Rose Matsunaga '22 Recruiting Profile

"I want to play tennis!" I squealed in my six year old voice as we drove by the tennis courts on our way out of campus.

"Ok?" said my mom with a bewildered look on her face.

I soon found myself with a racket in my small hand trying to adjust to the uneven weight of the head. I remember humming to myself about how fun this was. Little did I know, tennis would become a major influence on who I am today.  

The first thing tennis impressed upon me was responsibility. Although I learned this trait at home, tennis brought it into a new light. Responsibility is engrained through repetition; it almost becomes second nature. The keys of being responsible are simple things such as being on time, being prepared, and know what needs to be done. I've experienced the importance of this through daily practices, tournaments, and team matches. Sometimes through consequences, and others by watching peers.

Most recently I've gotten a summer job, which I continue to this day. My job has also helped me learn how to better balance my priorities and time between tennis and other activities. I've also noticed, the harder I practice tennis, the harder I study. For me tennis is interconnected with everything I do and will continue to help me through life. Although I do not know what career I want to focus on, tennis is something that has taught me many lessons through the years.