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Question:

I'm in middle school and I keep hearing my sister and her friends talk about college tennis. It sounds like something I'd like to do, but is it too early for me to start thinking about it?

Answer:

Well, it's nice to hear that you are thinking about your future. Most middle school students aren't thinking quite that far ahead - especially 5- 6 years out.

The short answer is: No. It is not too early to think about college tennis. And some of the choices you make now can make things easier for you in the future.

I talk about grades a lot when I do my presentations. Basically, the better your grades are, the more opportunities you will have in the future. If you are already a good student - keep up the good work and challenge yourself academically. If your grades could use some improvement, NOW is the time to start. A student who starts high school is placed in a "track" of classes based on middle school grades. If your grades aren't up to par, you'll be placed in "lower track" classes. You will then have a hard time meeting all the class and grade criteria that you need to participate in college athletics.