For many high school students juggling their schoolwork, extra-curricular activities and sometimes a job tends to be difficult and hard to manage. Imagine being a high school student trying to keep all of those activities under control but throw in coming to a new country, learning a new language and above all of that, playing a sport.

     Amelie Korkisch and Dominik Brzski are doing just that, as they came to Cedar Park from Germany this summer. When the two arrived here, they decided to join a sports team while they are in America. Cedar Park offers many sports teams, and both Korkisch and Brezski chose to play tennis.

     Being from a different country, there were definitely barriers the two had to break down. To be able to balance everything a normal teenager is surrounded with, they also have to be able to manage their time, remain dedicated, as well as trying to understand what teachers are telling them.

     “You just have to be able to handle it.” Korkisch, junior, said. “You can’t just say this is too much. It’s exhausting, but I just do it. The sport makes it easier in a way; you make friends. Plus, the school helps you adjust.” 

     Exhausting is right. Tennis is no walk in the park. It takes the time and practice like any other sport. Tennis athletes have to be in great shape, they need to be able to get from the front of the court to the back in a matter of seconds. It’s an unpredictable sport, so players have to be prepared for anything, which demands focus. With hundreds of thousands of spectators right next to your court, one sneeze can mess with your head and break your concentration. Both Korkisch and Brezski came prepared. They both played tennis back home in Germany, a country known for some of the sport’s greats.

     “When I came to America, I chose to play tennis because I played it back home in Germany for a club, and I enjoy it.” Brzeski, junior, said.

     With two extremely respected tennis players being from their home country, it’s no wonder why Dominik and Amelie chose to play tennis. But the U.S. and Germany are two different countries with two different expectations of their athletes. Tennis may be watched and well-respected throughout all of Europe, but in America, they tend to take it more seriously.

     “I practice way more here in America, and people here take it way more seriously than they do in Germany.” Korkisch said.

     Playing tennis at Cedar Park is providing an excellent example of American culture. Korkisch and Brzski are doing a great job of staying organized even with all the distractions and barriers moving to a new country can bring. Cedar Park High School is fortunate to have students of their stature learning in its enviorment.