Cal State Fullerton student-athletes must balance the rigors and challenges of both the classroom and athletic field to accomplish the ultimate goal in earning a diploma and become a part of the Titan alumus family. Titan softball's Samantha Galarza will join that distinguished CSUF family as one of the youngest alumna at 20 years old.
Each student-athlete is given a five-year clock in which they work with four years of athletic eligibility. With the possibility of redshirting a season some student-athletes can take five years, some take four, and others, like Galarza, take less.
"I've seen that most people who graduate in three do it in order to save money." Galarza said. "My situation has nothing to do with that. It's about following my gut. I know it might seem like an atypical thing to do, but I believe there's a time and place to take the road less traveled."
Galarza committed to Cal State Fullerton softball during her junior year of high school. Before even attending the university, she was given a couple of academic opportunities.
During her senior year of high school, Galarza was accepted into the President's Scholars Program, which selects 10-20 of California's top high school students into a rigorous program that offers outstanding experiences and opportunities in academics, leadership, service, and mentorship. She was also offered to be a Dean Scholar from the College of Communications.
On the field, Galarza appeared in 52 games as a freshman, making 32 starts at shortstop, while academically maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
Perhaps one of the biggest risks Galarza admits taking was switching batting stances from the left to the right-side mid-college career. Though naturally right-handed, throughout her competitive softball career she hit as a left-handed slapper.
"In my end of the year meeting as a freshman, I told Coach Ford I wanted to hit right-handed," stated Galarza. "The looks on the coaches' faces were priceless. I can't exactly explain why I wanted to do it, but I knew that it would help me to help our team. I'm so thankful for them taking this risk with me and want to use this experience to encourage others to never be afraid of failure."
Galarza's sophomore campaign was one of tangible recognition. She was named the 2013 Big West Scholar Athlete of the Year before the season even began, and ended the year with other accolades including: 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, 2013 Big West Sportsmanship Award, and 2014 All-Big West Conference Second Team.
Transitioning to bat right-handed proved fruitful, as Galarza used the 2015 season to set career highs in average (.329), RBIs (29), doubles (6), and clubbed five home runs including her first career grand slam to break a 7-7 tie against Big West foe UC Santa Barbara to lead the Titans to victory.
"Samantha is a one-in-a-million student-athlete using her incredible outlook on life to simply strive for the greater good of mankind," head softball coach Kelly Ford said. "The sport of softball, as talented as she is at it, was a vehicle for her to touch and change people's lives. Whether it was her teammates, trainers, coaches, or professors, she's used her gifts of positivity to be not only a game-changer on the field, but in the game of life as well."
It wasn't until her junior year approached that Galarza realized that she was on track to graduate a year early.
"I hadn't planned to do this from the start, but the cards aligned, and I felt that this would be the best option for me," Galarza said. "Too often people try to achieve things and be recognized solely for image. To me, it's not about accolades and what I achieved here, but whose lives I touched. I don't plan on changing that philosophy, wherever I go."
Galarza's initial plans include: playing with the Argentina Women's Softball Team this summer in the World Cup in Irvine, Calif., and this upcoming year she plans on attending massage therapy school in Hawaii.
"There were so many options as far as this upcoming year, such as, starting a master's degree or double majoring, but none of those fit the puzzle," Galarza added. "Maybe it's a good thing, maybe it's bad, or maybe it's just different. I know that I'm not ready to hang up the cleats yet, but that's the beauty of the game. It doesn't stop in college. I will play until God tells me no. These past three years I've really learned to just be still and trust the God who put me here, and I strive to continue glorifying Him wherever I go."
Galarza will be among fellow graduating Cal State Fullerton seniors Eliza Crawford and Emily Vizcarra in their final Big West set of the season hosting first-place CSUN this weekend. Competition begins with the series opener on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif. A Senior Day Ceremony honoring the trio of Titans will commence following the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader.
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