Alysha Holmes

I was raised in a loving home with my father, Kyete Holmes, mother, Paula Holmes, and three older sisters, Aleczina, Phyla, and Phylina. My parents stressed the importance of independent thought and a strong work ethic throughout my life. Aleczina graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's in Political Science and is now an American History teacher at James Kenan High School. Phyla is currently finishing her animal science degree at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. My older sisters and I remained active inside and outside of academia growing up. Softball, volleyball, basketball, and tennis are sports my siblings, as well as myself, have traveled around the country to play. Phylina currently plays basketball for the Division 1 University of Saint Peter in New Jersey. Aleczina, Phyla, and Phylina have gone on to unlock their potential, but now it is my turn.
This summer, I had the pleasure of acting as a camp counselor for Camp Kirkwood in Watha, NC. This was my first experience as an employee so I wasn’t sure what to expect entering into the workforce. My job was to transport children to the different activities we offered as well as instruct them in a way for them to get the most out of the activity, while also promoting and ensuring a safe environment. It was an amazing first experience that allowed me to tap into potential I had never displayed. At the end of the summer, I was able to instruct children in archery, and. The children and the moments I got to share with them may have been the best part of my summer.
As mentioned before, sports have been a huge part of my life; I was on a softball field before I was capable of playing. My older sisters made it impossible for me to not become an athlete. Since then, I have developed a passion for tennis. I started playing my freshman year of high school and have drastically improved within a short amount of time. I was inexperienced and knew only that the object of the game was to make sure you got the ball back on your opponent's side. Although I had never played before, I tried out for the high school team and made it. Not only that, but I was also seeded number 1 on the team. This made me the first tennis player in my family. I lost every game during my freshman year. I played against girls that started receiving instruction in tennis when they were old enough to hold a racket. Although I was losing, my focus was more on personal improvement rather than overall results. By sophomore year opponents would ask me how long I had been playing. I would respond with a year, and I could see the shocking looks on their faces as they compliment how well I played to have just started. I had tapped into uncharted potential and was making my mark. Their words were more than enough encouragement for me to continue to improve. I found a tennis instructor and have dedicated efforts to furthering my tennis career in college.