Sara: Softball Star and Future Neonatologist

By Anya P.

It all started with some inspiration. Sara J.'s uncle played in the MLB for about 20 years, which inspired Sara to be like him. She decided to dedicate her life to softball, which is the closest she could get to be like her uncle. However, Sara was inspired a second time, this time by her cousin, who worked in the NICU. “When my cousin was in and out of the NICU, I realized that helping these parents get their baby back to health and being able to help someone get their joy back in their life (is what I wanted to do),” says Sara.

Many middle schoolers already know what they want to be when they grow up. Some might know what college they want to go to or which career they’d like to pursue, however, none have such a thought-through plan as Sara . She plans to go to either UCLA or Oklahoma and play softball. After 4 years, she plans to go on to med school and become a neonatologist.

Sara is well known for her athletic talent. She excels tremendously in softball, which she’s played since the age of 4. She plays shortstop and pitcher. “She could kill somebody with that pitch,” says Delaney W. She says the easiest part of softball is being able to lead her team. Sara says she has played for so many years that leading her team has become a natural habit for her. The hardest thing about softball games, Sara says, is trying not to be nervous because it can cause you to lose focus and make the wrong decisions.

“She's really good, like really good. The first game she got a home run and I was like ‘dang’ that girl can hit,” Haylee E. exclaimed.

Neonatologists aren’t people you hear about every day. When you think of people who’ve gone to medical school, you probably think of pediatricians, nurses, and dentists. However, neonatologists play an extremely important role in the hospital as well. They work in the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit). Those who work in the NICU focus on nursing infants back to health. These healthcare providers help newborns with low body weight, apnea, breathing difficulty, and birth defects. They also deal with ill, premature, and weak infants around the clock. Using special training and equipment, neonatologists provide infants the best possible care.

With her whole life laid out in front of her, it seems like this goal-getter can do whatever she puts her soul into. “Being able to work hard and accomplish your goals while still having fun seems to me like the best thing you can do to succeed,” Sara says.