麻豆传媒AV

Andrew Albers visited John Paul II Collegiate Jan. 21, the place he can always call home.

After students gathered in the gym, Albers began telling them about his desire to play ball since the age of six and what a unique journey his dream has taken him on. He talked of times he was so fortunate to have and times that he experienced some severe lows. Throughout those times many lessons were learned to bring him to where he is standing today.

After leaving home for college in Kentucky. Albers came to the realization that he was on his own. Education was a major goal of his and he knew he needed to go to school instead of straight into pro ball. He told the students how important it is to trust in the values and morals you have and be true to yourself. He said he had many highs and lows and he learned that you really have to grind through the lows and take the highs as they come. Interestingly, the times that didn't go the way he had liked were the times when he found out most about himself, Albers said.

Fighting through the adversity has taken Albers a long way. In particular, he learned how important his family is when his dad suffered a stroke in 2007. After being wrapped up in "his deal" he had a hard reality check that his family needed a miracle. Through constant prayer and faith the Albers family was granted such a blessing, their dad pulled through.

Other complications such as the Tommy John surgery that he experienced left him in rehab unable to bend his arm, but he preserved and worked through it. Soon after his surgery he was cut from the San Diego Padres and yet faced another low, but Quebec gave him an opportunity to find the joy he has for the mound once again; after all, you have to find joy in what you do, he said.

Many rejections came Albers' way, but he would not let go of the joy he had. Albers continued to stress to the students of JPII that what you want doesn't happen right away. Without hard work and perseverance even through the toughest times you can find a way to make what you love work for you, so keep faith, he said.