This, is who she was:

And this, is what she has become:

 She is an infinite display of smiles and laughter, passion and drama, selflessness and self-indulgence. There is no question that the youngest of my three sisters has made our lives both interesting and immensely happy.

As she is the last of my little sisters to go off to college to play Division I tennis, I thought it would be wise that I (her big sister), should offer some words of encouragement and advise.

I have always been told, that being a “Student Athlete” at a University is different than being a “Student”.  I agree.  As a Student Athlete, you need to find a way to balance both your Education and Athletics and that you excel in both. This is no easy task, but to someone as bright and belligerent as she is, I have no doubt in my mind that she will succeed.

Being a Student Athlete is a wonderful experience and will contribute greatly to your personal growth and development. As a former student athlete myself, this is what I have learned:

1) As tired as you may be or as cold as it may be outside, DO NOT SKIP CLASS. EVER.  You’ll be missing class a lot as it is due to your responsibilities as a member of the team.

2) Every once in a while you’ve got to miss a class, for your sanity.

3) If your professor tells you to read a chapter (or 2 or 3 or 10) for next class, read. You do not want him surprising you in a class with a random question and you end up  looking like a schmuck.

4) Professors have office hours for a reason: so they can see who is interested in their class and who doesn’t give a shit. Just pay them a nice visit or two.

5) Upon your arrival to University of Wyoming, you will make 6 to 7 best friends right away: your teammates. Be nice to them, respect them, encourage them, love them. They are your future workout buddies, doubles partners, roommates, maids of honor, bridesmaids, godmothers to your children, your friends for life.

6) At the time you may not think so, but you have just become adopted by somebody else: your coach. If she is anything like mine, you just found yourself a mom away from home. And I’m not kidding. She will encourage you, and push you, and yell at you, and cry when you have let her down, and be happy for you when you have succeeded. Hopefully you won’t go through this, but she will take you in after you’ve had surgery and nurse you back to health.  During these moments, you may not see it this way, but one day you will look back and think of her and finally say: SHE WAS RIGHT! I absolutely CAN do this! There is always a little bit more in me!  To me, that moment came after pushing my firstborn out for an hour. To you, I hope it comes sooner.

7) Always run for every ball. Every single ball. Specially at practice. There is no better feeling, than the feeling of completing a succesful practice/workout.

8 ) Every day you go into practice, ask yourself, what can I do to get better? When you’re done, ask yourself, did I get better?

9) If your coach tells you not to drink during season, don’t. Trust me.

10) Here is a story  and you can take it however you want. Matt and I both had 6:00 a.m workouts one morning, but it was Halloween, and we decided to party it up the night before. Possibly the worst idea ever. Yet, we woke up and we both went to the early morning workout. It sucked!  But we still think back and talk about it often.

11) Your days of playing for yourself are done. 5 other people depend on you playing smart, playing creatively, and NEVER giving up.

12) Seniority is bullshit. If you, as a freshman, did not enjoy picking up balls at the end of practice or gassing up the car in 10F degree weather, what makes you think any other freshman would?

13) As hectic and busy as your life will be, ALWAYS make time for the friends you have made. Because one day when you decide to go visit that person to catch up on what’s been going on for one whole semester, they may not be there anymore.

14) There will be plenty of times when your friends are going to be heading out to party (again) and you will have to stay behind because you have an early match. You may say to yourself: “I wish I could do that”. Just think that as you’re suiting up to fly to Hawaii to fight for your school’s reputation, they’re looking at you thinking: “I wish I could do that”.

15) I leave you with this quote from Dr. Seuss:

“You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your
right foot with your left.”

I love you and I’ll always be here. And now that you’re on your on your own, show them what you’re made of. Show them what you’re capable of. We all already know.