Photo Courtesy of Ajla Ramic

Ajla Ramic (10) swings hard on Oct. 6, as she practicing for her upcoming game. “I love this feeling. The adrenaline of the match is exactly why I play,” Ramic said. She was hitting back and forth with a partner to warm up.

Ajla Ramic (10) steps onto the tennis court, the weight of the team heavy on her shoulders. Despite the pressure, she grips her racket, ready to face a challenge and improve this season. She feels a rush of excitement, as the tennis court has become a place where she can chase her dreams. Each time she hits the ball, it makes her feel free and full of energy.

“I get many different emotions throughout my head, some positive, some negative depending on how I’m feeling, but most times I have a positive mindset,” Ramic said.

For her, tennis is more than just games and practices. She has been able to connect with others who share the same interest.

“I have gained many new friendships throughout the sport that I am super grateful for,” Ramic said, “because I love being friends with everyone and getting to know them.”

While she values the friendships she’s made through tennis, she also appreciates the solo aspect of playing in matches. She finds it easier to work alone and fix her mistakes while playing.

“I like to play solos because it allows me to see how competitive I am against the other players on the court,” Ramic said.

However, there are some drawbacks to the sport. 

“Personally, I do not like going to another school because I’d rather have courts here,” Ramic said. “Traveling to another school causes me to sometimes lose time and be late to practice/games.”

While she is picky about where she plays, her main goal is to continue playing tennis as a fun and relaxing hobby, regardless of the hardships.

“I plan on playing tennis for my last two years of high school because I do it with the people I love the most,” Ramic said. “So it is just a fun hobby I have.”