The 2017 Senior Perspectives is the 12th in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of teams at Harvard have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Harvard.
June Lee, Women's Tennis
Hometown: West Windsor, N.J.
Concentration: Economics
House Affiliation: Winthrop
The first time I ever stepped foot on Harvard's campus was my junior year in high school on my unofficial visit. On that visit, I distinctly remember the emphasis that was put on what it meant to be a student-athlete at Harvard and I could tell there was something special about it. The last four years have been an unforgettable journey and my life would not be the same if it weren't for the Harvard women's tennis team.
Tennis itself is a very individual sport and since I was young, I was always used to playing on my own and relying on myself. Playing an individual sport comes with its strengths, but entering the Harvard tennis program as a freshman, I had no idea what it meant to be on a team. I thought the most important thing was where I played in the lineup and that I won my own individual matches, but the last four years have taught me otherwise. I spent most of my freshman year adjusting from online school to being a student at Harvard and learning how to manage my academics and my sport, which is something all student-athletes at Harvard have to continuously deal with. Unfortunately, I spent most of my sophomore year battling a wrist injury that resulted in exploratory surgery, and half of my junior year was spent doing rehab after surgery and playing matches using just one hand. During that time of my life, I always questioned if I would ever be able to play normally again and how this would affect the rest of my college tennis career. However, it came to my attention how lucky I was and still am to get to walk across the river every day and train and compete alongside such an amazing group of women.
One of the things I've loved the most about being on the tennis team is that even if I lose my individual match, our team can still win as a whole and vice versa, which has taught me responsibility as well how to take care of my teammates. The best feeling is looking up and down the courts during a dual match and seeing every single person on my team fighting their hearts out right alongside of me. Being a part of this team has taught me how to be a good leader, how to be a good teammate, but most of all how to be both not only in the good times, but in the bad as well. Being a student-athlete comes with so many highs and lows, but it is how we respond and learn from these moments that make this roller coaster of a journey so special.
Now, as the captain and only senior on the varsity women's tennis team, it has been incredible to go from being one of the new younger team members to being the oldest one and watching the team grow in numbers and in character. Just this year, I had the privilege of seeing our seven freshmen on the team blossom as student-athletes and got to be right by their side every step of the way. It has also been incredible to see how the level of tennis on our team has improved and how our performance has improved with every year. We went from not winning an Ivy League match my sophomore year to winning the Ivy League championship this season. This team has become my family and I wouldn't want to be battling next to anyone besides them.
As I get closer to graduation and the next part of my life, I can only feel blessed and grateful for my time at Harvard as a student-athlete. I am so honored to wear the letter H and represent Harvard in not only tennis, but everything I do and will do in the future. The memories and relationships made in these four years have been incredible and unforgettable. I can't thank my coaches, teammates, family, and Harvard enough for giving me the opportunity to be a student-athlete at one of the best universities in the world.
