The Sport of a Lifetime

Hitting a tennis ball at a fast speed within a small amount of space takes a lot of skill and hand-eye coordination. I have been playing tennis since I was old enough to hold a racket. My grandpa played collegiate tennis and he taught my mom and all of her three siblings to play. My mom then got a full ride tennis scholarship in college and continued on to teach my five siblings and I the sport. Tennis is one of the hardest sports is because it is a solo or partner sport depending on if singles or doubles is being played. I prefer singles because I am the only one I need to worry about. There isn’t another person that might make a lot of mistakes. However, some people like having that partner as extra help, since there is hardly any support compared to that of a more team oriented sport.  Another challenge for tennis players is that no one can switch out for them during the match, so they must be physically and mentally strong to succeed.
I love tennis because it is the sport of a lifetime and there isn’t a lot of equipment or people needed to play. Ideally, a tennis court, racket, one of more tennis balls, and at least one other person would be all that you needed to be able to play! One person could even just hit a ball against a wall or practice serves if there isn’t a partner available.

Entering high school, I had feelings of uncertainty about what the future would hold. Little did I know that I was about to meet a ready-made group of friends from the tennis team who would support me throughout my high school experience. I found myself growing to love this sport more and more, and in turn, tennis gave back to me in teaching me some of life’s greatest lessons.  

Playing on a girl’s tennis team has played a key role in my development as a person and a leader in several areas. With its compact, “rapid-fire” season, high school tennis required me to be organized and have command of my time from the very start of the school year.  I also learned that my success on the court during the season was directly related to my preparation during the summer. I found the same pattern in my school work and other responsibilities. As I found my skills improving, my self-confidence improved as well. This gave me comfort during times of self-doubt.

During my senior year of high school, I felt great satisfaction in achieving my goal of playing “number one” on the team. However, this brought a new world of challenges as I faced some very difficult competition. I was forced to ask myself if I would rather be playing “down” on a lower spot on the team so that my victories would be assured. I came to realize that without challenges, we do not grow. This has helped me to reach beyond myself and to leave my comfort zone.

Whether it be a point, game, set, or match, tennis has taught me to put my “all” into the task at hand. Tennis requires its players to forget about past failures, to regroup, and to move on. This has been important to me as I have seen the value of having a positive attitude in every area of my life. Every match has required that I overcome obstacles one segment at a time. During a particularly memorable match, I lost the first set by a wide margin. I had to make a decision to give up or to press forward. Being able to endure and swing the momentum of the match to eventually lead to a win taught me that I would be rewarded if I kept focusing on one small step at a time. I have no doubt that the “matches of life” will provide similar tests.

This may be the only sport that requires its athletes to warm up with the opponent and shake hands at end of a match. Being able to handle tough losses with grace and to congratulate my opponent has taught me the importance of sportsmanship. Additionally, it takes courage to go for “winners”, to come to the net, or to try new shots in a match. Perhaps most importantly, tennis reinforces the importance of honesty, as the outcome of many points, games, and even the very match may rest on the integrity of the opponent.

Tennis has blessed my life by providing experiences that has molded my future and helped me make a career goal. I had the unique opportunity to teach tennis to young children through the community recreation organization. Being able to serve as a mentor and role model to these younger players planted in me a desire to teach children. Accordingly, I plan to become an elementary teacher. My love of tennis led me to SVU, where I could continue my tennis career on the women’s tennis team in an outstanding college that upheld high values. This makes me a third generation collegiate tennis athlete! I look forward to improving my tennis skills and helping to contribute to a successful team.

Lastly, my family relationships have been deeply strengthened as we enjoy the sport of tennis together. My mom was my coach all the way through high school up until college, so tennis was a big bonding activity for us. At family reunions, we play tennis tournaments and my grandpa, who is now 71 years of age still teaches all of the grandkids tennis lessons. It has been a great sport for my family in building unity. I hope to share tennis with many others, especially with my future family. Watching my mother and grandfather play tennis to stay active in their adulthood is an indication that I chose the right sport! Tennis has been a great blessing in my life, and now it is only fitting that I give back.