, you have been such a blessing to me!
I’ve always beat myself up inside when I have a bad at-bat or don’t get the result I want, but you’ve helped me to see that there is still reason to find joy in those at-bats because I can learn something from them. God knew that I needed a coach like you to help me keep things simple and positive and joyful. Thank you for always taking time to work with me and explain things to me. It means the world to me.
Sincerely,
Grace White
*****
The second letter is to my high school English and literature teacher, Mrs. Wanda Buckner, who passed away in February of 2021…
Mrs. Buckner:
First of all, you were my adopted grandmother, one of my mom’s best friends, and one of the best teachers I could have ever hoped to have. If it weren’t for you, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would not be a Journalism major or love writing the way I do.
You showed me the art of putting together good sentences and arranging them, and you introduced me to masters of the craft, including Edgar Allan Poe and Washington Irving.
I might’ve failed my dual enrollment ENG 101 class if you hadn’t been there to help me. We spent countless hours working on those papers, and thanks to your teaching, I was able to slowly begin to do it all myself. You kindled the ability that was hidden inside and set it ablaze.
Now, I just look at what I have been able to do and all the things I’ve been blessed to accomplish, and I realize that none of this would’ve been possible without you. I wish you could still be here to see where I’m at and where I’m going.
There have been several times that I’ve wanted to pick up the phone and call you, but I guess you’re watching from your seat in heaven.
I hope that I can honor you with what I write and that I make you proud every day. I love you so much!
Sincerely,
Grace White
