Tennis Training

Project Description

My name is Stephen, and I am an 8th grader at Saint Mark's Episcopal School. I have been gathering coaches and tennis players to help teach foster kids how to play tennis. Every Saturday, I have been bringing people and myself to help teach twenty foster kids and 7 foster adolescents for two hours from 12 pm to 2 pm. 

Reflection

Completing this project has been a deeply enriching experience that has allowed me to grow significantly as a leader. Through this project, I learned the importance of compassion, communication, and adaptability in fostering a supportive environment for the children. One of my main struggles is when one of the kids didn't want to do anything and just sit down by himself. I tried to explain to him that he has to at least try tennis before he can make a decision but he refused. After that, I sat with him to make him feel comfortable and told him when I also wanted to just go home instead of doing tennis. I explained that even though I felt this way at the beginning, at the end of the tennis lesson, I was more than glad that I had done it. I got the kid to go back to the group and play tennis with everyone. As I pack everything up, I see him walking over to me beaming and he thanks me, telling me that I was right. The smile on this once dejected face brought happiness to the deepest regions of my heart. Our successes were evident in all the children's enthusiasm and progress in learning the sport, fostering a sense of achievement and empowerment. They would tell me that my tennis practice was the highlight of every week. This project taught me the value of service, teamwork, and the profound impact that small acts of kindness can have on the lives of others.