I am the daughter of Lomialagi Marjory Salelesi, the second oldest of six children in a strict, highly cultured, and religious Samoan household. She is hardworking, incredibly witty, resilient, and beautiful inside and out. She carries not only me on her shoulders but also her siblings, cousins, and elderly parents. She doesn’t just do everything—she sacrifices everything, even when it takes a toll on her personal health, just to ensure her family lives without burdens. She is the first person in our entire family to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree, despite facing the financial and racial hardships that came with being the daughter of two immigrants who barely spoke English. Her life was a hectic balance of caring for her siblings, supporting her family, and working tirelessly to achieve the highest goals. Even when I was little, my mother told me about the circumstances of my birth. I was born in Australia to a mother trying to make it in a foreign country, working two jobs as a waitress to survive. Despite the long hours and exhausting shifts, she made it work—bringing me to work with her when I was just a baby and making sure I was safe, fed, and clothed. I never knew hardship the way she did. As a child, she constantly worried about the next day—where the food would come from and whether her father would return safely from work. She made sure I could live a carefree life filled with love, protection, and unwavering support. When I immigrated to America with my mother, I was enrolled in private school from elementary through middle school. From a young age, I strived to earn scholarships and grants to support her. From kindergarten to sixth grade—before COVID—I rarely saw my mother at home. She would leave before I woke up and return long after I had fallen asleep, commuting two hours each way for work through LA traffic. I always missed her, but she never let me forget how loved and prioritized I was. She made sure I understood that everything she did was for my benefit, even if it meant being absent during my early years. As I entered high school, my mom encouraged me to be myself. She taught me to embrace where I came from and use it as motivation to go further. I struggled with my sense of identity when I was accepted into Bishop Montgomery on a scholarship with financial aid. Through her guidance, I learned how to persevere through tough times. She gave me valuable insight into choosing who to trust and reminded me that those choices shape who I am. She surrounded me with people who offered love and support despite my circumstances. I took her words to heart and used them as fuel to succeed. I became president of two clubs and an active member of school programs such as NHS, CSF, and ASB. I maintained a 4.3 GPA or higher each year while balancing tennis and volleyball practices and games. I took charge, knowing that my mom was raising me to be an independent woman like herself. I plan to continue maintaining high academic standards and contributing to both my academic and athletic communities so I can attend a university that will prepare me to reform the broken, twisted justice system. My ultimate goal is to give my mom the comfortable, worry-free life she has always deserved yet never allowed herself to have.

Tennis has taught me a number of things based on the sport itself and how it can be applied to my everyday life. You can lose three points straight, but still bounce back and win the game. The ability to keep my cool in the midst of pressure when everything is on the line has not only been cultivated, but perfected as I apply this skill to school work and other extracurricular I participate in. The mental endurance that I developed ensured my future, to be not only possible, but something to look forward to. I allowed myself to be in the moment with faith that I am capable of all the things to come in the future. I have learned resilience and persistence through the tough times even when all seems lost. When my confidence in myself dropped severely, I used this lesson to push myself through it instead of wallowing in my sorrow. The discipline needed to enhance every aspect of the sport from stamina to form keeps me grounded when I feel burnt from repeating the same things over and over again. Knowing that eventually, I will reach my goal to be the best that I can be, drives me to do things I didn't believe I could. I struggled with physical health issues and needed a way out to prevent further damage to myself. Tennis provided me with a release to simply "do" instead of "think". I felt a freedom that I couldn't find anywhere else. Tennis has allowed me to continue to make healthy choices, not only to better my game on the court, but to improve my lifestyle. Tennis is not only a sport that needs physical skill, but mental strength is a key component to victory. The psyche of encouraging yourself or doubting your abilities affects the outcome of the match. To win, you must keep your composure and allow yourself to move out of your own way. I, personally, struggled with confidence in myself and what I can do. I hesitated before every shot, robbing myself of the power I have in my shots today. In singles, you must rely on yourself to get the job done. There is no partner to blame or give partial responsibility to. There are many intense moments in tennis, such as tiebreakers, deuces, and match points. The pressure one may feel can either overwhelm or propel forward. I have learned that not only is the pressure important, it is crucial to growth as I learn more about myself and how to best control my fears. These newly learnt skills are extremely useful in difficult, tense situations, so that they may be dealt with efficiently. My specialty in tennis is doubles. As easier as it seems compared to singles, it is, in my opinion harder. There is one other obstacle to avoid (the net player) and angles are paramount to keeping the point alive to eventually win. I struggled the most with finding a teammate that I connected with. I then learned that trying to look for the perfect person is not the way to go, for no one is perfect. I allowed myself to explore others to create new friendships and step outside my comfort zone. I have refined my teamwork skills which is essential for group work. Group work is included in every occupation, from doctors to lawyers. I learned how to work with people and still achieve the best. The sport of tennis has shaped my future by developing good habits including independence, discipline, teamwork, endurance, and strength mentally, physically, and personally.