Amy Zammarieh '16 Recruiting Profile

When it comes to both my academics as well as tennis, I always strive to be the best I can be. Even if it means staying up until midnight to study for an exam, or going an hour before practice to work on my serve. Once I set my heart and brain on a goal, I follow it through until the end. 

I had started tennis when I was about 5 years old and have since then never quit. My personality has always been to finish what I had started and focus on the task at hand, which is the reason why I had never thought of trying other sports. I feel that my work in tennis is no where near done, because I know I am capable of much more then I have already achieved. One of my favorite quotes by Swami Vivekananda goes, "Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life - Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let your brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success". This quote explains all of my views on achieving success fully. 

 I have been told many times by other players and my coaches that I am a good player. That isn't enough for me. I never wanted to be just a good player who has good strokes and a fast serve who wins many matches. Tennis, as we are all aware, is much more then that. I look to be a great player who has the mind, heart, and soul of a true champion. Those players who will fight until the end no matter the obstacles that stand in their way. Who have not achieved an excellent game, but have mastered a game of excellence. Also those who win and lose like champions and recognize the opponent after a big win. I always felt that even though you had claimed victory, you must recognize the opponent because if they hadn't pushed it as hard as they did, the win wouldn't have been as big of a deal as it is. And that is me. I can guarantee you that I will always fight and will not be blinded by a victory or torn down by a loss, because I know, that there is more work to be done, and more obstacles to overcome, because "success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" (Winston Churchill). I ,of course, have not achieved the full capacity of what a true champion has, but I know that I will. When life throws obstacles and complications my way, many people would say "Why me", however I simply say, "Try me".