HSBN Scholarship Essay Entry: Logan Rose

Logan Rose, #2, from the Northeast Hurricanes, is a pitcher that graduates with the class of 2020. Logan had a big junior year, and his senior season was just starting when it was cut short. He gave us some insight into what the past few months have meant to him.

Essay:

2020…the year I had been working my entire lifetime for. My year. Our year. The Senior class of 2020, had so many plans for this year…Prom, Grad Bash, Graduation.

For the Senior athletes, our final high school seasons, Senior night, playoffs and the chance to be the leaders of our team. None of us ever imagined that all of these plans would come to a screeching halt without any warning.

On Thursday, March 12th, I headed to the field with my laser focus set on our game that night. I would be on the bump and as always, I was psyched for the game. I had no idea that would be my last time playing high school baseball.

It would be the last time playing with my teammates, my boys, my 2nd family. The last time playing for my coaches, the coaches that have helped me mature as a man and a player. The last time playing as a Northeast Hurricane. I have replayed that game many times in my head and wondered how different it would have been if I had known then that it would be my last.

When we left the field that night, I was concerned, but optimistic that this was a temporary shut down and we would return to our regular season play after Spring Break. Within a week Broward County Schools were shut down and the realization set in that not just the season, but my Senior year was over.

This spring season didn’t start off very well for our team. We were struggling to say the least. We had a lot of new players and we were just starting to get into a groove and work as a unit. We just needed a little more time and unfortunately that wasn’t going to happen.

The shutdown of the season hurt us all individually, and as a squad. The bulk of our team was made up of juniors and for them this would have been a growing year. A time to bond as teammates, gel on the field and become stronger.

With the team having only two seniors this season, this time would have definitely set them up to develop into a more powerful, solid team for next year. As for me and the other senior on the team, we will not be so lucky. We won’t have the opportunity to shine in our Northeast uniforms ever again.

Although that is sad, we are both fortunate enough and blessed to be continuing our baseball careers at the college level in the fall. I feel deeply saddened for those seniors that may have played their final baseball game this Spring with no promise of a future. For me, knowing I have this next step to look forward to has been my ray of sunshine in this Covid storm.

I now spend the majority of my time training. I wake up early and get my online assignments done in the morning and that leaves the remainder of my day open to work on my sport. Being quarantined with most of the world around me closed down, I have had to be creative and revamp my workouts.

My parents were kind enough to help me acquire the proper weight equipment to work all the muscle groups necessary. I have also been fortunate enough to have access to a batting cage and a baseball field so that I can continue hitting and throwing every day.

It is definitely not the same without my teammates out there practicing along side me but I am determined not to let this virus derail my goals.

I am concerned about the Covid-19 virus and the devastation it has caused to our country and around the world. Both my parents have jobs that are considered “essential,” so they are still working every day. My father is a firefighter and a first responder in this pandemic.

It is extremely frightening to know that he could be exposed to Covid-19 on any call he goes out on. One of his co-workers has already contracted the virus and many others have been mandated to quarantine due to exposure.

I say extra prayers every time he goes to work that God protects him and brings him back home safe. He has always been the type of person to step up and help when needed and I don’t think he would have it any other way than being on the front lines.

My emotions have been all over the place during this shutdown. I have experienced sadness, shock, anger and fear just to name a few. It has been hard to see the big picture at times, but I am mature enough to realize that this had to happen this way.

Schools, cities, counties and states had to be shut down to help control the spread of this virus. There was no other option. The decisions made by our authorities were for the greater good of everyone and were meant to keep us all safe, not hurt us.

Understanding the logistics of their decisions is one thing, but accepting them hasn’t always been easy. I realize that the world doesn’t revolve around me or the graduating class of 2020, but I felt a huge loss. So much has been taken from us and there is nothing we can do to change that.

So many people have experienced loss as a result of this pandemic. Loss of jobs, loss of income, loss of companionship and loss of lives. All different kinds of loss. I realized that it is okay to grieve my loss but I need to keep it in perspective and be thankful for the blessings I have in this time.

My family is healthy. My parents still have their jobs and their income. Most importantly I have gotten to spend so much quality time with my parents that our normally busy lives wouldn’t usually allow for. Since I will be going away to attend college in the fall, spending this extra time with my parents has made me appreciate them and the bond we have even more.

Baseball has had a major role in my life since I started playing at 4 years old. It has taught me many life lessons. Being an only child, it has taught me to be part of something bigger and to work as a team.

It has taught me sportsmanship and how to win and lose gracefully.

It has taught me to be brave and strong.

It has humbled me at times.

I have been told over and over again, by so many coaches, that baseball is game of failure. Through my years of playing, the batting slumps and the rough patches, I finally understand that old saying. Baseball, the game I love, has taught me to deal with and overcome adversity.

For me, and the other seniors in the Class of 2020, this is just another obstacle to overcome. We have our whole lives ahead of us and this will just make us stronger.

Leave a comment using your facebook account!