Ichiro Honors his Bat
and 7 changes to financial aid for incoming freshman
This Prep Notes
1) Ichiro’s gratitude
2) New FAFSA info
3) The Class, begins January 17th
A non-profit serving 10,838 college-bound families in 42 states and 24 countries.
Letter to the Craftsman
“In Japan we take care of our instruments, our bats and our gloves,” Suzuki said. “We take care of them well because these things are very important.”
Ichiro Suzuki might be the greatest and most grateful hitter of all-time.
He had 4,367 career hits, more than any professional in baseball history. The future hall of famer collected 3,089 in the MLB and 1,278 in the Nippon Professional Leagues. In 2004 Ichiro set the MLB single-season record (262), breaking George Sisler’s 84-year-old record of 257 hits. “Greatest hitter” is a debate. Most grateful is a story.
Early in his career, appreciation slumped for a day. Ichiro went to writing.
— During a game for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan in 1999, Ichiro Suzuki struck out and returned to the dugout unusually frustrated. In a fit of anger, he destroyed his black Mizuno bat. Embarrassed, Suzuki wrote a letter of apology to the craftsman who had made his bats by hand from Tamo wood, grown on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. New York Times, 2002
The handwritten letter honored the bat maker’s hands. For Ichiro, the Tamo wood was more than a tool for hits. It was a reflection of a craftsman’s care and effort. Ichiro respected and understood these things from his own process.
Respect the Leather
Ichiro considered the glove the second “instrument” to be taken care of. Important and expensive, a standard high school glove costs $210. This is what that 84% of the world lives on each week.
It’s unlikely you will find your leatherworker, so write a ‘thank you’ letter to the person who built the paycheck to buy the glove. Appreciation fuels givers. It will make their day and make you look at your brown leather like Ichiro saw his black bat. Take care of your instruments and give thanks to a craftsman.
Growth Mindset Question
What do you own that you are deeply grateful for?
Prep Map (Info for families)
The Federal Government is simplifying the financial aid process. In the end, it’s a streamlined process for new college students. The links and videos below are to help unearth $20,000 or more in aid, for the first year, or across 4. The new information is imperative for seniors and beneficial learning for underclassmen.
The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application will be available by December 31, 2023. The BIG and NEW changes impact deadlines, requirements, and calculations – all to make FAFSA simpler.
7 Changes
1) FAFSA Opening Date: The December 31, 2023 date change is temporary. It returns to Oct. 1, 2024 for the 2025-26 academic year.
2) FSA ID Requirement: For 2024-25, students and application contributors can set up their FSA IDs on StudentAid.gov anytime before the FAFSA opens. Students will not be able to set up an FSA ID and complete the FAFSA on the same day.
3) Aid Calculation: FAFSA will introduce the Student Aid Index (SAI), which will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI considers income, assets, and other factors. Notable changes include fewer questions, a minimum SAI of -1,500, and no family-size adjustment.
4) Pell Grant Changes: Pell Grant eligibility now considers income, family size, and poverty guidelines. More students may automatically qualify for the maximum grant.
5) Requirement of Consent for Tax Data: The FAFSA collects the income information of every contributor on the application by pulling it directly from the IRS. Therefore, each contributor will need to provide consent for the IRS to electronically send tax data over to the FAFSA.
6) More Schools, More Options: The online FAFSA now allows listing up to 20 schools, providing greater flexibility in school choices.
7) PDF Application: Limited to 10 schools.
You can also find a video playlist developed by Studentaid.gov: 2024-2025 FAFSA FAQ’s to explore more tips for completing your FAFSA application.
In the meantime, if you have questions, leave a comment. I’ll research and get back to you (the entire community if pertinent).
The Class
To help you think in a more clear way.
Question:
“How can we help student-athletes build skills to thrive now and in college?”
Answer:
“The Class.”
It’s virtual and free. The link is below.
Click here to register: The Class | College Success Course
Cross-train the mind, invest in yourself by learning from the best in sport, military and business. It’s going to be blast.
An early Merry Christmas!
On the adventure,
Greg
People
Greg Moore
A former D1 and national team coach who spent 29 years in Higher Ed. The 2017 National Consortium for Academics & Sports award winner founded 2 organizations. Moore’s non-profit, Sevwins Prep - college prep for ALL, launched in 2023.