The degree to which tennis has altered my way of thinking is nothing short of astronomical. Being coached, practicing, and playing have all reinforced many life lessons I have learned. Tennis is popular for its intense, solo competition. But it is so much more than that, even if you only play singles. At the high school level, especially, teamwork has a much larger role than I initially expected. Winning or losing, waiting for a match or between points, coaching or playing, support is always floating in the air. In this regard, tennis has taught me that you are never truly on your own: someone will always be there to support you-- a coach, a teammate, or a spectator. Or a family member, peer, or stranger. The day-in and day-out support has also made me more expressive with my encouragement as well. At first, I was nervous to clap and encourage teammates; however, throughout my two seasons of play, I have found myself less hesitant to throw compliments at both my teammates and opponents. Tennis showed me not to hold back what I think, as long as I can do it respectfully. This sport is a prime example of how success cannot be achieved through mere talent. People with a natural talent for tennis are formidable opponents in their own right; however, talent is not the only thing that wins matches. Everything that comes before the match is important, especially the practice. I have been in my school's band for many years, so I knew that repetition was a very effective tool to improve my skills before I started tennis. But once again, tennis reinforced this idea through practices and matches. Without the repetition, from stretching to serving, I would not be half the player I am today. The continuous drilling, observing, and listening have altered the way I approach my academics and other hobbies as well. In my first season of tennis, I had a weak and inaccurate serve. During the offseason between my first and second seasons, I constantly watched slow-motion videos of professionals serving and coaches showing proper techniques. I still do a slow visualization of a serve when I am sitting around with nothing better to do. This fixation on struggle areas translates into my academics through continuous and varied methods of studying, from reviewing lecture notes to watching explanatory videos. Another translation is in the video games I play. I have noticed that whenever I go a long time without playing a game, I lose the efficiency I once had. But as I play the game more, it begins coming back. A final, and most important thing that will stick with me forever is what my coach said to my team right before my first match: "Focus on one point at a time. Points build into games, games into sets, and sets into matches." This is truly the most altering and applicable thing I have learned from my time on the tennis team because it can fit any scenario-- from questions to pages to assignments. From minutes to hours to days. Tennis, like nothing else, has taught me to break things down when they seem overwhelming. It is possible to go from zero to six games in the first set, but go on to win the match. It is possible to move on from a bad match, a bad grade, and a bad day. It is because of these lessons that I will always cherish and respect my time on the courts, even if tennis is not as present in my future as it is now.