Personal Narrative: My First Tennis Team

Shifting in my heavy metal cleats, I can feel countless sets of eyes trained on me, observing my every move from their hard stadium seats. Normally when I’m on the mound, I have ice in my veins; the stares of the crowd bounce right off. However, this wasn’t a normal day. Instead of standing on the rubber to fire fastballs at opposing batters, I was there to honor two very special ladies and to raise funds and awareness for a cause that hits very close to home, Multiple Sclerosis. During this part of the ceremony, a fellow teammate and I were supposed to present our mothers, who are fighting the disease, with a gift from the team. Unfortunately, this did not occur as smoothly as one would hope. With slick palms, I calmly approached her with

I began to play tennis roughly three years ago solely, because my dad thought I was not doing anything constructive during the summer. At that point I believed in the same single story most people today do, tennis players are not real athletes, their sport is very wimpy, and mostly

How many times have you driven past your local tennis courts and seen them filled with happy kids running around and smiling? Probably more than once. Tennis is a popular sport, played all over the world and loved by many. However, more people should play this wonderful sport. It can be played at any age, and at any walk of life, be ye teenager or 65 year old lady. In fact, everyone should play tennis due to its development of physical fitness, mental health, and social skills.

Community tennis refers to the USTA’s effort of giving every on the US access to the sport. It is focused on giving people the tools to go out and participate, along other members of the association, in a variety of tennis activities. Across the US the association works with the 10s and under divisions all the way up to senior adult divisions. Really anyone with the desire to play regardless of age, sex, skill level, or disabilities is given the opportunity to partake. Player development on the other hand, is more concerned with the development of world-class players from the US. Through coaching, education, player identification, and player services the USTA Player Development

12 years ago, Gina and I had first met at a fateful Daisy Scout meeting—but 7th grade was when we ecstatically joined the photography club and bonded over photoshoots of the snowy soccer field, daisy bouquets, and the town’s architecture. Freshman year, she persuaded me to join the tennis team with her, and from the experience, I've grown to love the sport and even make friends at Shelton. Finally, in our shared classes like APUSH, we had a blast recording an 80s mixtape for our final exam project. Our friendship is symbiotic—I teach her trickier concepts while she pushes me to loosen up and say what’s on my mind. Before junior year when I moved to a different town and high school, we promised to stay close and meet up every month. Although

On a cloudy spring morning on our home course at Medina Country Club, I watched the all the other groups in front of me tee off at my first golf match. After we finished our first hole, one of the girls on the other team recorded her score as a four. I counted ten. A big knot grew in my stomach. I knew I would have to confront her. I am typically a person who keeps to oneself. I had joined golf team in order to be more social, but this was out of my comfort zone. As we walked to the next hole I timidly explained to her that she scored a ten. She turned around to give me a hard glare. Annoyance of my accusation flowed off of her. Fortunately, it turns out she was new to golf and did not realize that whiffs counted as strokes. Facing that conversation

We were on a trip to a homeless shelter to become amateur tennis coaches for the children there. Once arriving, we were sent out to tennis courts with torn nets and dead tennis balls. We then divided the children into groups, assigning a “coach” per group.

When I get on the tennis court, I feel like all of my problems slip away like i have nothing to worry about. If I'm angry, I play tennis to relieve it and take it out on the ball. When I'm sad, I play it to make since of my thoughts and feelings. Even though it's just a physical sport to some people, it has been my go to for everything and when I do, it has an odd but great way to remove all of my problems, even if it's just for those moments. I play tennis at the end of every school day and on most of the weekends and breaks.

Starting in 9th grade I participated in daily varsity tennis matches. I played 1st doubles, 2nd singles, and 1st singles. I won the most improved player award, earned four varsity letters, and led my team to a states match as captain. My proudest accomplishment was instilling a love for the game in a skeptical teammate who at first, only thought of winning.

When I found myself in a different area of life was when becoming emotional over petty things began to go away. Choosing to pursuing tennis taught me the value of discipline and hardwork. Like Gandhi because I learned how to fight for what I believe in I continue to exceed the average (141). Tennis is a game of mentality. On the court you have no one but yourself to blame for your mistakes. I know that it is my choice to make sacrifices in order to succeed. Instead of staying out late with my friends on weekends I decide to take care of my body and sleep. Instead of going to several camps in the summer, I choose to practice. Instead arguing with my coach I am open to corrections (429). And when it comes time to play, when people are watching

can gain a lot of college opportunities. Tennis can help so many people get into good schools and get

It was a hot August day, and I was in the North Carolina Tarheel State Championships. The draw was posted and my opponent would be one of the top ranked players in North Carolina, Marshall Parker, from Shelby. His older brother plays on the tennis team at Carolina.

To encourage me to play, my parents decided to take me to watch professional players. I didn’t really know what was going on but I knew that I had little interest in the game of tennis. I watched as the players ran around the court trying to hit every ball back to their opponent. I found it to be a waste of time and energy to run after every single ball.

Its 7pm on the 15th of September at Grand Valley State University. The school’s Volleyball team is locked and loaded ready to fire on the Ashland Eagles. So far, this season has been rocky with a 3-5 record, yet still determined for victory. The atmosphere of the Field House was thick with anticipation along with nervousness because Ashland was a 6-2 team. Set one was neck and neck by the Eagles gaining a lead but countered by the Lakers catching backup. As this my first GV Volleyball match, I was quickly able to find who were the best attackers and setters. Such as number 21 Staci Brower as the middle blocker and Katie Olson as the setter for the majority of the match. Both teams were violent for their point but as it came close, Ashland took their first victory with a 25-23 win.

As the strings of my tennis racquet hit the ball, it creates a crisp sound as the ball soars swiftly through the air. The ball breezes past my opponent, as his racquet misses the target. I let out a resounding scream; I had just won the match. The feeling I received was pure bliss. I overcame an hardship, never gave up and fought to the end. This is the feeling that playing tennis gives me. The ability to express myself through a sport, and to challenge myself to the fullest. To overcome a great obstacle , like tennis, really helps me grow and mature. This is the one activity I would want to continue to