Selina Karg
| Sport | Tennis |
| University | Bowling Green State University |
| Major | Bachelor in Exercise Science |
| Sport | Tennis |
| University | Bowling Green State University |
| Major | Bachelor in Exercise Science |
I always wanted to have an experience abroad after graduating high school. When I talked to friends about their college experience in America, I knew for sure that my next destination after graduation should be America. The opportunity to play tennis at a high level and study at the same time like this is only available in the USA. Of course, the decision to be away from family and home for so long wasn’t easy, but no one can take away the experiences I had and will have.
My day usually started with strength training at 6:30 am. To be perfectly prepared, I usually went to our athletic trainer beforehand. After the team lifting, we went straight on to tennis training, which lasted until about 11 a.m.. Depending on the semester, I then either had my first lecture at 11:30 or I had a short time to freshen up and cook lunch at home. I then had two more lectures throughout the afternoon, working through assignments for the entire week during breaks. My day usually ended at 6:30pm and then it was just dinner, packing my bag for the next day and relaxing!
My bachelor’s degree was called “Exercise Science” because I have always been very interested in the human body and its structure and functions. The idea was that I would then study physiotherapy as a master’s degree program and thus be able to pursue my dream job. The structure of the course was very clear and also easy to do. The demands in my Exercise Science courses were high, but made easier by the fact that it was very interesting for me.
We were told from the beginning that studies come before sports (STUDENT-athlete). Since my whole team was very determined and we always had the best grade point average in the Athletic Department each year, this task of doing well in our studies was manageable. Another advantage was that the class sizes only varied between 10 and 20 students, and thus the professor could deal with you individually. In general, all the professors and all the university staff were very helpful and understanding.
Our tennis facility consisted of 8 outdoor courts on campus and 8 indoor courts, but they were a little outside. Depending on the season, our training has always varied. In the fall season, which is seen as a preparation season, we had more strength training and more intense workouts to prepare perfectly for the many matches in the spring season. In general, we had 2-3 hours of tennis a day 6x a week and 1-2 hours of strength/conditioning training 3-4x a week. In addition, we could book individual lessons with our coaches, where we could work more precisely on technique and small details. In general, you can always train more in addition if you want to. Our strength area was always accessible, as was our tennis facility. The training was always set up very professionally and intensively, which brought out my best tennis in me.
On a game day my day started at 9 o’clock at the physio. My ankles were taped, I was able to stretch in a balanced way and activate my muscles and mobility. At 10 a.m. my teammates and I were picked up by our coaches and we went to breakfast together. The time at breakfast was always very relaxed and prepared us well for the upcoming match. After that, we went to our court and settled in for a bit and also had a dance or two (my coach and a teammate were from Brazil). As soon as we were all ready, we went to warm up together, which was always accompanied by loud music and made us hot for the matches. After the matches, at best we sang our victory anthem and then went to dinner together. Since it was then mostly already in the evening, it was then only relax and for me again stretch a little and meditate.
Train daily at the highest level and compete with up-and-coming athletes from around the world.
The USA offers you the best universities in the world: the academic content and methods are first-class and internationally recognized.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to develop personally in a short period of time: gain experience with other cultures and learn perfect English.
One thing is for sure: You will stand out positively for future employers with your international education.
Yes, I had access to a physio at all times. Every team at our university had an assigned physio. Ours had the sports of tennis and softball to take care of. You had to make appointments depending on your needs, but if you just wanted to do things like ice baths or stretching, you could just go to the physio. You could go for treatment as often as you needed and it was also always appreciated by the coaches that you took the best care of your body and also did treatments for prevention.
My time in America had a very positive impact on me. Independence, structure, language, the ability to work in a team and fighting spirit are just a few of the attributes in which America has brought me further. No one can take this experience away from me and I would make this decision again. Due to the great diversity of my team, I was introduced to so many new cultures and ways of life, which can only be an advantage in my later professional life. The team and the university became my second home and I will always be grateful for this experience.
These experiences that make up a college sport simply cannot be put into words. Your team in America becomes your second family and the team spirit is unique. You have to experience something like that for yourself. You meet so many new people, from all over the world and share so many memories with them. It is very hard to put into words what America has changed for me. Of course, after this time I know the language almost perfectly, but also things like independence and order in life have been greatly improved by America. The structure you have to have in order to master studies and sports will benefit you for a lifetime. All of these attributes will always help you in your professional life and are also looked upon favorably by employers. You probably only get a chance like this once in a lifetime, so why not take it?
