That picture may look like just another embarrassing picture that your mother keeps on her fridge for far too long, but it represents something much more to me. I played baseball instead of softball until I was 14 years old. I lived and breathed baseball. However, I was faced with many more challenges than my batting average and fielding percentage.

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As the only chick in the league, I was teased and consistently underestimated just because I was a girl. I still ran as fast and swung as hard as the boys. One All-Star game, the announcer even read my name as "Mario Ragusa". I still cringe thinking about how demeaning that felt, especially as a nine year old girl. Looking back on it, this was a pivotal moment in my life. Feeling the intense emotions of sexism, I promised I would never let anyone make me feel like that announcer made me feel again.

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Since then, I have worked with young girls to develop confidence and marched in the Los Angeles Women's March. Fighting for gender inequality is a part of who I am, which I hope to apply to my advertising career by making gender inclusive campaigns and volunteering with awareness groups.

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I throw like a girl and I can't wait to strike out sexism.