CJ Bates: Staff Writer

CJ Bates: Staff Writer

Hi! I’m CJ Bates and I’m a senior at East. I am a part of the varsity softball team, and have been since my freshman year.

When I’m not on the field practicing and playing, I am either doing homework or hanging out with friends.

I am a very social person, and love talking to anyone and everyone. I love getting to know others and their stories that have made them who they are today.

My grandma’s passing in second grade helped me to figure out what and who I wanted to be in life. My teacher was there for me.  She gave me a book and signed the inside of it, saying how she will always be here for me if I needed anything, and it just really touched my heart. So much so that because of her and my love of kids, I want to become an elementary school teacher.

Something that is interesting about me is I have had two hip surgeries 20 months apart from a previous basketball injury that I re-injured during my softball season. Writing has always been a passion of mine, but I have been too scared to put it out there and admit it to myself. But it’s a passion of mine, and I feel like I should run with it and not let the opportunity to write publicly slip through my fingers.