RJ had been practicing harder than ever. His tennis racket never left his side, and he spent hours at the local park, perfecting his swing.
“I’m getting better,” he thought, but he knew there was still a long way to go.
When RJ saw the sign for a local tournament, his heart raced. He signed up, his hands trembling slightly.
“You’ve got this,” he told himself. But deep down, the nerves were setting in.
RJ faced his first opponent, a tall, athletic boy who looked intimidating. As they started the match, RJ struggled to keep up, but he pushed through, determined not to give up, even as sweat dripped down his face.
Despite his best efforts, RJ lost the match. His opponent was stronger and more experienced. As he walked off the court, disappointment washed over him, but he didn’t let it bring him down.
“I’ll learn from this,”
RJ thought.
“I’ll
get stronger.”
RJ returned to the court the next day, practicing harder than ever. He replayed the match in his mind, thinking about what he could improve.
“I won’t give up,” he said aloud, hitting the ball with renewed focus.
One afternoon, while practicing at the tennis club, RJ noticed a girl practicing on the next court. She wasn’t the best player either, but she had the same determination. After a few minutes, she approached him.
“You’re pretty good,” she said shyly. “I’m Emily.”
RJ and Emily started practicing together, encouraging each other as they played. They laughed and shared tips, both excited to have found a friend who understood the challenges of learning tennis.
“We’ll get better together,” Emily said with a smile.
Feeling more confident, RJ and Emily decided to enter the next local tournament together. They practiced every day, pushing each other to improve.
“We’ve got this,” RJ said, starting to believe in himself more than ever.
When the tournament arrived, RJ played his heart out. He won his first match, and as he walked off the court, he couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m really getting better,” he thought, feeling proud of how far he had come.
In the semifinals, RJ faced a tough opponent, but this time, he had Emily cheering him on. Her encouragement gave him the confidence to fight harder, and although he didn’t win the match, he felt victorious for having come this far.
After the tournament, RJ and Emily sat on the court, exhausted but happy.
“One day, we’ll be champions,” Emily said, looking at the sky. RJ nodded, feeling the spark of a new dream. “One day,” he agreed.
Think About:
1. What did RJ learn from losing his first match in the tournament?
2. How did practicing with Emily help RJ improve?
3. Why is it important to keep trying, even when things are difficult?
Let's Work Together: Just like RJ, we can find strength and motivation from others. Working together and supporting each other helps us achieve our goals.
I Will: I will keep practicing and learning, even when I lose, because I know that’s how I’ll get better.
The Importance of Knowing: Knowing that perseverance and support from friends can help us overcome challenges reminds us to never give up on our dreams.
From an unathletic boy to a US Open champion, RJ's Racket is an inspiring five-book series about resilience, growth, and the power of determination. When RJ receives a tennis racket for his birthday, he struggles at first, but with unwavering effort and the support of his best friend, Emily, he transforms into a world-class player.
