My name is Christopher Soeder and I am currently in my second year as a Division 1 baseball player at Mississippi Valley State University. Playing at the collegiate level has been a goal of mine since I first picked up a ball as a child. With that said, numerous people have helped me get to where I am today but when I think of the one person that helped me change my mindset, graduate high school with a 3.0 GPA and obtain a scholarship to play baseball at the highest college level, I think of my mentor, Fred Chamberlain.

I’ll never forget the hole I dug myself into my freshman year of high school. I was struggling academically and in baseball. My parents and I reached out to the school for support and we were connected to FOA and to Mr. Chamberlain and everything began to change.

Our first conversation we connected through sports.Each week we would meet for an hour and talk. The meeting was an outlet and opportunity to decompress and get away from the stressors of high school. Meeting with Mr. Chamberlain had an immediate impact on my life. My grades started to improve and my performance on the baseball field also improved. I truly believe I would have not had continued success in high school and beyond had it not been for Mr. Chamberlain, as he completely changed my life for the better.

In addition to the success I achieved in high school both on and off the field, FOA also awarded me a scholarship for my hard work and dedication. Anyone who is struggling with the stress of high school like I did should know that having a mentor that you can open up to and release that stress to is truly a life changer. I recommend FOA for any and all students who need someone to talk to and need additional support in their lives. Mr. Chamberlain and I still keep in touch to this day and the connection and relationship we share is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.FOA and Mr. Chamberlain will always have a special place in my heart.