Student Ricky De La Fuente Reveals What STF Means To Him

How has STF and tennis challenged and rewarded your growth?

The STF program has helped me on the court so much by not only getting me better and pushing my limits so much to the point of me not wanting to go but I knew me going would toughen my game and mentally. On the match day during the summer camp there would be many times where I felt down after loosing a couple of points and there was people always right at my corner pushing even when I would be up and winning in the game coaches would be there to encourage me through the whole game helping. For when actual school games or during tournaments and the experience of playing games every week helped.

This program also opened so many opportunities for me like meeting all the other players and getting comfortable talking to other and the many coaches that showed up and talked to me personally trying to help with anything they could such as coach Leslie who is a amazing person she really did change me a lot like when I received a bag for being the student that attend the most days of camp she encouraged me too give my old bag to a student who didn't have any bag and things like that really impacted me. Also coach Valerie who came up to me telling me how she could help me with colleges which is something I am planning on attending. And just how approachable everyone was in any situation felt like everyone here at STF is a family.

They rewarded my growth so much by being so supportive and just the motivation I received and the gifts.Such as a new tennis bag that was so much better the the one I had and a new racket I also felt that I had to work so hard for these gifts I received and everyone else got rewarded as mush as I with a lot of cool stuff and lessons that cant be taught anywhere else for free .

Off the court I felt a lot healthier I was more active during the day instead of being at home all day I felt more accomplished with my self because I was getting up early and making schedule for my self and also waking up early help me with being able to be up early for school because I was used to it and still am which was something I struggled with. I also had a different mindset on tennis and at home or while off the court I felt more in control of my mind and was able to fight off any negative thoughts and believed in my self a lot more and really I was just proud of my self for what I was doing going into a hard year coming up with it being my senior year I really want to do good in class and on the court with the possibility of me being number 1 for my school team this year the motivation I have had recently has been pushing me forward and is lighting a fire that will last a while and wont be blown out until I achieve what I want in life.

Ricky De La Fuente
Betty Fairfax
Senior
1 year with STF