Tennis
I didn't make the team freshman year. So I trained. Catch me at Wimbledon.
The first time I held a racquet in my hand, it was bigger than I was. No skill, no technique, just having fun. Then for a few years, I turned to swimming, quickly realized I hated it, and at the end of seventh grade, I started tennis lessons with a close friend.
Unfortunately, while I quickly found a passion in the sport, my friend did not, and we continued to fool around during lessons until the end of eighth grade. After that, I took tennis lessons with a different partner, who challenged me and truly helped me grow.
During tennis tryouts in freshman year, I didn't make the team — not only because I had no clue how tryouts worked, but because, if I'm being honest, I didn't have the skill at the time. That rejection fueled me into aiming for JV or Varsity for sophomore year. I began shotput and discus during track and field season to become stronger, which really helped with speed in my strokes.
Tennis is a game that forces you to constantly be on your toes, but I'm still growing into the sport. Catch me at Wimbledon in a few years, because I'm the next Jannik Sinner.