My name is Charles Jaeger. I am a twenty-three-year-old at the University of Dubuque, and have started my Master’s Degree in Business Administration, as well as playing on the baseball team. I graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School in 2020 and attended Ellsworth Community College, where I graduated with High Honors in the spring of 2022 and received the Academic Athlete of the Year. I attended Clarke University from 2022 to 2023 and was welcomed into the University of Dubuque family in 2023. From the moment my parents signed me up for baseball at the age of three, it was my first love. I can truthfully say the sport enhanced my life in every aspect and has been the biggest mental health tool I have had in my nineteen years of playing the game; as well as being a driving force for me to stay physically healthy. Whether I am overwhelmed with personal relationships, work, or school; stepping onto the field has been the best release I have found in my life. I have seen struggles related to mental health take hold of people close to me, and I am forever indebted to the game of baseball for helping me combat struggles I have faced in life. Mental health affects everyone. I encourage everyone to allow themselves and others to be vulnerable, comfortable, and open to facing the problems we all experience. The University of Dubuque has an amazing community that encourages this, and I am beyond lucky to be surrounded by the student body, staff members, and coaches that are here with me every step of the way. I encourage everyone to make their mental and physical health a priority, and to allow those around them to help them live a healthy life
