Utlizing Our Differences to Make a Difference
BY Laurie Willis
If she had to use only one word to describe her daughter it would be "dedicated", says Maddison "Maddie" Byrd's mother Tammie. Here at PowerGirls, we'd like to add dynamic. Many others agree. Major League Baseball, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), was so impressed with Maddie, that in 2007, she was one of seven teens honored with an MLB S.T.A.R. Award for her "sportsmanship, team spirit, achievement, & responsibility."
Maddie, whose father Phil is a Lt. Col. In the United States Airforce, is in her first year in high school in Steinwenden, Germany where her father is currently stationed at the Ramstein Air Base. This 14-year-old (soon to be 15) American teen is one of thousands of young people whose families are stationed on U.S. Military bases around the world. Growing up in a military family Maddie has lived in a number of different places but family solidarity and her sense of community is always a constant. Community service is something Maddie takes very seriously. "My mom inspires me and she motivates me to volunteer my time and share my talent with other kids in my community and help them develop their skills in sports." Her mom thinks giving back is very important and really works with Maddie and her three brothers to instill in them that "there are other ways to be in life rather than self-absorbed and always thinking about yourself. Think about others."
It's hard to imagine an hour of the day when Maddie isn't giving back. "I volunteer on Sundays at a softball skills development program to help younger girls learn to play and love softball. When I am not at my own practices for basketball and softball, I go to our Air Force base Boys & Girls Club after school to volunteer helping kids with their homework or play games with them." She also coaches her younger brother's baseball team and is involved in her local chapel's Destiny Youth Group, which encourages teens to be active in their local community and to do missionary/humanitarian work in needy European countries. This April Maddie will be going to Poland during the spring recess to help build schools and playgrounds. Giving back seems to drive those S.T.A.R. qualities that Major League Baseball recognized in her and she sees in herself. "It's very easy to show sportsmanship when I have so many opportunities everyday, but it starts with my own attitude. I maintain a positive outlook and I stay focused on my goals of making myself a better person and being an example for my teammates and fellow athletes. I'm not perfect! I do not always enjoy every assignment or activity at every moment. However, I know if I stay focused on the overall objective and try to keep a positive attitude, I will be successful."
Maddie is a gifted athlete, who truly excels at baseball, but it's her positive attitude and spirit that really sets her part. Selected to play on Germany's little league Senior All Star team in 2007, at 13 she was the youngest member. According to Steve Burns the teams coach "Maddie is a coach's dream. She always gives a 100% in everything she does. Her commitment to excellence is contagious; she makes everyone around her better. If I had nine Maddies on the field I would rule the softball world. Coach's are blessed with these kinds of players only once in a lifetime. I hope to coach her again one day."
The trip to the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in San Francisco was a great reward for someone who loves baseball as much as Maddie. Meeting Commissioner Bud Selig, Alex (A Rod) Rodriquez and Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson she cites as an experience she'll never forget. For National History Day, she wrote about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. She says their impact on baseball history "inspired me to be a better athlete and work toward being the best. Maybe one day I can be better or as good as they were, and maybe one day I can play Major League Baseball."
Meanwhile Maddie is making the most out of living in Germany. "This experience has made me a better person. It has made me more independent, self-confident and more understanding of other peoples differences. Other than trying to be very vigilant and safe at all times, I get to enjoy
a country that is beautiful; and the people are very friendly for the most part, although much more reserved than Americans. Once you get used to the language, the driving rules, and the customs, life in Germany is very comfortable. We are very lucky to be able to go just a few hours in any direction and be in another country like France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Austria. It really is amazing how much there is to do and see locally. There are castles everywhere and we live between the Rhine and the Mosel Rivers. My brother is graduating this year, and he gets to have his prom on a Rhine River cruise ship!" For Maddie experiencing German holidays and festivals is an additional bonus: "Last year we went to our first Fasching Parade (German Mardi Gras), and this year we went to several fests including Oktoberfest in Munich on opening day. We also enjoy German food. Especially German festival food! Brats, schnitzel, and pretzels galore!"
Maddie can afford to splurge on those pretzels because she burns plenty of calories playing softball. She's determined to keep improving her game to attract the attention of a college coach who can award her a scholarship as a "Scholar Athlete." But her future goals include more than sports she'd like to use her own experience to mentor and help the military kids of the future as a Department of Defense school teacher. Meanwhile, Maddie keeps piling up her stats.
If she had to use only one word to describe her daughter it would be "dedicated", says Maddison "Maddie" Byrd's mother Tammie. Here at PowerGirls, we'd like to add dynamic. Many others agree. Major League Baseball, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), was so impressed with Maddie, that in 2007, she was one of seven teens honored with an MLB S.T.A.R. Award for her "sportsmanship, team spirit, achievement, & responsibility."
Maddie, whose father Phil is a Lt. Col. In the United States Airforce, is in her first year in high school in Steinwenden, Germany where her father is currently stationed at the Ramstein Air Base. This 14-year-old (soon to be 15) American teen is one of thousands of young people whose families are stationed on U.S. Military bases around the world. Growing up in a military family Maddie has lived in a number of different places but family solidarity and her sense of community is always a constant. Community service is something Maddie takes very seriously. "My mom inspires me and she motivates me to volunteer my time and share my talent with other kids in my community and help them develop their skills in sports." Her mom thinks giving back is very important and really works with Maddie and her three brothers to instill in them that "there are other ways to be in life rather than self-absorbed and always thinking about yourself. Think about others."
It's hard to imagine an hour of the day when Maddie isn't giving back. "I volunteer on Sundays at a softball skills development program to help younger girls learn to play and love softball. When I am not at my own practices for basketball and softball, I go to our Air Force base Boys & Girls Club after school to volunteer helping kids with their homework or play games with them." She also coaches her younger brother's baseball team and is involved in her local chapel's Destiny Youth Group, which encourages teens to be active in their local community and to do missionary/humanitarian work in needy European countries. This April Maddie will be going to Poland during the spring recess to help build schools and playgrounds. Giving back seems to drive those S.T.A.R. qualities that Major League Baseball recognized in her and she sees in herself. "It's very easy to show sportsmanship when I have so many opportunities everyday, but it starts with my own attitude. I maintain a positive outlook and I stay focused on my goals of making myself a better person and being an example for my teammates and fellow athletes. I'm not perfect! I do not always enjoy every assignment or activity at every moment. However, I know if I stay focused on the overall objective and try to keep a positive attitude, I will be successful."
Maddie is a gifted athlete, who truly excels at baseball, but it's her positive attitude and spirit that really sets her part. Selected to play on Germany's little league Senior All Star team in 2007, at 13 she was the youngest member. According to Steve Burns the teams coach "Maddie is a coach's dream. She always gives a 100% in everything she does. Her commitment to excellence is contagious; she makes everyone around her better. If I had nine Maddies on the field I would rule the softball world. Coach's are blessed with these kinds of players only once in a lifetime. I hope to coach her again one day."
The trip to the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in San Francisco was a great reward for someone who loves baseball as much as Maddie. Meeting Commissioner Bud Selig, Alex (A Rod) Rodriquez and Sharon Robinson, the daughter of Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson she cites as an experience she'll never forget. For National History Day, she wrote about the All American Girls Professional Baseball League. She says their impact on baseball history "inspired me to be a better athlete and work toward being the best. Maybe one day I can be better or as good as they were, and maybe one day I can play Major League Baseball."
Meanwhile Maddie is making the most out of living in Germany. "This experience has made me a better person. It has made me more independent, self-confident and more understanding of other peoples differences. Other than trying to be very vigilant and safe at all times, I get to enjoy
a country that is beautiful; and the people are very friendly for the most part, although much more reserved than Americans. Once you get used to the language, the driving rules, and the customs, life in Germany is very comfortable. We are very lucky to be able to go just a few hours in any direction and be in another country like France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Austria. It really is amazing how much there is to do and see locally. There are castles everywhere and we live between the Rhine and the Mosel Rivers. My brother is graduating this year, and he gets to have his prom on a Rhine River cruise ship!" For Maddie experiencing German holidays and festivals is an additional bonus: "Last year we went to our first Fasching Parade (German Mardi Gras), and this year we went to several fests including Oktoberfest in Munich on opening day. We also enjoy German food. Especially German festival food! Brats, schnitzel, and pretzels galore!"
Maddie can afford to splurge on those pretzels because she burns plenty of calories playing softball. She's determined to keep improving her game to attract the attention of a college coach who can award her a scholarship as a "Scholar Athlete." But her future goals include more than sports she'd like to use her own experience to mentor and help the military kids of the future as a Department of Defense school teacher. Meanwhile, Maddie keeps piling up her stats.