By Derrick Smith
Success is what everyone is working for, no matter what you do. No matter what industry you are in and no matter what your age, we are all working to become the best that we can be. And that includes high school student-athletes like Addie Bell.
“I have put in a lot to become the best that I can be,” she said. “Countless hours of extra work, staying mentally strong, never giving up, and never allowing anyone’s opinion of my team or I to define me.”
Bell is a senior at Dale High School, where she is a member of the softball and basketball teams. She plays pitcher on the softball field but can play wherever her team needs her. Addie has been playing softball for the majority of her life, beginning at the age of four.
Over the years of playing softball, Bell has made some great memories with her teammates. But she says that there is one memory that stands out as her favorite.
“Making it to the State Finals three years in a row would have to be my favorite memory,” she said. “The feeling of all the hard work paying off was so indescribable.”
Throughout her life, Bell has had a lot of people that have touched her life and helped her become the person she is today.
“My parents are some of my biggest role models,” she states. “They have pushed me to be the best person I can be and constantly push me to strive for more. My Grandad is also a major role model in my life. He is someone I have relied on for encouragement and motivation to keep going. All of these people have taught me the value of hard work and never give up.”
As a student, she was also impacted by the teachers that taught her. She says that there are a couple that stands out as her top ones.
“Mrs. Robbie and Miss. Hutchison are probably two of my favorite teachers at Dale,” she said. “ They have both taught me to become a more critical thinker and have helped me expand my leadership skills.”
Along with sports, Addie is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council, and Elementary School Tour. She will be attending William Jewel College this fall.