Born May 26th, 1951, Sally Ride was the eldest of two daughters. Her father, Dale Burdell Ride, was a professor of political science and her mother, Carol Joyce Ride, was a counselor. She was born in Las Angeles and grew up in a wealthy neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. Her parents always encouraged Ride and her sister to do their best in all aspects of life, while also allowing room for them to independently mature. From a young age, Ride showed promising ability in both athletics and academia. While she was a very skilled reader, tennis was Ride’s first love. In high school, Ride continued to developed her natural athletic ability on the tennis court, winning a scholarship and eventually ranking eighteenth at the national level. At
