Growing up, I lived a very active lifestyle deeply rooted in playing and competing in sports at a highly competitive level. When I was about 12 years old I developed a deep passion for competitive tennis.

Playing tennis became an integral part of my life as I began on a journey to become the best player I could become. I wanted to strive to play at a collegiate level. I not only dedicated myself to training while trying to push my limits every day, but I devoted my lifestyle to the game. In 7th grade, I switched schools to an online school called Laurel Springs. This allowed me to further my tennis training with a flexible schedule and extra hours of the day to train.

Throughout my tennis career, I competed in various tournaments ranging from State tournaments to National tournaments. It was the thrill of stepping onto the court with a crowd, the adrenaline rush with each big point of the match, and the satisfaction of seeing your work pay off.

Going into senior year, I faced the hardest decision of my life: where to go to college. As a dream of mine tennis was one of the main factors when looking around, but I also always had a desire for a bigger school. It was the fall of my senior year when tragedy stuck, I broke my arm. Luckily it was my right arm since I am left-handed, but this setback forever changed me. Being out of the game for 2 months, during the most important time in the recruiting process greatly reduced my chances at collegiate tennis. It was during this time I was accepted into the University of Georgia, and my final decision was made.

While my competitive tennis career may be in the past, the lessons I learned about hard work, good integrity, and never giving up will always stick with me and guide me through life.