← Back home // discipline, one match at a time

The Athlete

I never made varsity. That's part of the point. Three years on Milton's JV tennis team taught me more about discipline and resilience than a varsity jacket would have — and by junior year, I'd fought my way to the #1 seed on a deep, competitive ladder.

3years, JV tennis
#1seed, junior year
4–6hrs/week, year-round
Freshman year

The 3rds ladder

I tried out for varsity — didn't make it — and landed on the 3rds team, alternating with a friend for the #1 spot on that ladder all season.

Sophomore year

Top of the ladder, then a slide

Playing JV singles in the spring, I held one of the top two ladder positions early on — but by the end of the season, I'd fallen to 6th singles. Competition for spots was real, and so was the setback.

Junior year

#1 seed

Back on JV in the spring, I played #1 seed for almost the entire season. Several strong players were competing for the same ladder spots that year, and I won the challenge matches I needed to hold my place. Discipline and resilience, mostly — and showing up every single week for three straight years.

Grade 11 · Paid work

Coach, Needham Pool & Racquet Club

Junior clinics in the mornings for newer players, team practices in the afternoons for the more experienced ones — mostly running drills and keeping kids engaged, occasionally getting to play alongside the other coaches.

// on court

Field footage

Me on the tennis court Playing a match, holding a scoreboard Me mid-swing Me at the net during a match Me with teammates at the net