My freshman year, I decided to try out for my high school’s junior varsity tennis team. The tryouts went smoothly, and I joined the team. I did well at practice, but during our first match, I let the mental pressure get to me, and I choked. I was moved to a low position on the roster and did not qualify to play in many of the matches, which was very frustrating. At the end of the season, my coach told me that I was not good enough to be on the team the following year. Initially, I felt defeated, and wondered if I should quit and focus my efforts on other interests. I enjoyed playing tennis, loved the camaraderie of the team, and wanted to prove to myself that I was worthy of playing for my school. Taking my defeat as a challenge, I decided
