Paulette Careaga interned with El Conquistador Tennis, assisting professional tennis coaches by providing skill-appropriate lessons to help players develop skills on and off the court.
Why did you choose this internship?
Ever since I was eight years old I have had a strong love for the game of tennis. Through hard work and dedication I kept at tennis and was able to play at the collegiate level. I knew that when I was done playing tennis competitively, I would like to give back and help others be able to reach their fullest potential. My coaches were instrumental not just in my development in tennis, but helping to shape the person I am today. I strive to be just like my coaches and hope to make an impact on the kids I coach. I chose to coach at El Conquistador because this is the place where I first fell in love of the game and I want to give back to help other kids find their love for the game in the same way I did.
What kind of work did you do throughout your internship experience?
As a Tennis Coach I had a lot of responsibilities. I was responsible for coaching and supervising youth ages 3-18 years old. I taught them the basic fundamentals of tennis by having them do drills that I went through when I first started to play and taught them a little bit about the history of the game. I also coached them on the mental side of the game, sharing tips on how to practice and play smarter, looking for ways to capitalize on your opponent's weaknesses. In addition to duties relating to coaching, I helped around the club with whatever was needed and sometimes found myself interacting with kids as a mentor.
What skills did you practice during this internship?
Coaching tennis has sharpened my soft skills. Through coaching I learned the importance of having patience, understanding that sometimes a drill or technique can take a while for someone to fully understand and improve on. I’ve learned how to communicate and coach with players in a variety of different approaches, acknowledging that every player has a different learning style. Catering to the different needs of each of the players has helped me think outside the box on how I can better improve my communications skills. I learned the importance of time blocking after having to manage different age groups’ practice schedules and 1-on-1 lessons. It was also a lesson in work-life balance, as this experience kept me busy alongside the family vacations, friend adventures and family life. These are just some of the many skills I learned throughout the summer and I definitely feel that these skills can help me not just in my future job, but in life as well.
What was the most meaningful or satisfying part of your internship?
The most satisfying part of my internship was seeing the improvement from the players and hearing them tell me “thank you!” after the practice. As a coach, you learn to really appreciate the small things or moments of gratitude. It really builds your confidence as a coach when you can be there to see your players excel. You soon start to realize that your players' accomplishments are also yours. I realize now that when I was playing in junior tennis and college tennis, my wins, no matter how big or small, were also my coaches' wins.
What was the most significant contribution you made?
I made it a point everyday out on the court, no matter how hot it was, to create an environment that was motivating and positive at the same time. I always tried my best to motivate my players by challenging them to give me more effort even when they felt they couldn’t. We would play mini competitive games to put their practice to the test. At times my players would sometimes fail, and I would use those moments to encourage positivity and spin a negative into a positive. With each miss, mistake, or failed shot you get that much better for whatever comes next. I continually reinforced the importance of having a growth mindset, meaning just because you missed the mark now, it doesn't mean it's the end of the world; instead use that as motivation to learn from your mistakes, get up and move forward. I hoped I showed them that each mistake gets you closer to bettering and refining your craft.
What is the impact of your internship experience?
As a result of this internship, I feel like I have grown more as an individual. In coaching my players I have learned a lot about myself and see tennis through a different lens. Patience has been a huge opportunity of great personal growth. As a player I struggled with patience and would get frustrated with myself when things didn't go the way I wanted them to go and or if I didn’t learn things quick enough. Now, as a coach, I’ve learned that patience is extremely important to have. I’ve internalized the lesson that sometimes if things don’t pan out the first time, it's okay, you just have to trust the process. This internship has also challenged me to manage my time better.
What advice do you have for other students as they search for their internship?
Sometimes the path to what we want to do isn't clear, and it's okay. The best advice I’ve ever gotten was to follow what you love and to not be afraid of stepping outside of your comfort zone. My oldest brother always said, “the moment you step out of your comfort zone is the moment you reach your fullest potential.” The unknown is scary, and it's okay to be scared. Trust in your abilities, stay true to yourself and what's meant for you in life will come. Be patient and trust God’s plan. Follow your instincts, interest, and see if there are opportunities there. If not, look at other topics, subjects, career paths that you’ve always been interested in or just are curious about. Everyday is an opportunity to learn something new so go out there and explore. I challenge you to try something new today, tomorrow, and the next day!