Game, set and match; I won.
After three days of matches. I was in the finals. After just three years of playing tennis, I was at the top of my game playing some of the best tennis I’ve ever played.
As I ate a quick lunch, I felt this would be the first tournament I would be champion of. The tournament director yelled my name. When I got there, I thought he must have called the wrong person because the only other person there was a short, scrawny kid who looked at least 4 years younger than me. I double checked with the director and he said it was correct. I couldn’t believe my eyes. As we walked onto the court, I thought, this is going to be an easy win! My confidence increased as we warmed up. I clearly had better ground strokes, better volleys, and better serves. This was going to be an easy match.
Game, set, match; I lost.
I couldn’t believe it. After the loss, I didn’t touch my racquet for a week. I kept asking myself how I lost the match. I finally realized it a week later, I was too overconfident. I missed shot after shot thinking I could make every ball go in. The more I missed the more frustrated I got and the harder I hit the ball. The harder I hit the ball the further the ball went out. The downward spiral was what led me to play the worst match of my life.
Realizing my mistakes, I told myself I’d never underestimate an opponent again. When I play an opponent, I would just play tennis. Over the summer I practiced almost 3 hours everyday. I also played in some local tournaments. I never underestimated my opponents in any of the matches and did well.
In then spring, I again signed up for the same tournament. At the tournament desk, I saw the same kid that beat me here last year. The tournament director handed me the balls and told the both of us to go to court 4. I knew I had improved a lot during this year. However, I refused to believe that I was going to win this match for sure. I thought to myself this guy beat you last time so don’t underestimate him and just play.
Game set and match - I won.
Prejudice prejudge
Even though I lost the same match a year ago, I don’t feel disappointed anymore. I gained something even more valuable than a trophy that day. I learned never to presume things about people. Today when I play against other teams for the school varsity tennis team, I always remind myself not to get overconfident.
This I realized is true in life too. When you judge a person without getting to know them first you miss out on a chance to truly understand someone else. When you are prejudice to someone you might………….. Something about… friendship
How you wont be able to be like free from societal views of certain people
You can’t judge them on who they really are
Tthey migt be really good at tennis or soemthign and you make a mistake.