Dear Tennis, What have I learned from you? Too much to fit into 400-600 words, too many lessons on and off the court. You know my dad is my coach, only a few could understand what that means. The pressure, the looks, the feelings, most of all the stress. Tennis you make us feel so much, they talk about tennis as one of the hardest sports because of the mentality you have to have to succeed in the sport. I had a strong mentality before I got hurt, I tore my ACL and meniscus. My senior year and I can not finish what I started. Everything hit me at once when I heard the news of my injury, I worked so hard for this sport, for myself, and it is all ending right here. I did not want to look at a tennis court or even a tennis ball again because of how frustrated I was. Why did I have to experience this? Why did I have to fight to jump another hurdle when that should have never happened? Why would God do this to me? I had questions firing in my head for a while and I still do sometimes. I worked so hard in this sport, more than anyone could know and this happens. My dad would always say, ¨what you put into it, is what you get out of it.¨ I put everything into this sport, into you tennis, and I get an ending to a season that I barely started, I get the complications of people asking me so many questions that I can barely answer. I remembered all the good lessons you have taught me. The risks, the nerves, the pressure, the overwhelming need to win. What was all of that for? It was for me to learn what I needed to before I left and go live alone. I learned strength, bravery, honesty, and mostly I gained friendships. I learned how to take the negatives and switch them to positives. Was it worth the pains and the long nights. Yes, everything I did and got put through was worth more than any money. No injury or person could take away the lessons I learned on the court. Tennis has shaped my past, present, and future, tennis is nothing less than amazing. Tennis is hard, forget that, it is the most difficult sport on this planet. I was the first girl in my schools tennis history to make it to regionals. I earned that, I worked for that. I did not win it for myself though, I won that for my team. My name is on the award and certificate but so is my school. My team is my family and tennis gave me that for life. Tennis gave me so much, gave me a home, a family, something to look forward to go and do the next day. Every sport is great, but they will not give you what tennis gave me. If tennis was a person every player would be so thankful to the sport and have no way to repay it. What have I learned from tennis? I have learned the most amazing life skills that anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for being there and always teaching me, you truly are the best sport out there. Sincerely, Your friend, Reese Johnson!