Feb. 10, 2010

BERKELEY - As the California softball team gears up for its challenging and promising 2010 campaign, sophomore infielder Amy Bishop is quite the example of a talented student-athlete. When's she's not practicing with the No. 11/12 squad in the country at Levine-Fricke Field, she's in class or volunteering her time as a member of the Cal's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A Southern California native hailing from Glendale, Bishop has made a smooth transition into life in Berkeley. CalBears.com snagged a moment of the 5-8 righty's time to chat about all things Amy.

CalBears.com: At Glendale High school, you also played soccer and volleyball in addition to softball. What made you choose to play softball at the collegiate level over the other sports?
Amy Bishop: I'm not a big fan of running, so soccer wouldn't have worked out. I liked volleyball, but I wish I had started playing younger because I had a lot to learn. Softball just came the most naturally, and I felt like the mental part of the game challenged me to be a better player on the field as well as a better person off the field. Even the best players fail seven out of 10 times, so it taught me to handle losses and stay positive.

CalBears.com: You head up the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee leadership team here at Cal, what made you want to get involved with SAAC? What's the best part of SAAC so far?
AB: I loved being part of ASB at Glendale High School, and SAAC is great because it's like ASB, but everyone is a student-athlete like me so we all understand each other really well. What I like about SAAC is that it gives student-athletes a chance to use sports as a way to create change on campus. The best part so far has been going to Florida for the Apple Conference. The student-athletes I went with became like brothers and sisters to me in such a short time, and we thought of a ton of ways to use our image on campus to positively influence others.

CalBears.com: Your bio mentions that you have a major sweet tooth - what's your favorite sweet thing to eat?
AB: I love funfetti cake and cookies the best. But my absolute favorite dessert is the Sunriver sugar cookies that my family and I make every Christmas up in Sunriver, Ore.

CalBears.com: What has surprised you most about college?
AB: How much I've learned about myself and how much I'm starting to come out of my shell. I thought I'd be most challenged by the work in the classroom, but I think I've learned even more from my everyday experiences here in Berkeley.

CalBears.com: What is one thing about your hometown that you miss?
AB: What I miss most about Glendale is the night view of the L.A. city lights from the Angeles Crest Highway.

CalBears.com: Does your number hold any significance for you?
AB: My number is my birth date - September 22. It's been my favorite number for as long as I can remember.

CalBears.com: You were considering majoring in media studies - is that still the plan?
AB: I find out if I got into Haas School of Business in February so keep your fingers crossed that I get in! If not business, I still plan on media studies as my backup major. My goal is a career in sports marketing.

CalBears.com: What was it like growing up as the youngest of four children? Did your siblings play sports as well?
AB: I love when people mention my brothers and sisters. My favorite part of being the youngest of four children is that I get to brag about them and how they are my best friends. We were all very involved in each others' lives, especially because of baseball and softball. I spent half my life watching my siblings' games, and they've always taken time to come watch mine.

My brother and sisters treat me like one of the older kids, and their friends have become my friends now, too. Growing up, I felt like I lived vicariously through them. I feel that way especially now that my sister had a baby girl (Kaya) last year, who I actually met for the first time at our softball tournament in Fullerton. I love that I get to spend time with Kaya when she's in a good mood without having to change any diapers!

CalBears.com: What is one thing you can't live without?
AB: I couldn't live without a sense of humor.

CalBears.com: What question would you like the next softball player that does a Q&A to answer?
AB: What is your most embarrassing softball moment?