Growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Derek Jeter, was a standout baseball star for the Kalamazoo Central High School. And despite his mother being a Notre Dame fan, he found himself falling for the Wolverines. According to him, “I was a big University of Michigan fan and I still am today. When I really fell in love with Michigan was on my recruiting trip.” And although you would think that he played for the Blue and Maize, that wouldn’t be exactly correct.

Over the years, Derek has been on the sidelines of the Wolverines games. In fact, he was named the honorary captain for No. 10 Michigan against No. 3 Texas at Michigan Stadium last year. In 2015, the former football HC Jim Harbaugh presented Jeter with a Michigan football jersey before a BYU matchup on Sept. 26, 2015. And yet, through all the support, Jeter never swung the bat for the Wolverines. However, he indeed was a student there. Even if for a very short time.

Derek enrolled in the University of Michigan in 1992. But with the New York Yankees him the first high school player taken in the 1992 MLB Baseball Draft as the sixth pick, his plans took a detour. However, on Saturday, 33 years after signing to be a Wolverine, the baseball Hall of Famer graduated with the honorary Doctor of Laws degree which he humorously put as, “Took longer than I planned.” As he gave over 70,000 graduating students a Commencement address at The Big House, it was his wife’s message to him that made the emotional day for the legend worthwhile.

Hannah Davis Jeter shared a loving, yet funny note on her Instagram story that read, “One of us received a degree today.” Following this, there was another captioned, “It wasn’t me,” with an emoji, injecting humor along with her picture with her husband holding the degree.

Although he was first skeptical of what he would address the students with who had certainly spent much more time at the university than he did, he still agreed for the same realizing, “But since I’ve had a head start on life, I’ll share insights into what’s to come.”

Jeter delivered an emotional speech encouraging them to make their own choices giving an example of how his story has “repeatedly hinged on what seemed to be the smallest, even insignificant, decisions or choices I made.”

He shared a conversation with his father back when he was in high school and his friends invited him on a fishing trip on a weekend when he was supposed to also have a baseball practice. “And when I mentioned it to my dad, he simply said, ‘Look, if you want to be a fisherman, go … but if you want to be a Major League Baseball player, you gotta go to practice.'” He left the choice to Derek, and the young kid made the choice that indeed fashioned his life– the baseball practice.

For Jeter, the choice was clear – baseball. He spoke about how finding one’s passion and something that the person loves the most can help them move in the right direction, even during the tough phases. “There may be unwanted side effects with those dreams, too. Side effects like doubt, criticism, and endless hours at work. But that’s the price you pay,” he said.

And with that, Jeter stressed the importance of putting them on paper, which would help transform the ideas into actions. Getting surrounded by the right people also matters a lot, as it increases the chances of greater success, just like his wife and parents, who rooted for him since his early struggling days, instilling faith in him all throughout his journey.

A sneak peek into Derek Jeter’s relationship with his wife

The New York Yankees’ former number 2 star and captain met his wife, Hannah Davis, back in 2012. Although Davis was a professional model at that time, the difference in their career never really mattered. Interestingly, she wasn’t much interested in America’s favorite pastime until she met Derek Jeter through some mutual friends. And soon, they were spotted together spending time.

While everyone was waiting for official confirmation, the news came as a surprise when the two, after dating for around two years, got engaged in September 2014. The couple finally got married in a private ceremony in July 2016. More surprises came as Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis announced that they were expecting their first child in 2017. There was no limit to joy with the addition of a new member, and their beautiful relationship bloomed. Well, now, they are the proud parents of four children.

A successful career and a happy family – feels like a complete circle, doesn’t it?