What do you and your closest friends have in common? How do you like to spend your time together?
Sweat dripped from every pore as I summoned up the energy to chase down yet another fuzzy yellow ball. The humidity had just reached a hundred and the temperature was threatening to do the same. With no trees to provide shade, the tennis courts had heated up like an oven (literally, for a couple of friends and I had proven this fact by frying an egg on the ground). All around me were the people whom I felt I was closest to. While we were not all of the same background or even the same age, we were united for one purpose: to capture a Michigan State Tennis title for the eighth consecutive year. Our team had a reputation to uphold, an expectation to succeed, and a dedication to tennis. Some days I felt like giving up. The weather in Michigan fluctuated constantly. The summers were scorching and the winters could hit well below freezing. Our coaches also made us play in any weather. In fact we had even held tryouts for the spring season during a blizzard. The snow obscured all vision save one or two feet in front of us. When the men's tennis season was switched from the spring to the summer, we were required to wake up so early and go practice for four hours a day five days a week during what should have been our summer vacation. Yet through it all, I stayed for the same reason everyone else on the team stayed. We had a passion for tennis.
To someone who has not played on a competitive tennis team before it may seem an isolating sport; one player plays another player on opposite sides of the court. It may seem like there is little interaction going on; however, that is not the case. The mood of a single player on any given day can effect the mood of the entire team. On days after the team has suffered a loss or some of our players had played poorly during a match, everyone seems more focused. To see some of the better players so intense and so intent of winning, I can not help but be motivated also. On days such as those I feel like I play better tennis and I'm sure the team does too. However, on the occasional day when the team captains are not serious about their tennis play, little gets done. I can sense it in the air and on those days, I admit that I too do not try my absolute best. Like any team sport moral is an important part of succeeding. Team coherence is also an important aspect in winning. When some members do not get along well it is possible to see the tension in the air. When verbal (or the occasional physical) fights break out the impact on our performance is drastic. One time two of the captains would not get along. During practice they would yell at one another; each one thinking that they were in the right. The next day they both lost their matches. From then on they realized the importance of getting along. Even though they did not like each other they had to put up with one another.
Tennis is split into singles and doubles matches. I play doubles which means that for an entire season, I have a partner. In the course of a year I get to know my partner very well. In practice we have to rely on one another to get better. Oftentimes I will point out ways in which he can improve. For example the partner I had in my Junior year was Michel Wang and he was a very strong net player. Because he had very good volleys, he was able to put the ball away and win the majority of the points when he was up at the net. However, when Mike was back and hitting ground strokes, he made too many errors. I on the other hand was the opposite, I preferred the back end of the court. Thus by making use of both our strengths and displacing our weaknesses we became a very effective team. Through that tennis season we only lost a total of one match.
By the time the season is over we have learned each other's habits, both on the court and off. I noticed quite a few mannerisms of his that I am sure many people have never noticed. Such as whenever Mike gets annoyed or frustrated he prefers not to talk. When he gets in this state, it takes a little bit of coaxing and just positive comments to get him to play better. Mike knows that when I get angry at my mistakes, the best thing for him to do is to not say anything and I will get over it quickly. If he makes a comment on the mistake, then I end up dwelling on it and my overall performance gets worse. In addition, other details that we know about each other helps us get along. Much of my tennis partnerships in doubles comes from knowing the minute and sometimes quirky nuances of my partners' habits. In turn my partners also know my habits. Together we come together and make for a very strong doubles team. That is mostly what has made my doubles career in high school tennis so successful. From these partnerships in the three years I have played high school tennis, I have formed some of the strongest bonds of friendship. The very kids with whom I practice intensely are also the same group of kids whom I spend time with outside of school.
I truly enjoy spending time with my friends. Our passions draw us together. Time outside of school should not be composed of only time to work but also time to play. To be able to relax with my friends while doing something I love is truly the best use of that time I could ever imagine.