Proud Of Our Alumni!

It's always hard following up after Brent's emails because he is a fabulous and inspiring writer, but I would like to add a few of my own thoughts regarding leadership and the role I had at ATA.

Along with Brent, I also had a great conversation with Jack and some ATA players on their way back from a tournament last weekend. The question was: How would you describe your transition from a younger kid in the academy who looked up to the older kids as leaders to developing into a leader yourself who others looked up to? It didn't take me long to look back and remember those moments because they happen to be some of my fondest memories in the academy.

Although it seems like there is so much more to learn as a younger kid looking up to the older ones, the truth is actually that you learn just as much (if not more) about yourself and about others when you are in the leadership position. Like Brent said, "Being in a position to be a leader was the greatest opportunity that I had at the ATA." I 100% agree with that statement.

Believe me, it was fun, but it was also a challenge. As a leader, there are expectations that people set for you and ones that you set for yourself. You are in complete responsibility to not only strive to meet these expectations, but to also raise the bar and reach for higher ones. The sky is the limit!!! That is where it becomes fun. You never know how great of a leader you can be until you test yourself. I walked into ATA as a freshman and completely unexpectedly, I was awarded MVP at the end of my freshmen year by my fellow teammates.

After realizing how special it was to receive that award, I wanted to become the best leader that I possibly could. The next three years, I was able to enjoy the growth and develop of becoming that leader. I raised my own standards and always tried to be a leader on and off the court. And by doing so, I learned so much about myself. Remember that taking on a leadership position, is a very special role that will help you for the rest of your life. It did not stop for me at ATA.

To this day as a college tennis player, I continue to try and be the best leader I can and still learn more and more about what that means to me and those around me. It's an honor to be a leader.

Lindsey Pereira

Coach,

I am writing in regards to the conversation that we had on Sunday. I apologize for the delay in getting this to you but I wanted to write it when I knew I would have an ample amount of time to dedicate to the issues that we talked about.

If I remember correctly our conversation had three main topics. We discussed: 1. Coming of age in the academy while utilizing the lessons of those who came before you 2. The benefits/rewards of being a mentor 3. What it means to be a leader. From my experience (as I'm sure you will agree) the three are strongly interconnected. Though this is true, I still feel it's necessary to touch on each one individually.

Coming of age, or the transition from "younger" to "older" player in the Academy means two things to me. The first deals with a term that older players know and love, Seniority. But with seniority comes responsibility. You have a responsibility to your peers, coaches, past players, and the "ATA community" to act in a way that reflects the core values that the ATA instills. Being accountable to this responsibility is absolutely essential for it ensures the survival of these core values, and continues the legacy of those who came before you. This leads into my second point which involves lessons passed down from previous players. When I became an "older" player in the academy I immediately thought of those that I looked up to when I was younger. A name that always came up was (and still is) Roger Gubser. He was my mentor when I was a younger player, giving me a priceless opportunity to learn and grow. I bring this up because as an older player it is important to remember those that you looked up and the things that they did when they were in your position. Gubser taught my class and I a lot about how to be a good tennis player, but even more about being a quality person. His example was something that my class tried to pass on to the younger kids (you guys) who would eventually fill our shoes. To me, having the responsibility of an "older" player meant all these things. I hope these ideas still alive today.

Related to all this is a very important lesson that you taught me which is that teaching is the ultimate form of learning. As a mentor you have an opportunity to influence a younger player's experience at ATA. Within your time as a mentor you quickly discover that when you teach something, you reinforce your own knowledge and skills. Teaching allows you not only to pass on what you have learned, but also reveals your own strengths and weaknesses. I remember that some of the best practices I had came right after I spent time teaching as a mentor. I remember giving out helpful tips on a stoke, or talking strategy and then going out to practice and playing some of the best tennis. But the most valuable thing gained from being a mentor has nothing to do with tennis. When Gubser was my mentor he taught me a lot about tennis, but the most important thing for me was the friendship that we formed. As a mentor, you will find that the relationships you form with the younger players will teach you a lot about tennis, and even more about yourself.

Being in a position to be a leader was the greatest opportunity that I had at the ATA. First I think it is important to note that I believe that leaders aren't born, they're made. One of the most defining moments for me as a person/player came the day that I received the honor of "leadership award" as voted on by my peers. When I was at the ATA, being a leader meant setting the bar, guiding by example and motivating through actions. To me this meant holding everyone accountable to achieving excellence. Being a leader means you have the most responsibility, the highest standards, and the greatest expectations. Being in a leadership position also means that you will learn more about yourself than you could ever imagine. Being a leader reveals the fabric of who you are and what your made of. It exposes your true character, and makes visible your personal values. When all of these things are exposed, you then have the opportunity to share them with those who look up to you, respect you and see you for who you really are. As a leader, you have the opportunity to call those around you to greatness both on and off the tennis court.

Coach, I hope this is what you were looking for. I know this might be more than what we actually talked about, but what can I say, I just felt inspired by our conversation and started writing. As always, please feel free to let me know if there is anything you would like me to add or touch on more extensively. I hope all is going well and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

-Brent