Julian Curiel (he/him/his) began playing tennis toward the end of the COVID pandemic, starting with group lessons at Arroyo Seco. He quickly developed a natural talent for the sport, and within just two years, he was named captain of the junior varsity boys’ team.
“It was my sophomore year and just my second year of playing tennis. It was really exciting”
For Julian, tennis is a pivotal part of life, serving as a physical outlet to cope with difficult times or stress from school.
As current varsity captain in his senior year, Julian is proud of his team and enjoys teaching and leading his mates:
“I get to teach which is really fun because I get to make my team into better players. The tennis team is really like a family.”
Being captain has not only served the team well but has taught valuable lessons for Julian on and off the courts:
“I’ve gotten better at the sport. I’ve grown a lot. I’ve definitely learned a lot of leadership skills like communicating.”
As the future and graduation approaches, Julian doesn’t picture himself leaving behind the sport anytime soon.
“I definitely want to keep playing this for the rest of my life.”
His passion, born from a natural talent that is sure to grow even greater with time and practice, is one that aligns with a core value in his life to prioritize happiness.
“I want to be happy. And tennis makes me happy…”
Comments