Plaly/Quit tennis my senior year?

Applying to College
1

<p>I was never into sports as a kid. I was the one who always got hit in the face with the basketball and couldn’t run a mile non-stop no matter at what pace. During my 8th grade summer, there was a tennis camp and it sounded like fun especially since it was free and a few of my friends were doing it. With a borrowed racket in hand, I stepped up to the baseline for the first time—I was nervous since I was afraid to embarrass myself. I took a swing at my first ball and completely missed. </p>

<p>Playing tennis was fun since I got to hit something and run around at the same time. I took some lessons here and there and finally managed to run a mile. I tried out for the school team freshman Spring and was cut even from JV. I cried for a few days and threw my tennis racket under my bed—determined it would stay there. Three days later, I pulled my racket out again, discarding what I had said earlier. That summer, I signed myself up for a 6 week tennis team. It took me 1.5 hrs to bus to a 1 hr practice and another 1.5 hrs to bus back. </p>

<p>When fall came around, I dragged my friend along with me and found a group of random high school beginners at a neighborhood tennis court. It felt good that these kids, who were beginners, poor, and first generation like me, thought I was good at something where we shared the same barriers.</p>

<p>I made my reluctant friend promise that she would play with me at least once a week or else I wouldn’t give her a ride home one night; I still have that video of her giving that promise on my phone. I made her play with me in the rain and in the dark when the lights were shut off for the winter. I made her play with me in the freezing cold. As I got better, more random strangers approached me at the park, and I played with them. Then I started approaching people. They ranged from middle school students to adult men. I texted and called them when my friend was “busy.” During spring break, I stayed out on the courts for 12 hours every day and would’ve slept there if my mom hadn’t made me go home. It paid off since I made it on the varsity high school team the next year when I only hoped I would make it on JV—the year where we would be the league champions.</p>

<p>Then the year after that, I placed sixth in singles in the league tournament and even made it to the districts tournament. I didn’t get far at districts, but I did get the most improved player award for my team that year which was enough for me. What started out as a hobby grew into something that became my life. My back, wrists, arms, and legs hurt from playing for hours non-stop even in unsuitable conditions. I couldn’t stop playing because I wanted it so badly. There was no way I would lose to myself and let myself down. I continued to play because my labor had paid off, and I started to believe in myself. I’ve never worked so hard for anything in my life—physically or mentally. I pushed myself to be good at something that I never thought I could achieve in such a short amount of time all because of my passion. Though I’m not the best tennis player at school, this is still my most valued accomplishment. </p>

<p>*** I’ve worked really hard and put a lot of time into tennis. It’s my senior year this year, and I’m feeling really burnt out. I’m totally out of tennis shape, and I have 2 months to train left but it would be intensively which would take a lot of time and money. I have a job right now that ranges from 10-20 hrs/week and another job that is 3 hrs/wk. I stopped volunteering at 2 organizations because I started working. I’m extremely exhausted and don’t want to play this year, but I can make myself play if I wanted to. I just don’t want to give it up since I’ve worked so hard. And it’s good discipline for me-- mentally, physically. Should I just suck it up? But at the same time, I’ve never liked playing for my ultra-competitive school team.</p>

<p>**** I’ve been on Varsity for 10th and 11th grade.</p>

2

<p>Play a real sport, like wrestling.</p>

3

<p>What do you want to do?
It sounds like the real challenge is not tennis, which means a lot to you, but juggling school and your work commitments.</p>

4

<p>If you just posted your college essay, then it would seem strange for you not to play senior year. If you don´t have time, then you don´t have time, but if tennis has meant so much to you, then you may feel better ending your high school career by playing.</p>

5

<p>How badly do you need the job that takes 10-20 hours a week? I would think that amount of work time is incompatible with doing well in school and playing a varsity sport.</p>

<p>Who is urging you to keep playing tennis? Who is urging you to quit?</p>

6

<p>I would rather not quit my job even though my parents want me to. It’s not glamorous or anything and it’s minimum wage, but it’s a commitment that I value as well as it helps establish my independence. No one is pressuring me to quit my job or quit tennis. I could try to do both, but I know that will be extremely painful. I also go to a prestigious private school, and I don’t want my grades to drop entirely. I’ve already given up volunteering; if I stop playing tennis too, would that look bad for colleges??!?!?</p>

<p>I don’t like the atmosphere of my team and of the sports league that I play in-- snobby, rich, intimidating. I’ve never liked playing for my school team and playing has been stressful for me constantly. But the fact that my hard-work has paid off is extremely rewarding and almost makes me feel bad for giving up. My goal in the first place was just to make JV, and as cliche as this sounds, I achieved more than I hoped. Before, I had a drive to continue practicing and working hard and pushed myself beyond my physical limitations. But now, I don’t feel the passion anymore-- I might have used it all up… And the idea of quitting makes me happier than the idea of playing for my team. But I’m worried that I’m making the wrong decision because I’m being “lazy.”</p>

7

<p>why did you post your college essay? Your last paragraph would have gotten the point across in 10% of the time :(</p>

8

<p>I think it sounds like you know what you want to do: not play. I say, go for what you want, having a job and having some time.</p>

9

<p>Sorry. That was just a free-write on my tennis experience that I ended cutting up and using as a short answer. I just posted the whole thing so there was more background information for whoever wanted to help me and understand my situation better.</p>

10

<p>This is a decision you need to make. Unless you are being courted by a college to play on their tennis team (along with a potential scholarship) whether you play this Spring or not will have no effect on whether you are accepted by colleges, in my humble opinion. You sound a bit conflicted, so go with your heart on this one. Good Luck!</p>

11

<p>While I agree you should go with your gut, there are some strategic considerations you might want to take into account to educate your gut.</p>

<p>In terms of college admissions, it’s a good thing to have a job. But I’m not sure that giving up sports and volunteering in order to maintain an unimpressive minimum-wage job is the best strategy for impressing colleges. If you and your family really need the money from the job, that’s an entirely different story.</p>

<p>Why don’t you quit tennis *and *the job, and spend your time on volunteering and other extracurriculars that you might like better?</p>