When I was little, my family showed me how to volunteer--how to reach out and give back to the community through various local charities and organizations. At my high school, we were encouraged to continue volunteer work, and during my first month there, I found my way to an organization that would change my life and my career goals forever. That organization is called Tennis for Fun.

 

Tennis was my high school sport. I played on our very competitive team for four years, and our team went to the State Finals all four years of my career. I had trained all my life to play tennis at this level, and I was really focused on the sport. When I saw the announcement that some sort of tennis group was looking for volunteers, I signed up the first week of high school. That group turned out to be Tennis for Fun. This national, nonprofit organization is dedicated to teaching athletes with special needs how to play and how to interact during the game. Athletes in the program train each week to compete in the season-ending Florida Special Olympics. For the past four years, we had athletes medal at the local, regional, and state levels of competition.

For the past four years, I shared goals, dreams, and so many great times with these athletes.  For the past four years, we were all made better through the sport we had in common.