- 2018 Highlights
Personal Statement
I first realized that I wanted play college tennis when I was a freshman in high school. I was the only freshman to play on the varsity high school team and I was very intimidated. The team did well in the playoffs the year before I started and we had many really good players returning as Seniors. I didn't know if I was good enough or if they would be nice to me or if I would fit in at all.
It turns out none of that mattered at all. All the seniors cared about was what kind of teammate I was. Winning was great, but they were more concerned about my effort and commitment. It made me want to work harder and I ended up making All League as a freshman, helping my team advance to the semifinals of the playoffs and having so much fun. Even though they are in college now, they are still some of my best friends and are still an inspiration to me.
Today, as a Junior, I try to treat the new varsity players exactly as I was treated when I first came on the team. Winning is important, but working hard, trying hard, having fun and caring are what matters most. We have not been as good of a team since that first year but we support each other and we make each other better players and people.
That is why I want to play college tennis. I want to be part of team that tries to win but mostly wants to work hard and compete. I look forward to college tennis because I look forward to the overall college experience and I see tennis being a vital part of that experience. I want to leave college as a better person and player and I feel like having teammates that care about trying hard to be better will help me accomplish my goals.
My freshman year on varsity tennis taught me about character and effort and kindness and generosity of spirit. I will never forget how much it meant to feel equal to older and better tennis players simply because we all cared about accomplishing the same goal together. I look forward to college for many reasons, but that feeling, that experience, that shared accomplishment, is what I’m looking forward to most of all.
