“Talent is not about having a gift, it’s about having grit.” That’s what tennis legend Roger Federer told the Dartmouth graduating class of 2024 during a commencement speech.
Coming from an athlete who has held the world number one singles title for 237 consecutive weeks and won 20 Grand Slams, one gold and silver Olympic medal, and 103 ATP tournaments, this statement seems ludicrous. How can someone so accomplished say that resilience, not pure talent, is the key to success? In one sentence, Federer debunked perfection’s mythical existence.
Just a few weeks ago, I finished the grueling process of college applications. As seniors, we’re supposed to market ourselves to schools as desirable, “perfect” candidates. We spent months reflecting on all that we’ve done up to that point, picking and choosing the accomplishments, activities, and experiences that we can only hope will lead to a “Congratulations, you’ve been admitted into…” message in our applicant portals. But sometimes, instead of confetti that greets us, there’s a soul-crushing denial that appears, shattering any semblance of hope left in us.
Why do we think this way? Why suddenly when a college decides to accept another student, we feel as though our world has crumbled? Why are we so quick to push aside and devalue our own successes?
More often than not, we are our biggest opponents. Self-doubt, insecurity, and low confidence hinder our ability to acknowledge our progress, instead emphasizing the fact that we failed to reach the non-existent “perfection.” On the tennis court, it’s no different. I hyperfixate on the shots I miss, trapping myself in the past and inevitably inhibiting me from moving on to the next point. Even when I’m not playing at my highest level, I still push myself to win every point with a perfect winner because I just wasn’t satisfied with not being at the top of my game.
Funnily enough, it wasn’t impeccable technique that would help me win, but determination, strategy, and faith in myself. Only when I finally started to slow down my breath and racing mind was I able to hit the ball with clarity. And then, when my goal switched from winning every point to leveraging my strengths that day, the score started to naturally change. Whenever that sense of urgency and panic started to creep back in after I’d missed a shot, I’d remember my dad’s comforting voice, encouraging me to take things point-by-point.
I guess he was onto something. Even Federer, who has won only 54% of all the points he’s played despite winning the majority of his matches, said that, “When you lose every second point on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot…It’s only a point.” Remember, you don’t need to win every single battle, to win the war.
In the same way, college is only one facet of life. It’s unrealistic for us to put so much pressure on ourselves to get into the most elite universities. While being admitted into your dream school is an amazing accomplishment that may bring a sense of fulfillment and pride, it’s important not to put all your eggs in one basket. Rejection is truly redirection. No U.S. News & World Report ranking will ever tell you which college is best for you. We’re all going to go down different paths of life, some more linear, while others, more winding. As long as you keep doing what you’re passionate about (which does not need to be figured out at the ripe age of 17) and believe in yourself, you will end up where you’re meant to be.
While I’m writing this before my major college decisions have been released, I sometimes need a reminder to be proud of myself and know my worth, just like all of you. In the wise words of Federer, “Life is bigger than the court,” so your worth is not defined by where you choose to start the next chapter of your life.
