Brittany Keuneke '15 Recruiting Profile

It has always been a goal of mine to attend college, as is for the vast majority of young adults my age; however, I have always aspired to be a college athlete as well.  In order to be a college athlete, it requires balance, perseverance, and devotion.  Since fourth grade I have been committed to playing tennis.  I progressed in academics and athletics simultaneously – but a balance between the two did not always come easily.  Eventually, I found a perfect equilibrium between the two aspects of my life – academics and athletics.  The balance did not come easily, majorly due to the fact that I have always been a perfectionist.  This quality led to times of frustration when I fell short of my own expectations.   Habitually striving for the perfect outcome, however, allowed me to develop the ability to look at something I considered to be a failure or disappointment and move forward - rather than dwell on what is no longer in my control.  This is one of the many life skills I have acquired through my experience as a tennis player, and I consider it to be the most impactful and influential.  Tennis is a mentally demanding sport, and if your mind is not in the right place, you are likely to lose points, sets, and matches.  I have always had a passion and drive for tennis, and allowing adversity or hardship to keep me from becoming the best athlete I can become is not an option.  This mentality of continuously working hard, not allowing any mistake to keep me from future success, is apparent in both my school work and my tennis game.  I believe this mindset has made me a stronger individual overall, and learning to balance academics and athletics has prepared me to be a successful collegiate student-athlete. As the fall of 2015 nears, I am excited to have the opportunity to join a women's college tennis team, and meet a group of great girls and coaches in the process.