I have dedicated my life to tennis since I began middle school at 11 years old. I began online school in 6th grade, giving me the opportunity to spend more hours on court and to travel for weeks at a time. I have spent up to a month without being home, playing tournaments to improve my ranking. Since 11, I have been waking up at 6AM for early gym sessions or getting my school done early in the day. I have missed countless birthday parties. movie premieres, weddings, baby showers, just about any event possible due to tournaments. I grew such a complex relationship with the sport. Loving it when I was winning and having a good time, but also hating it because it felt like it took everything away from me. Balancing my social life was a challenge growing up. I had very persistent parents that taught me the definition of sacrifice and priorities at a young age, and held me to that high standard. I feared disappointing them, so I never even asked if I could skip practice for a birthday dinner. As I got older, I understood that it was affecting my mental health, and I needed to start enjoying life separately from tennis, and my parents slowly started understanding. I now know how to balance when it's time for seriousness, like practicing and tournament tours, and when I can take a bit of a break and balance back. With school, it can be complicated because I do virtual school. This means that I work on my own time, and teachers can only do so much if I do not submit assignments. Therefore, it can be easier to fall behind. However, my parents always placed a rule for me; if my assignments are not done the day before a tournament, I will not be allowed to play. Usually, if you no-show or pull out of a tournament the day before, you receive penalty points, which can affect your ranking, or even cause a suspension.This simple rule was the best way for me to be motivated to finish my weekly work as soon as possible, and even get ahead to make sure that will never happen. With grades, my parents never had to get involved. I was always a perfectionist, who strived for straight A's. I truly believe tennis gave me that persistence to strive for the best version of myself I could possibly be. With all of that said, I confidently believe that I would be an entirely different person if it wasn't for tennis. Before tennis, I was easily pushed around and let things happen. After experiencing competition, being put in unfair situations time and time again, I have learned to defend myself and to fight for what's right. I have also learned how to be a better organized individual. Like I mentioned, balancing everything in my life has been difficult. The only real way I managed was by using my planner, writing everything down, and following routines. This allowed me to clearly see what I was spending my time on and when I was free. And most importantly, I learned that I am more capable. More than I believed before. Before tennis, I thought I wasn't enough. I always struggled with my confidence and self-esteem, always believing I was the worst in the room. Now, I believe I can do anything I put my mind to, and I can do it just as good or better than any man. I am confident, yet humble. This is what I appreciate the most from tennis.

It is never easy to begin a conversation about something so powerful and dark about the dangers of our own thoughts and the effects it can have on our lives. Despite efforts, about 135 people are dying by suicide every day, and that number doesn't include the others who attempted but failed. One of those people was my great-grandfather. It was difficult news for my family and really got me thinking. He was such a happy person, who attempted 2 weeks before his birthday. This man loved his birthday. It's his favorite time of year. He loved to be celebrated. He died shortly after due to health complication, which we also believe was the start of his depression, so I never even got the chance to talk to him about how he was feeling. In his last week or so, he was isolating himself, being reserved. But the interesting thing was in his last 2-3 days, he was desperate to live. He was in the ICU and all he begged the nurses for was to see his family. After weeks of isolating himself. Why? Did he realize he was dying, and it was too late? Did he only want to die on his own terms? Why was he okay with leaving us a few weeks ago? Why did he deny talking to my mom on Father’s Day but was crying for her the day before. I was almost mad at him for his selfish behavior. But then that's when I started recalling more on how depression really works. The chemical imbalance of the brain. My grandpa couldn’t even distinguish his own feelings, never mind his feelings towards others. He wasn't thinking about my mom, his wife, or his kids when he reached for that bottle of pills. There was his own demon in his head. Or at least that’s what I like to believe. I have always been a curious person. As a child, I had so many questions about everything I possibly could. This specifically translated to how our brain works growing up. How we process what we see, what we hear, our inner thoughts, interactions with other brains. Mostly, how we feel and interpret emotion. Now, with the death of my grandfather, these questions constantly live in my head. I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I can help people understand themselves. Understand what they’re feeling and why. Simply being more aware and have the ability to control their own self better. I am graduating from high school in a month, and my favorite class was AP Psychology by a mile. I think it’s important to note that my parents do not love this career for me. They believe I'm “too emotional” and “will get too caught up in my job.” At first, it unmotivated me. But now, I see that as a challenge to prove them wrong. I’m not sure they say that because I’m a woman, but I believe having passion for your job is a wonderful thing. There is no such thing as being “too involved.” There are people out there who need me, and if I have a calling to this profession, I want to pursue it and see where it takes me. I am so excited to make a difference. If I get to save a single life one day due to my knowledge and passion, it will be all worth it to me. Everyone deserves a chance at life. Because I believe that if my grandfather had someone there for him, there is a chance he could be here today.