Halfway through the IMPACT project, mentor Valentina Beneta shares her inspiring journey with mentee Mia Primec. After a year-long injury, Mia’s comeback story is one of perseverance, growth, and teamwork — a true reflection of what mentorship in sports is all about.
Being part of the IMPACT project as a mentor has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my coaching journey. My name is Valentina Beneta, and over the past months, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring Mia Primec — a young athlete whose story is a true example of resilience, determination, and growth.
When we started our mentoring journey, Mia was facing one of the biggest challenges of her softball career. A serious injury had kept her off the field for a year, and coming back was not easy — physically, mentally, or emotionally. Together, we focused on setting realistic goals, rebuilding confidence, and celebrating even the smallest steps forward. Some days were harder than others, but we learned to find motivation in progress, not perfection.
By the end of the season, she returned to the field, started pitching again, and even hit a home run — a moment that filled her (and me) with pride and confidence for the months ahead. Now that we’ve reached the halfway point of the IMPACT project, it’s amazing to see how far Mia has come.
We also had the opportunity to attend the EBSCA Camp — Mia as a player and myself as a coach. We set new goals specifically for the camp, and throughout the experience, I could see how much she had grown. She approached every challenge with enthusiasm, faced her fears head-on, and showed a strong desire to keep learning and improving.
Through the camp, Mia was pitching in games, hitting with confidence, and sliding again — something that once seemed so far away. Watching her regain her confidence and love for the game reminds me every day why mentoring matters.
As we move into the second half of the IMPACT project, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to see how much more we can accomplish. This journey has shown me that mentorship isn’t just about guiding — it’s about growing together, supporting one another, and celebrating every milestone along the way.
