Dear Fellow Teammates,
   My college experience has been wonderful so far. Overall college life is a lot busier than high school life. I can never afford to waste time. The material or amount of school work isn’t too overwhelming if you stay on top of things. Classes are for the most part pretty large with a 100 plus students and most courses are lecture based. I find it is much more efficient to look at the PowerPoints ahead of time in order to be able to write down more and understand more during class – a practice I was introduced to at ATA College Prep. Studying and learning the material from every class is crucial because we have daily quizzes. The biggest difference between high school and college is that missing class for tournaments is a nightmare of an experience academically, especially because tests have to be taken ahead of time. However, you have all the resources necessary to succeed. Professors are very helpful during their office hours, student-athlete counselors are always checking in on you to help you stay on top of things, and I have tutors available to me whenever I request them. This is essential and has already helped me tremendously. Also cramming last minute is incredibly hard and rarely works based off of what I have heard from fellow students. Lastly, you are trying to work really efficiently in order to get to bed at a decent hour in order to be ready for practice the next day.
GraysonBr
College tennis and practice is a lot different than junior tennis practice. Every practice is approached with “dual match intensity.” If you think Coach Doug or Newman yelling at you is rough than you are in for quite an awakening. Practices get very loud and heated. Everyday you have something to prove and if you aren’t giving it your all you will most definitely find yourself losing and receiving quite an earful. However, practices are very fun because people are encouraging you, yelling your name, and recognizing everything you do well. Your teammates are always there to pick you up. On the other hand the coaches are not your “Friends” during practice. The words that are stressed most in practice are physicality and infinite toughness. Practices are incredibly intense with few breaks and you are always fighting the urge to bend over. Fitness is the same way and even tougher. Not taking an ice bath is a mistake.
GraysonBroad
Even though college is quite intense and packed with work, I love the environment. I couldn’t ask for better teammates, friends, professors, or college campus. If I could change one thing to prepare myself better for college it would be to make the most out of every minute in practice and not go through the motions some days. Even if you may be the one of the best players at practice, in college it is an absolute dog fight no matter what position you played the year before. If you aren’t exhausted after a couple minutes of practicing then you aren’t practicing right. Overall, ATA College Prep was great preparation for college in the classroom and on the court and I am very thankful to have been apart of the community.
I wish all of you luck this year,
Grayson