I started playing tennis when I was about five years old, so it has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I first played in Trinidad and Tobago, and later continued playing when I lived in Tunisia and Bolivia. I played more seriously for around six years in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where tennis became a bigger part of my everyday life. Playing in different countries made the sport feel like something that connected all these different parts of my childhood. Even though I eventually stopped playing competitively, I never completely stopped loving the sport.
When I moved to Texas, tennis became more of a hobby instead of something I trained for seriously. I do not play as consistently as I used to, but I still enjoy getting on the court whenever I have the chance. There is something really satisfying about playing a sport that I have known for so many years. Tennis has also taught me patience because you can be losing one minute and completely turn a match around the next. I think that is one of the reasons I keep coming back to it even after taking breaks.
Looking back, I think tennis gave me more than just a sport to play during my childhood. It gave me lifelong friends, memories, and it was the one familiar thing I had whenever I was adjusting to a new place. Some of my favorite memories from growing up involve being on a tennis court, whether I was practicing, playing matches, or just spending time with other people. I still rememeber the coaches that made a huge imapct on me and I will cherish what they taught me for the rest of my life. I do not know if I will ever play tennis competitively again, but I definitely want it to stay in my life and I'm always trying to get my friends into it. I find tennis most enjoyable when I play it simply for fun.