My name is Jake Schaffer. I am from La Crescenta, California. I am currently in the master’s program for sports marketing and management. I was a double major and got my bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resource management. I am a baseball player here on campus at the University of Dubuque. For me, the baseball field is my place to forget about what is going on in the world and in my life and be a kid playing a child’s game. I leave everything that is not related to baseball at the gate and have fun playing the game I love. In today’s world there are more and more people and athletes that are struggling with mental health and stress. This is a huge issue that we see in people and athletes even at the highest level. Some people can play it off and say they are fine or even act like they are happy and not struggling. It is important to check on your friends and teammates to make sure that everything is going okay and see how they are doing.
I am thankful that I have people in my life whether it’s a friend, family, coach, and professors that I know I can trust with anything that is bothering me. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and reach out to someone if you are struggling with mental health issues. The people that are closest to you care about you and your wellbeing. If you see anyone that is struggling with mental health, reach out to them and try to help them. A “hello” goes a long way. The University of Dubuque has a great community filled with some amazing people. I am beyond grateful that I made the decision to come to UD; so that I can utilize the support around me to be a kid for a couple hours a day.
