Kyle Brasher

My stepping stones towards my dreams

At day’s end, who knew a miracle was in store? At 6 p.m. on May 19, I was born. I was lucky enough to be born to two great parents. My father was a Whirlpool executive while my mom was a fourth-grade English teacher. With my father‘s company being worldwide, I moved constantly. I lived in Florida, Michigan, and Delaware before we finally found a home in Texas when I was five years old. Growing up, I pretty much lived the all-American childhood. All of that changed Feb. 13, 1995. My father suffered a severe heart attack that day, and died at my grandmother’s house. I knew at the tender age of 6 that my life would be forever changed. The next few years were hard on me. I never knew how much I missed my dad until I started playing baseball. It was hard watching all the kids with their father enjoying themselves. How was it fair that all these kids could have their dads there but I could not? Though tough times came, one person got me through it all and made me the person I am today, my mother. She was there every time I fell, every time I doubted myself and, most importantly, anytime I felt different because my dad wasn’t there. As I got older, I found an escape from everything in baseball. I loved every aspect of the game. I longed for lengthy practices and wanted the games to never end. I truly ate, drank and slept baseball. Baseball stayed that way for me for quite some time. Baseball became the only thing I was about. I wanted to be known for nothing more than a great baseball player.

For sixteen years I had that goal, then another hardship entered my life. My freshman year of high school was going exactly as planned. I had baseball, the girls, the grades, everything. Until my elbow incident, my whole life, I had made a mark with my pitching skills. I was quite the athlete, being recruited by colleges as a high school freshman. One day, I was throwing in the bullpen when I felt a pop. I immediately clinched my elbow and rushed to the training room in pain. The team doctor knew at first sight that the injury was serious. The trainers sent me to an orthopedic doctor, who gave me the bad news. I had managed to completely blow out my elbow. The bone was broken, the ligaments torn, and the muscles ripped; everything that could have gone wrong, did. I was forced to realize that baseball was no longer a possibility. Six days later I endured a grueling three-hour surgery. With my baseball career in Texas over, I headed off for New Orleans.

I walked into my new school, Grace King High School, a new man. With baseball hanging in the balance, I knew my lifestyle had to change. I had always had a passion for writing, but never developed it. With all this newfound time on my hands, I did just that. I began writing about what I knew best, sports. I rekindled a fiery passion for broadcasting. I sat for hours watching the men on Sportscenter, and picked up everything the anchors did. That’s when I realized journalism was my calling. While my focus is on sports journalism, journalism will be the foundation on my road to success. A year after my surgery and with intense rehabilitation, I returned to the game I loved. I resurfaced as not only an athlete, but as a student-athlete. I managed to be successful in the game for the rest of my high school career. When making the choice of college to attend, I remembered watching the LSU baseball team winning the College World Series in both 1998 and 2000. I adamantly followed their season and kept track of everything LSU. I knew without a doubt that this was the place for me. It was the only college I applied to. Luckily, my injury helped me because, without my renewed concentration on school, I would not have had the grades to be accepted. Overall, I love journalism because I get to the put the word out there. I know that I will take what the Manship School will give me and put it towards my dream. Being a sports anchor is my dream, and it is where I am meant to be.