Through my struggle in making the Girls' Varsity Tennis Team I have learned the invaluable lesson that with hard work and determination, I can accomplish anything. In addition, I have also discovered that making a difference in people's lives by teaching proper tennis technique is the most important experience I've had in my tennis career. Coaching beginner tennis players makes me proud and it also relates to the patient, determined, and goal oriented person that I am. Failing to make the Girl's Varsity Tennis Team was a reality check, and my last resort was the second tryout before tennis season began. During the summer of '05, with the help of my family and private tennis coach Anna Wells, I changed my lifestyle as I set my goal to make the team. I became more organized, fit, and healthy as I improved my game. I obliged to better eating choices and made running a daily habit. With the help of my coach, I intensified my lessons by drilling everything from footwork, to ground strokes, serves, and volleys and developed innovative playing strategies. Through my hard work and determination I was awarded the last varsity spot. Making the varsity tennis team taught me not to expect anything, for I clearly expected to make the team again solely on the fact that I was on it the previous year. Most importantly however, it taught me that when a goal is set in mind, it is achievable through hard work and determination. As a team the highlight of our high school tennis career was when we reached the City Finals, individually it was when I defeated Cleveland's Gabby Fernandez, a favorite, in the 2007 Quarter Finals in a three setter 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Making Granada's tennis team was my personal goal and foundation; however, sharing the love for tennis in my community by teaching proper tennis technique is the most valued quality that I have contributed throughout my tennis career. While training during the summer of '05 for the upcoming tennis season, I decided to take a tennis class at Pierce College thinking that it would improve my game. I was pleasantly surprised that on the first day as I stepped onto the court I saw a class full of amateurs. Although not a professional, I soon found myself giving advice to the tennis beginners. At first they would just ask me technique questions in class, but then many more stayed after class as I showed them a variety of pointers, drills, and skills that they needed to improve their game. I could never forget one student named Jose. Jose came to class with an old wooden Wilson racket and had zero prior tennis experience, but incredible energy and enthusiasm to learn and play. His favorite shot was the serve. As I drilled him on the correct motions, he began to improve. In fact he picked it up so fast that he was soon acing me! To this day it fascinates me how fast he was able to adapt and retain knowledge, and how he was able to apply that knowledge in the right circumstance. I'm proud to say that although it wasn't easy I was able to help many people like Jose. During the following two summers, I returned to Pierce College as a class assistant to Anna Cox, to teach basic tennis skills. In addition to spreading the tennis love around my community, I also apread the tennis love around my school campus by opening up The Tennis club. As club president I am able to raise tennis awereness throughout my high school by holding weekly lunch meetings, and setting up Saturday practises. It is through tennis club that I am able to share my love for the game. Tennis Club gives everyone the opportunity to play the game, and not only the people that have made the team. It gives everyone the chance to develop as a tennis player while becoming a fit and active member of the community. Tennis has become an important part of my life and development. My personal accomplishments and contributions as a leader demonstrate the kind of person that I am, they also predict the kind of person that I hope to become: one that stays active by playing tennis and one that gets everyone involved.