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Here at KUHF’s This I Believe, we receive a lot of essay submissions from young people. The essays are often the result of a classroom assignment and that’s the case with Barrett. Shanna Ciarella is Barrett’s English teacher at Memorial High School and she says all her students reviewed This I Believe essays posted on KUHF’s web site to get ideas and to see how essays should be presented. Barrett says his essay was pretty simple to write once he had the idea. And he says, it tells a personal view of how the game of tennis mirrors the way he lives his life.
Here’s Barrett Von Blon with his essay for KUHF’s This I Believe.
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“I believe in the connection between the game of tennis and life itself. In fact, I play tennis the way I live life.
Every time I step out on a court I bring the best attitude I can possibly have.
Sometimes you have one of those days where nothing goes right but still you have to show life that you’re here to take a stand.
This is my life, not the opponent’s, not the line judge’s, nor anybody else’s. Sure, sometimes you won’t come out on top, but as long as you give it your best shot, that’s what matters most.
I believe that tennis is a lot like life in that nothing can stop you from being your true self or showing what you believe in. If you can step off the court and still say I gave it my best shot, then I believe, you’re living your life. Win or Lose.
I believe you keep playing, regardless of the outcome. Life is a long match. Yes sometimes you will be down 40-Love, but you don’t give up. You keep playing. You keep living.
Bad calls are made all the time. You may get down and feel like there is nothing you can do. You may feel like no one’s there to help. You may feel like giving up. Don’t do it! Get up! Keep playing!
I believe that the way you play tennis is the way you live your life. Relax, have fun, and enjoy where you are. This is how I live my life!”