Summer 2017 has a lot to do with traveling, ending tennis, and applying for internships / jobs.
I came to the Netherlands June 13th. My plan was to play 6 ITF Pro Circuit Tennis Tournaments in 6 weeks. My boyfriend is from South Holland, and his parents live within driving distance of all 6 tournaments. Sounds like any tennis players dream, unless you are injured and can't play any tournaments at all.
I have been struggling with shoulder problems the past few years, and my shoulder finally reached its breaking point. The past season was my last at the University of Arkansas (January to May). All season I played the top spot and struggled with my arm; from my mid back all the way down to my right elbow. My confidence on the court dropped substantially as the season went on. Every match I could feel less trust in myself. The worse I felt on the court, the more I wanted to play. I knew it was wrong but I continued to do it. I wouldn't serve all week to save my arm for the matches. Underhand serving was not out of the question. The doctors gave me an acceptable minor dosage of a steroid pill, it didn't help.
To finish my collegiate career, I made it to the round of 32 in singles and round of 16 in doubles at the NCAA Championships, still in a great amount of pain. I mistakenly thought after a 2 week break I would be good to go for my upcoming tournaments that I was dreaming about all year. My boyfriend and I excitingly flew to Amsterdam with high hopes that my arm was cured and we'd have a summer full of tennis.
After my 2 week break, I jumped on to the court full of energy and couldn't fathom that my arm was still in so much pain. I did what I always do and pushed through the pain. Forced my arm to a fatigue that isn't normal for overhead athletes. The pain started growing more rapidly than it had during the season. Johan, my boyfriend, got me an appointment with his long time physio. We saw him twice and I received dry needling both times, it also did not help.
The decision is now, to not play anymore tennis. I do have a doctor's appointment when I get back to the states, but I don't see myself competing again. With finishing school, finding jobs/internships, working at night, and my dogs, the time just isn't there anymore. Tennis has been such a big part of my life for so long, so it's very difficult to put the racquets down, but I believe it is the right thing to do right now. This decision hasn't been easy for me or my boyfriend, because he dropped everything this summer to help me play tournaments.
I am not bitter, because I am very excited to see where this path takes me. I am very spontaneous and love adventure. Up to this point of my life, I have had everything planned out. It was junior tennis tournaments and grade school, then it was going to college and playing tennis, working out, and studying. This is the first time I don't know what is to come and that excites me. I can do and be whoever I want. I am not tied down to tennis everyday; worrying about training, matches, teammates, coaches, injuries, or work outs.
Since the decision, to put the racquets down, has been made, we (Johan and I) have gone to Lille, Venice, and London. We're not stopping there though, on Thursday we are going to Portugal and a few days later JAMAICA! A place I have been wanting to go ever since I saw Cocktail with Tom Cruise when I was 6 years old. I can travel now!
On the other side of things, once I put the racquets down I started worrying about my future after I graduate. So a few nights ago, I hopped on the laptop that I never use and got to work. The more I read about internships and jobs the more interested I got. Three nights later, I've written 15 emails to different companies and applied for 22 jobs/internships for companies all across North America, including Canada. I, also, have made this website. A website about myself. I never thought I would ever say something like that.
This is my first ever blog post, and this is a story I have not told many people.
Additional info: My boyfriend demands photo credits for the majority of the picture on my site.
