Help Larry Play Baseball Again

My name is Larry Watts. I am a talented baseball player and passionate about the sport. I am capable and intelligent and ready for my next step in life, but I can’t do it without support. I’ve been able to get far on my own, but I know to succeed moving forward, I can’t do it without others. This is my story: I started at Harris Stowe State University in 2017. As a first generation college student, I was not aware of the realities of attending a university. Without the financial support I needed, I wasn’t able to succeed. After a year enrolled, I had to leave with a low GPA. The time I took away from Harris Stowe allowed me to rebuild confidence and ability for a new plan moving forward that sets me up for success. I was recently accepted into Morton College. In applying and trying to get federal aid, my loan was defaulted. I owe both Harris Stowe and Morton for classes I had previously enrolled in. Fortunately, these are now credits I can use to further my education at a new school, once my debt is resolved. I now have an academic advisor as extra support for my schooling and extracurricular activities moving forward. He helped me join a baseball team over the summer where I’ve been performing well. Together, we’re making sure I can go back to school. To avoid debt moving forward, I’ve been working small jobs and saving up money for the school year during my time away. I will continue my short-term employment, and I will apply for scholarships of which I am confident I can receive. My academic scholarship I will be eligible for will require me to maintain a 3.0 GPA, attend 15 credit hours worth of classes, and participate in an extracurricular activity. This scholarship provided by Morton College is worth $5000-6,000. Since part of my purpose in enrolling is to play baseball, once I am on the team I will also be eligible for a baseball scholarship that ranges from $3000-5,000. I want to play professional baseball, and I am confident that I have the skills to do so. Since leaving Harris Stowe State University, I have restructured my life in order to succeed. With this debt resolved, I can start new. In my first game this summer, I hit a home run and have since continued to perform well on the field. My academic advisor will help keep me on track to maintain a high GPA and my passion for baseball as my future career will help motivate my focus for these following school years until I graduate. The funds I am asking for will be to ensure my success and ability in my academic and baseball career moving forward. My debt right now is at $10,100 and to be able to perform at my best, I am in need of baseball equipment and I am going to attend a remote training program that will help me prepare me for professional play called Driveline Baseball. With $1,000, I will be able to attend this training for 5 months, a step I believe is necessary for me to succeed at this sport. All of the funds raised from this campaign will go towards my debt, equipment for baseball, and the training. My first year of college, I had to do this on my own and I wasn’t ready. Now, with added support, I know I can succeed. My ability as a baseball player and my passion for the sport, as well as my academic advisor and financial support I can receive from this campaign, will ensure I can accomplish what I know I’m capable of.