It’s always great for softball when one of the sport’s leading figures is recognized by the public and that was the case last week as University of Michigan graduate Amanda Chidester was the keynote speaker for the Michigan Athletic Department’s Student-Athlete Graduation Celebration on Friday, April 29, 2022.
She spoke to an estimated 200 graduating student-athletes and her comments were also live streamed by the Michigan athletic department.
We asked the Allen Park, Michigan native how she was initially asked to address the grads.
“I was contacted by someone in Michigan Athletics to do the commencement speech,” Amanda explained, “and, at first, I was a little shocked that they asked me. It didn’t really sink in how awesome of an opportunity it was until I accepted it and thought: ‘What the heck am I going to say?’”
Ultimately, though, she realized what a great opportunity it would be… but that didn’t make it any easier to prepare, she confesses.
“For me the most stressful part of the speech was preparing it,” Amanda continues. “It took a lot of time and thought to piece it together and—just like anything—it took a team effort. I had some great help to make it flow how I wanted. I read it to anyone who would listen! I love speaking and, of course, I feel the nerves in my stomach, but I always feel that when I am playing too. I kept telling myself: ‘Stay focused on the task and embrace it.’”
Earlier on Friday, before the commencement speech, Amanda attended the Minnesota versus Michigan softball game with her proud parents, Brian and Sandy Chidester. It was a poignant pre-game as those Making Strides Against Breast Cancer were recognized and Amanda, wearing a pink shirt as part of cancer awareness, helped a survivor throw out the first pitch. Following her appearance at the game, she changed clothes to make the graduation speech later that evening.
The world-class athlete relished the chance to tell her story and let others know that others, too, can realize their dreams.
“I love being able to share my story,” the Olympian explains. “I truly do feel that if you can do the things you say you are going to do, day in and day out, you can get far in whatever it is you are doing. Dream big. Fail. Fail again and learn.”
It’s an ongoing process, she stresses.
“My story and success didn’t happen overnight,” Amanda says. “I work on me day in and day out. I listen to others. I read. I want to learn how to be my best in whatever it is I am doing. I am vulnerable. I talk it out. I ask for advice. The ‘how’ takes work. It takes exploring. It takes being uncomfortable sometimes and that is okay. You are loved. You have to want what is best for yourself.”
Here is the video of the commencement speech:
After her well-received comments, Amanda was complimented by those in attendance and others who watched via live stream. She says speaking at her alma mater was a highlight in her career.
“I am forever proud to have gone to the University of Michigan and I would go there again in a heartbeat… it is truly the greatest university in the world!”
Still, despite her All-American successes for the Maize and Blue, she stresses that it wasn’t easy and didn’t come with a lot of hard work.
“Being a student-athlete at one point in my life, I know firsthand how big of a struggle it can be. It is a lot on your plate all at one time and the demands of being excellent in all areas adds to it. I honestly have never had to balance that kind of a schedule since I graduated. The kind where my time is literally tied up all day long using my body and brain. Where I got tested in every area and needed to produce results.
Amanda graduated from the Big Ten school in 2013 after twice winning All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors. A tremendous all-around athlete, she saw action at catcher, first base, second base, third base and in the outfield.
She finished her career ranked second in Wolverine history in RBIs (200) and grand slams (5) and was fourth in slugging percentage (.596), fifth in home runs (40), ninth in hits (248) and 10th in runs scored (157).
After her prestigious collegiate playing career was over, Amanda remembers that she was unsure where life would take her.
“I did struggle when I finished college,” she admits. “It was a huge ‘Now what?’ moment for me. I was the type of player that defined who I was with my performance. If I did good people loved me and if I did bad, they must have hated me, I worried. Competing in my sport is all I ever did, and I know people would come to watch me play, not to hang out with me. I had to learn that I am valuable without my sport, that people actually do want to hang out with me and not just watch me play. As simple as that sounds, it was hard for me to accept.”
An eight-time member of Team USA, Amanda competed in the Tokyo Olympic Games last summer and helped the Americans bring home the silver medal. In her illustrious career, she also has won a gold medal and two silver medals at the WBSC Women’s World Championships.
In 2019, the Allen Park, Michigan native was selected as the National Pro Fastpitch Player of the Year after batting .374 with a league-best 15 home runs.
Last year, Amanda finished second on the leaderboard in the Athletes Unlimited pro league while coming in first in hits (1), home runs (7), batting average (.413) and slugging percentage (.891) and was also named to the All-Defensive Team. She’ll play this summer in Athletes Unlimited once again.
Later this month, Amanda will be one of the instructors along with Janie Reed and Haylie McCleney at the RISR Hitting & Mental Training Camp to be held Saturday, May 28 in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and then in Kennesaw, Georgia on Sunday, May 29. Click HERE for more information.
So what does the future hold for Amanda? In some ways, she feels she’s come full circle, like how it was when she played in Ann Arbor for the University of Michigan.
“I honestly think these days remind me of college the most,” she feels. “I am balancing a full-time job with RISR, training full time for Athletes Unlimited, and I am a dog mom! My days have been crazy. Physically and mentally!”
“This is probably going to be my last year playing,” she concludes. “I love softball and it has been such a huge part of my life, but I am ready to give back and put all my energy into my family and friends and RISR.”
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
