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Addie Taylor is a senior at Clio High School. Her softball team, Grand Blanc-based District 4, recently won the Senior League Softball World Series championship. See the full story on her team on page 28.
“It was such an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The girls and coaches truly made the trip and experience even better. The late-night laughs and Wawa trips we took before and after games are something I will never forget. Being able to be a small part of something so big was really amazing, and I wouldn’t be able to say I did it without the girls around me. It meant the world to win the championship again because we had worked so hard to be able to say we 2-peated.”
Are you active with other sports?
I play golf for my high school team. I have gotten recognition for it all three years I have played, and it is definitely different from softball, but I still love it. It teaches me to remember that I am not perfect 24/7, and I don’t need to be.
What is your favorite class at Clio High School?
My favorite class definitely has to be Yearbook because it teaches me how to be creative and helps me work better with others.
Do you have college plans yet?
In the fall of 2027, I plan to attend Wayne State University and pursue my athletic and educational career there. When I get older, I want to become a speech pathologist for kids with disabilities.
Where do you see yourself in 5 and 10 years?
I see myself working in a school district and pursuing my dream of becoming a speech pathologist. As much as I would love to say I would be playing professional softball, I don’t want that for myself. All the experiences I have gained from playing travel softball since I was little are something I will always be grateful for and remember, but at some point in my life, I am going to have to set down the ball and do what is best for my future.
What advice would you give freshmen girls regarding sports, social life and academics to succeed in high school?
Don’t feel like you have to be perfect all the time. Mistakes are going to happen. You are going to mess up, probably get into trouble once or twice, or forget to do something after your mom asked you to do it a thousand times. Sports mean everything to a lot of people, but do not look to sports for self-validation or validation from others. The more you wait for yourself to be perfect, the more time you are wasting. You need to quit looking for perfection and take a break once in a while, hang out with friends, be yourself and go to that school dance. Have fun; just focus on being your best.
