Somepeoplewouldgothroughanythingjusttoachievetheirdream.KasiaSiwoszisproof.Forthefinalyearstudentontheuniversitywomen’stennisteamtheroadtoBerkeleyUniversityofCaliforniawasmetwithpooradviceandmisinformationfromherhomecountryandtwounsuccessfulstopsalongthewaythatfellshortofexpectations.
BorninPolandSiwoszbeganplayingtennisatsevenyearsoldanddevelopedtheskillsthathelpedherearnatop-50rankingamongtheITFJuniordivision(国际网球联会青少年赛).Siwoszwantedtodomorewithherlifethanjustplaytenniswhichledhertoseekchancesthatwouldalsoallowhertoobtainatopeducation.WhilemostwhogrowupintheU.S.arenaturallyaccustomedtotheAmericantraditionofcollegiate(大学的)sportssuchacustomisnotasfamiliarinacountrylikePoland.“There’snocollegiatesportsinPolandandnocultureofsportsandacademic(学术的)studythere.Youcanonlydoonenotboth”Siwoszsaid.
HerdesiretohaveaqualityeducationledhertoAmericatofollowherdream.WhileSiwoszwastalentedenoughtobeginhercollegiatetenniscareershecouldonlyattendcommunitycollegebecauseshemissedthedeadlinetoapplytofour-yearschoolsmainlyduetomisinformationprovidedinherhomecountryofPoland.
Whenshehadearnedallhercreditsandwasabletotransfer(转学)SiwoszmadethedecisiontoattendBaylorinTexas.HerfriendsfromPolandputinagoodwordfortheuniversitysayingthatitwasagoodfitbecausethereweremanyinternationalplayersatBaylor.“Ithoughtitwouldbeagoodideabutitreallywasn’twhatIthoughtitwouldbe”Siwoszsaid.“Iwasn’thappyatBaylor.TheleveloftenniswashighbuttheacademicstandardswerenomatchandIjustwantedmore.”
AfteroneyearatBaylorSiwosz’sluckfinallybegantochangewhenshemadethedecisiontotransfertoBerkeleywhichwasdueinlargeparttoLeeaformerBerkeleystudent.LeewhoisakeentennisplayerhimselfmetSiwoszfouryearsagoinTexas.“Iknewshewasunhappythere”hesaid.“Isawtheopportunityforhertocomehere.”SiwoszvisitedLeeinBerkeley.“Iendeduplovingthisplaceandthisschool”Siwoszsaid.“IcameherealotoverthesummerIgaveitashotandIendedupwithaBerkeleyeducationandaspotononeofthebestcollegetennisteamsinthecountry.”
1.Whatdoe