Kristine szakowitz '23 Recruiting Profile

PERSONAL STATEMENT – Shannon Roberts

“It’s easy to talk to a horse if you understand his language. Horses stay the same from the day they are born until the day they die. They are only changed by the way people treat them.” (APA. Ross, G. (2003). Seabiscuit.

Hi my name is Shannon Roberts , I am 17 years old and  a senior in high school. I train and compete full time in tennis at IMG Academy and am working to secure a college scholarship. My goals are to pursue a business degree and play singles on Line #1 for my team. 

The first time I touched a tennis ball I was 6 years old. I had no idea tennis would be the driving force behind the most important and influential people, experiences and dreams of my life. Eleven years later I am at what I know is the most meaningful and importotant crossroads of my life --- stepping into a college arena where my future awaits.  And this means both academically and athletically. 

 I believe tennis is a large purpose of mine and why I’m writing the personal statement. I’ll explain more but first, the quote above.

I am a work horse in life and tennis is no exception.  (No pun intended on the horse reference. I have been through a lot in my tennis life, and through the most difficult parts my persistance, athleticism, talent, mindset and drive to be exceptional have helped to guide me through amazingly positive times while also helping to weather some intensely challenging times.  The quote above means a lot to me because tennis athletes live and play in an immensely difficult world. Through my more than eleven years of training and competing – both nationally and internationally, I have managed through and developed very high values, discipline, work ethics and love of this sport. 

My first academy – Northwest High Performance Academy, founded by my demanding coach, respected mentor and friend Dan Willman, set the stage for how I am on court.  Dan taught me grit, grind and mental toughness at a very young age.  I am a fighter. I am resilient and passionate. I am also humble and fortunate to have had the opportunities I have had in tennis. It has given me critical life lessons. 

1.) The harder I work the better my results.

2.) I am a high level team player with honesty, integrity, sportsmanship.  I have a relentless drive and a huge drive to succeed.

3.) I am resilient in the best and worst of times, environments and situations.  I have proven this countless times and it truly defines the core of me as a tennis athlete.

4.) I never quit or give in – regardless of what is going on around me. I never quit on my team or my teammates.

5.) I am highly coachable and am so with personal accountability and a positive, willing and determined attitude. (Ask Dan Willman, my Sun Valley, ID hitting partner Mats Wilander or any of my IMG coaches.)

6.) I have patience for big payoffs – every day, every practice, every match provides me with opportunities to continue to learn, grow and excel.

7.) I appreciate and have solid technical skills (my backhand is a station wagon that never breaks down – per Dan and Mats) with strong, respectable talent that I know will take me far places.

More importantly, this sport and everything that so far has come with it, has shaped and changed me as a person.  My experiences, on and off court, with and without coaches, against and with teammates, against and with sparring partners and friends, and ALSO with many who have not been friends (and have challenged my confidence and mental toughness), has changed and shaped me into the athlete and competitor I am today. 

I expect and believe the personal growth and personal evolution has been amazing and will continue as I move forward with my goals and dreams of being a collegiate athlete and potentially (HOPEFULLY) something even larger and greater than that (WTA).  Above and beyond tennis, this includes being an important part of the world and the community as a great person in college and post-college. 

Right now, my focus and dedication is to continue my high-level training and competition, staying dead-focused on my academics with the end goal of securing a full-ride college scholarship where I will be a valued and high contributing teammate to a respected and competitive college tennis team and program.  Each day I am giving it my all and I will reach my goals.  Thank you for reading my personal statement.

“Character reigns preeminent in determining potential.” (APA. Ross, G. (2003). Seabiscuit.

Shannon M. Roberts

**References from coaches available.