Pressure Makes Diamonds: AJ Roth

By Wilson West

SEATTLE -- Sports is just a title for a journey of adversity and connection shaping young athletes to grow in their own self character. Junior golfer AJ Roth is on this path of golf pushing him out of his comfort zone to develop in virtuous traits. Attributes such as patience and discipline are lifelong qualities that the game of golf is revealing to Roth.

Many of the golf greats argue that the game is more mental than physical.

"Golf has taught me how to stay calm under pressure and not let one bad shot ruin the rest of my day," says Roth.

The art of resilience is only found by trial and error. Players shoot over 60 shots per round which gives a lot of room for error. Roth points to the fact that he has to grow in his perseverance and not let one shot become a setback that affects the rest of his round.

This lesson of tenacity translates to Roth's life off of the course. He applies this to the classroom; not letting one bad grade effect his overall performance in the academic environment.

Roth explains, "One difficult moment in golf is when I play poorly in a match after practicing a lot."

The hardest events are working everyday and not seeing the results. Roth explains this happens during his season, but the lesson is patience and the results will show, it's just a matter of time.

Roth believes that getting better takes time and will keep working even when he doesn't see the results in the right way.

At the end of the day, it is not the sport itself that Roth is grateful for but the personal growth that he gains to be shaped into an O'Dea gentleman.