Under the hum of field lights, senior and varsity softball player Audrey Lee drags her cleats across the dirt, tracing the edge of the infield. Fields like these are where she’s spent much of her high school years — engrossed in late-night practices, learning to steady her nerves and finding comfort in the teammates who would become her closest friends. Now, after almost a decade of dedication, Lee takes the next swing by committing to Carnegie Mellon University.
Lee’s softball career started long before high school. Forced into the sport at 8 years old by her parents, she attended grueling practices to hone her skills. However, what started as a reluctant childhood obligation soon pulled her into a sport defined by community, routine and hard work.
“I was literally crying before my first game,” Lee said. “But once I started talking to people on the team and becoming friends with them, softball stopped feeling like a burden and started feeling like I was just hanging out with my friends.”
As Lee continued playing and dedicating more time, struggles with negative thoughts hindered her performance, but repeated reassurance from coaches gradually taught her how to remain optimistic. Lee soon began to understand her strengths, acknowledge her weaknesses and shape a mindset and skill set that would carry her through her games.
“When she’s locked in, she’s always really focused and involved in the game,” senior and varsity softball player Calia Lim said. “She dedicates a lot of time and effort to perfecting her game. If it’s not good enough, she’ll do another until she feels it’s up to par, which is very inspiring.”
Lee first heard about the Triple Crown International Challenge program — which gives top athletes the opportunity to be scouted for the Olympics — through Lim’s Instagram posts and other players she followed online. She ended up applying after seeing the tight bond Lim was able to form with her TCIC teammates. Through this experience, she met players from across the world, bonded over long days and found a new kind of team energy built around culture and pride. TCIC brought out the spirited side of softball through cowbells, bubble guns, team flags and cheering parents banging drums along the sidelines.
Over time, softball allowed Lee to develop a clearer picture of her identity, both as a player and a person. Her ability to pick herself up, calm her thoughts and not overthink proved crucial when the college recruiting process began and she navigated through the uncertainties and emotional strain.
“My mental game used to be so bad, and it affected everything,” Lee said. “But once I learned how to control it, everything started going up. I became more confident, and that helped the whole team too because we reflect each other’s emotions.”
Drawn to Carnegie Mellon University for its prestigious academic environment, responsive coaching staff and positive team culture, Lee approached the recruiting season with much anticipation. As coaches stayed transparent throughout the process, Lee felt wanted long before she arrived on campus.
“Once I talked to Coach Harrison, the recruiting coach for Carnegie Mellon, on a call, we set up a time to meet in person,” Lee said. “I was able to tour the campus, and meet a lot of my future team members. Everyone was so welcoming, and the overall team dynamic reminded me of my favorite old teams, and we all got to hang out.”
With a final season left before college, Lee is focusing on enjoying her last year with her current team and keeping her mental game steady. She hopes to contribute to Carnegie Mellon by being part of the same supportive team dynamic that nurtured her passion for the sport.
For now, she kicks the dirt along the infield, the field lights overhead casting a familiar glow that she’s become accustomed to over the last four years. This diamond has shaped her past adventures, and now, it’s sending her off to another.
“I’m just going with the flow,” Lee said. “That’s the only way I got through recruiting. Even when I was scared of getting ghosted, I kept going. And that’s the mindset I’m going to head with into whatever life has in store for me next.”
