Mina Lara '26 Recruiting Profile

I have played tennis since I was six years old. I was introduced to the game by my older brother after dinner one day and since then I never put the racket down. I remember that day so vividly. I touched the purple racket and the strings. It was dark outside and only the lights were on. Once I hit the first ball over the net (probably one after many attempts) it was like how a melody hits a musician. It was beautiful to witness and tennis became a huge part of me. In every personal essay for school, I wrote about tennis. I remember sitting in my eighth grade english classroom and writing about a goal of mine: making the varsity tennis team as a freshman (spoiler: I did). Then sitting in yet another english class freshman year, I announced in my essay my profound love and gratitude for the sport. Later following a paragraph about my future in tennis. I declared that I wanted to play tennis at the collegiate level. I am doing everything possible to achieve this dream of mine. After many mistakes throughout the years, I have learned grit and acknowledgment. I acknowledge that my mistakes are my own and I make up for them by accessing the shot and then repeating it to further better my game. Of course, I cannot forget the very useful Instagram reels and Tiktoks to revisit my technique and fundamentals of the sport. In addition to these videos, I have these incredible coaches and a great support system that have helped me get to where I am. I would be in the courts day in and day out, winter to summer, if my circumstances allowed for me to. The love I have for this game is unyielding, it is hard to put into words. I love everything this sport has to offer. The mental game it takes, the competition, the friendships formed from this sport is everything to me. The finesse of backhands and the drive of forehands. My flat serves are powerful and my slice serves are spectacular. I love the occasional lobs and the craft it takes to slice, especially with my backhand. Attacking at the net and being able to strategically win the point is a phenomenal feeling to experience. The beauty of winning a match and if I lose it just makes me work harder. I am dedicated to the sport, I put all of my time and effort into perfecting my game. I am hardworking, coachable, and would be a great asset in bringing energy to the team. I want the bonds that come along with this sport and the constant roadtrips. I want to play the game that has always been in my heart to play. I cannot wait to see what my future holds in my sport and academics.

Academically, I value my education. I have a 4.3 weighted gpa and a 3.9 unweighted gpa. I take honors and AP classes. These classes are insightful and they help prepare me for my further endeavors. I grew interested in the science field when I was in my freshman year biology class. It opened my eyes to a whole new world. For the first time I felt so ardent about a subject and wanted to learn more. I was so intrigued with the basic unit of life: the cell, evolution, and genetics. Once I opened that door I decided to take honors chemistry sophomore year and I grew fond of going to class everyday. This class gave me more appreciation for the air we breathe, our own bodies, and the necessity of math. As I have gone through my underclassman years, I have discovered my profound love for science and also discovered my major, neuroscience. I want to go to a college that understands my love for science and my major. My education is highly regarded in my decision making as I value the importance of getting my degree.