Athlete pushes way into adulthood

It's a perfect spring day. The sun is shining, a breeze is blowing, there's a hush in the air.
Then, breaking the silence, there's a shout. "Hey batter, batter. Swing!" Taylor Coleman looks, then takes his best shot. This is where his story begins.

"I started playing baseball when I was 5 years old and ever since then I have played every spring, summer and fall," the freshman baseball player said. He may make it look that way, but it hasn't been easy to get here. "Some of the obstacles I have had to face are constantly pushing myself to get better anytime I can, even on the days I don't feel great and fighting for playing time," Coleman said. "Not giving up when I'm not playing my best and staying positive is the hardest thing to do in baseball," Coleman said. "It's a game of failure."

Overcoming these obstacles has taught him some lessons. "It has taught me that you have to work hard and that you have to have integrity and a good attitude to become successful in anything," Coleman said. Not only does Coleman play baseball, he also loves to go hunting, fishing, camping, snowboarding, surfing and running. "Sports basically run my life," Coleman said. "My favorite sports are playing baseball and running track."

This passion has earned him honors along the way. Coleman was a four year letterman in track, three year letterman in baseball, was a finalist in the 200-meter dash, a state finalist in the 4x200 meter relay, broke the school's 4x200 meter relay record, was on the 2009 all-district team for baseball and was on the 2009 academic all-state team. This was all before he enrolled in college.

Even though Coleman chose Texarkana College, he was asked to run track at Texas A&M
University at College Station. "I came to TC to play baseball and become more independent," Coleman said. "I like being on my own. When I lived with my parents I had to live by their decisions and now that I am on my own I get to make my own decisions. It makes me feel more grown up and more of an individual." He had to become responsible
in a short period of time.

"One day I was living with my parents in Tomball, Texas, and the next I was on my own, doing my own grocery shopping, laundry, cooking and cleaning. It was a lot different than living at home with my parents," he said. After his two years at TC, Coleman plans to transfer to a fouryear university and hopes to continue playing baseball. "I plan on going to law school to become a sports agent," he said. "My goals are to graduate college and become successful in whatever I decide to do." "I plan on raising and supporting a family in the future," Coleman said.

One of my main goals is to keep God in my life wherever my life takes me." With that said, the game is coming to an end, the sun is still shining, the wind is still blowing and Coleman, smiling, says, "This is the starting point of my new life."