AJ stands for Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. His reputation for toughness earned him the nickname "Old Hickory." A hero of the War of 1812, Jackson has appeared on the $20 bill since 1928.

It's time to get ready for the softball season.Softball Season

Not play softball? Out of the question!

I've been playing softball since I could swing a bat, and the idea of not playing seems out of the question.

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I look at the calendar. Oh no! Tryouts for softball and the school play are at the same time!

My friends and I have been talking about the play for weeks. At the same time, with a strong push from my parents, I've been getting ready for softball. I've been:

• Going to after-school classes to help with my acting
• Hitting the batting cages and throwing the ball around a couple times a week to get ready for softball season 

I quickly figure out that I'm going to have to choose between playing softball and being in the play.

This is Big

I've always tried to be in  every play.I Live and Breathe Theater

In costume

I've always tried to be in every play I can, but if being in a play gets in the way of softball, I know what I'd usually choose...I usually choose softball.

Close Have you ever had to make a hard choice? Sometimes you have to choose between two things you really like!

My decision to play softball or participate in the school play is one of those choices. It's the biggest choice I've had to make so far.

I know how important it is to make the right choice because it will change a lot in my life, today and into the future.

No matter how I chose, I'll lose out on opportunitiesTwo Opportunities

If I chose softball, my parents say they'll buy me a car so I could lug my equipment around. That would awesome!

If I chose theater I'll gain valuable experience in acting, a field I plan to be in for a long time!

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The Pros and Cons

Softball and theater are really different, so you can see that my choice is major.  It was important enough for me to have to sit down and write a pro and con list.

On the one hand, there is softball:

Pros:

• It's a great way for me to get exercise. Since it's the only sport I'm still playing, it's my only way to get exercise. 
• I'm good at it.
• I have a lot of great friends on my softball team,
• It's my family's first choice for me and they say they'll give me a car, so it would make everyone happy.

Cons:

• Two practices a day throughout the season, where I have to get up really early in the morning. I'm not a morning person!
• Weekend tournaments cut into my time for studying and being with my family, and leave not much down time.
• Softball friends drift apart when the season ends every year.
• I know I won't play softball in college because I want to focus on my studies.

On the other hand, there is theater...

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