My reality without the game of softball and the conditioned personal pressures to be perfect lead to a face off with a new side of myself.
Buena Vista Series: Day Four
An unintentional delay in writing these blogs, but, every cloud has it’s silver lining. In recent months I’ve fallen “victim” of what Coach Mau spoke of during our trip – a certain [unintentional] engulfment in the trivial day-to-day trials and tribulations of life in a complex, but not necessarily fruitful, society. Since returning from … Continue reading Buena Vista Series: Day Four
Buena Vista Series: Day Three
03-20-2017 Day 3 Day three was the best day, in my opinion, by far. Again, I just hope words can do it justice. Enjoy! The infant tradition of an early morning accompanied by Leiva coffee was not broken, even if we are were lacking that same spring in our step from the first day. Forgive … Continue reading Buena Vista Series: Day Three
Buena Vista Series: Day Two
03-19-2017 Day 2 The excitement that we held in our minds and hearts was, surprisingly, soon to wane. We had heard the nights got a bit chilly in Buena Vista, but this, this was a different level. This was freezing. We were caught completely off-guard! We had all gone to bed with a couple … Continue reading Buena Vista Series: Day Two
Buena Vista Series: Day One
The Buena Vista Series is a five part blog documenting my service trip to Buena Vista, Guatemala, during spring break of 2017 with the humanitarian organization World Sports United. Along with six other amazing volunteers, and now friends for life, Mauricio & Milena Ruiz, Cameron Grassmyer, Hayden Cruise, Eddy Jimenez, and Andrew Quintana, we spent … Continue reading Buena Vista Series: Day One
Burnsey’s Journey: Guatemala 2017
Hello Sonder's Secret followers! I hope you all are well. We have some amazing news... It's been in the pipeline for a while now, but, I, Jack, am pleased to finalize my service trip to Buena Vista, Guatemala, in a couple weeks time with World Sports United, Inc.! Just last month I was afforded the amazing … Continue reading Burnsey’s Journey: Guatemala 2017
Bottom of the 7th
Injuries. Mental Battles. Loss of Identity. And the "burden" of leadership. This blog reveals the a life changing leadership lesson I learned during my last seasons as a DI collegiate softball player
All but Alone.
It’s okay not to be okay. Those six words stuck with me after reading the story of Madison Holleran, a student-athlete at the University of Pennsylvania, who sadly committed suicide in January 2014. Her struggles and stresses led to depression, and that depression led to her suicide. By no means was it that simple, and … Continue reading All but Alone.
STUCK
“STUCK” I feel stuck. Paralyzed. Emotionless almost. Hopeful. Hopeful that my friends of different backgrounds don’t make generalizations about my race. Whether it is walking in the grocery store, or working out at the gym I feel uncomfortable as a black person. I get the stare. The stare of fear, the unknown, and repentance from … Continue reading STUCK