Personal Narrative: My Tennis Coach

In a world where winning is paramount, it's easy to get carried away in your quest to succeed. Too often, individuals become so focused on winning that they forget that they are competing against actual human beings with actual feelings. Those not personally involved in a match only notice whether you win or lose. However, being a great player is so much more than just winning. My tennis coach emphasizes the three keys to being a great player; effort, attitude, and sportsmanship. Throughout my high school career I’ve tried my very best to embody these traits. The best example I can think of in which I exemplified each of these traits was earlier this year. Nice intro!
I woke up the morning of our match against Lakeland Union High School to

a message from my coach. He told me that there was a good chance I would play Esther that night. Esther is a player from Lakeland who I’ve played five other times in the last three years. She has beaten me every time. Despite this, we get along very well. We always congratulate each other for victories and wish each other luck in future matches. We both have a great deal of respect for each other. Still, I was ready to finally claim a victory against her. I’d practiced hard and I knew I had the ability to win. I entered the match with this mindset. We played some tough games and we both hoped for the win, but we never once forgot to be friendly and respectful. I complimented her on good shots and congratulated her for winning games, but still worked hard to pull off a win. Seven games into the match she was ahead, five to two. One more game and she would win the set. Nevertheless, I stayed positive and gave it my all. For the first time, I had 100 percent confidence in my ability and I was able to come back, winning five games in a row to claim the set. While I had won the first set, the match was far from over. We went back and forth, both winning multiple games, until we were tied four to four. Ready to finally claim the victory, I won the next two games to finish the match.
The accomplishment I felt after that match was almost indescribable. When I walked off the court I was beaming. Not only had I played my hardest, I had displayed good sportsmanship whether I was winning or losing, and I smiled through it all. After all, I was playing a sport that I love. Although it felt amazing to win against a girl who had beaten me five times before, it felt even better knowing I had won the right way. If I had been rude and disrespectful of my opponent, the win would have meant nothing to me. I would have failed as a player. My main goal in a match, whether I win or lose, is to be an opponent that others enjoy playing against.
Effort, attitude, and sportsmanship are the keys to becoming a great player, but they’re also stepping stones to becoming a great person. Tennis is just a game. When the season is over, it won’t matter whether I win or lose. What will matter is what I take away from the experience. If I give maximum effort in my matches, that will translate to working hard and never giving up in my endeavors. If I learn to stay positive and upbeat in a tough match, it will help me when I face challenges in life. Most importantly, I want to be friendly and honest on and off the court. If I can leave my opponent feeling one thing when I walk off the court, it would be respect. Respect for me not only as a player, but as a person. If I can do that, then I have succeeded.