2021 Gumbo final - Book - Page 213
213
jack
“I have an internship this summer at Valero in Oklahoma. That’s where they
stuck me because I told them I was interested in going anywhere. I was born
in Oklahoma, and my grandparents live there too, so it works out well. As a
chemical engineering major, I’ve become really interested in petrochemicals
and hydrocarbons. When I graduate, I’m going to go wherever that work takes
me. It would be great though if I could stay in Louisiana. I’ve adopted this place
as my home, and I love it here. I wouldn’t be going to LSU if I didn’t. The culture,
the food, Saturday nights in Death Valley, and even baseball games at the Box
give me energy. I’ve been to a few games this season, and I was big into baseball
in high school. I’ve played since I was like two years old. It’s been my life up until
recently where now I just have to watch it. As a spectator, I’m still very invested
in the team without being a part of it. It’s kind of funny. Pitching was my favorite
thing to do when I played. I was a P-O so I’d just pitch. It was also always fun
messing around on the bench with people while in the middle of the game. Just
playing the game was my favorite thing though. That’s why you play, to be in the
moment! And what I like about pitching is that you get to start every single play.
There’s almost no other sport where the whole entire play revolves around you.
Baseball is just a culmination of one-on-one matchups. It’s just a different kind
of intensity. You’ve done it a million times but it’s mental. You have to hone in,
shake away all of those nerves, and play loose.”