Student Trang Tran Reflects on Her STF Journey

How has STF and tennis challenged and rewarded your growth?

I don’t know what got me to show up at the tennis court at 6 a.m., even though I couldn’t even hit a ball properly. I hated the extreme Arizona heat, the lengthy warm-ups, and the fact that I was terrible at tennis.

Growing up, I labeled myself as lacking athleticism, an excuse for my defeats. The blame was placed on the terrible weather, the advanced training my opponents received, and the superiority of their coaches. I blinded myself to my limitations and easily used environmental factors to explain failure. Yet, I was obsessed with winning. A win was my definition of being an excellent player, and I thrived to be one. I dreamt of becoming greater but have yet to accept the responsibility to do so.

I showed up to practice every day without putting in any effort. For a long time, I questioned my own ability to grow and compete.

That all changed during my Freshman year when I attended the Serve the Future Summer Tennis Camp. The heat was unbearable and I feared having to play in that heat. I told myself I was being baked playing at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. At that moment, I wanted to quit. However, I noticed the energetic coaches who purely wanted to help improve my tennis skills. They had the choice to sleep in, but they chose to show up, unpaid, and coach us. There were Serve the Future students, covered in sweat, giving their all on the tennis courts. That moment planted a seed of understanding in my mind. I realized I craved recognition but never put in the work. I have all the assistance in the world but used excuses to shield myself from a lack of abilities and insecurities.

I assessed my mistakes. I started to show up, not just to hit a ball, but to practice. Every time I had a chance to play, I would get my rackets and run to the court. My screen time turned into practice time. Weekends became tournament matches. As time went on, I enjoyed the process rather than the outcomes. Serve the Future showed me that as long as I am willing to work, people will always be willing to help.

As a person scared of personal changes due to a lack of dedication and effort, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and became accountable for my actions. The power of mindset not only changed my game but also my life. I realized I’m the one in charge of my life and my actions. Through tennis, I learned how to take ownership of my own goals. For me, the purpose of the game isn’t to win; it’s to see how far I have come and the changes I have made as an individual. When looking back, I love it when I see significant changes in my skills, my games, and my mindset. Tennis is never a game against my opponent; it’s a challenge against myself.

Before competing in my first USTA Tournament, my coach Leslie told me she believed in me. Honestly, I doubt whether Coach thought I could win. But I know for a fact that she’s proud that I challenged myself by stepping outside of my comfort zone. That’s what makes STF special, we don’t strive for perfection, but growth.

Tennis, specifically STF, has led me closer to success. Coach Leslie also became a female role model in my life, showing me gender bias can’t stop me from pursuing greater things. Off the court, I started to learn more about my interests, receive help from many other organizations, and further educating myself. I learned the importance of self-improvement and hard work to better my life. Serve the Future came and showed me I deserve things. I deserve opportunities and success.

Trang Tran
Bioscience
Junior
2 years in STF