I give a lot of credit to myself for how far I've come with my athletics. I've been playing tennis since I was 6 and have been working hard to get where I am today ever since. All that hard work earned me an athletic scholarship to play tennis at a collegiate level, and even when I finally reached my long term goal of playing collegiate tennis, I still had to work hard to earn a consistent playing spot and win at that given spot. I never doubted myself, or stopped working for what I wanted, even when times were tough - and don't get me wrong, I know that I played a huge role in getting myself here, but in reality, I owe it all to my parents.

Lets begin at the age of 6 when my parents signed me up for my first tennis lesson. Obviously I was young and just went along with it because well, I was 6, but from that day forward, I never looked back. Almost 16 years later, a senior collegiate tennis player, I still haven't - but I want to thank my parents for signing me up for that tennis lesson, oh so long ago.

It really is thanks to you guys for getting me to where I am today. Without your unconditional support and belief, I would not be at the level I am today. I wouldn't have the fight, the determination, the discipline, the motivation or anything along those lines that I have today. I am the athlete I am today because of you both.

My dad grew up playing sports and was always competitive, so he knew what kind of hard work needed to be done to help me get where I wanted to go. He pushed me constantly, and although some days I didn't like it, I knew that in the end it would pay off. He taught me discipline, and commitment. I use to do 500 sit ups a day, along with four hour practices, weight sessions, and maintaining my social and school life all at the same time. He taught me to never make excuses, and a saying we came up with together goes like this, "To be a champion I must be self-disciplined. I will not forget, I will not make excuses, I will wake up every morning and work like the champion I aspire to become". And that stuck with me.

I continue to wake up every morning and work like the champion I am still aspiring to become, even as a senior, playing my last season of college tennis. I do not make excuses, ever. I work harder than ever, and it pays off.

My mom was a cheerleader in high school, and though I always joke about how I think its not a sport and what not, since she has been my biggest cheerleader, I understand how important of a role that is. I wouldn't be the athlete I am today without her constant support and cheering. Don't underestimate cheerleaders, because they will certainly help you win.

Aside from the obvious things like my parents paying for all my tennis lessons, rackets, tennis shoes, tennis camps, the best coaches, tournaments, and travel expenses which of course I couldn't have or have done without them, it's more of the moral support, and belief that has brought me the furthest. It's the millions of balls fed to me by my dad, and the millions of balls picked up by my mom. It's the never ending "you can do its" or the "you can do betters".

I am the athlete I am today because of my parents and I am so thankful to have them supporting me always in the sport I love, from the day I picked up my first tennis racket, to the day I put it down.