Senior spotlight: Viviana Contreras

School: La Feria
Sport: Tennis

When did you start playing tennis?
I started playing tennis the summer of sixth grade when I found out about the program.

What do you like most about tennis?
I like the fact that we can build a strong relationship with each other, as a team, as if we were a second family. In addition, playing tennis allows me to escape my emotions and let loose.

Do you play any other sports?
No, I don’t play any other sports due to the fact that tennis is a year-round sport.

What’s the strongest part of your game?
When it comes to my partner and I playing a match, I’d say my strongest part of the game is being able to volley really well and always being there to back up my partner.

What are you currently doing to stay active?
Since we’re stuck in a difficult situation where we’re limited as to where we can and cannot go, I stay active by working out at home in my backyard. Our coaches recommend certain workouts we can follow to stay active. I follow these and intend to continue following them for as long as we’re in this situation.

Who is your favorite professional athlete?
My favorite professional tennis player is Serena Williams.

What is your favorite food?
My favorite food would have to be enchiladas, especially ones made from home.

What is your favorite color?
Although I have many favorite colors, if I had to choose one, it’d be red.

What is your favorite movie?
I have many favorite movies, however, my all-time favorite is the 1986 film, “Labyrinth,” starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.

What is your favorite animal?
My favorite animal is an elephant.

If you could live in any city in the world, where would that be?
That’s a tough question being that I wouldn’t be familiar with my surroundings in another place besides the Valley, but I would probably give New York City a try.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, past or present, who would that be?
If I had an afternoon to eat dinner with a famous person, it would probably be Tom Hanks.

What is something most people don’t know about you?
Although I seem like a very keep-to-herself kind of girl, once I’m comfortable around you, I loosen up and can be an absolute clown and an outgoing person.

Do you plan on going to college?
Yes, I plan on attending the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

What do you want to major in?
I plan on majoring in nursing and plan to, God willing, become a nurse practitioner.

What would you like to do in the future?
For me, since I want to become a nurse practitioner, I plan on going to school for quite a long time. Of course, I’d get my basics out of the way and become an RN as the first step. After that, I’d like to continue school and get my bachelors of science in nursing (BSN) and hopefully then I will do everything I can to fulfill my dream in becoming a nurse practitioner.

Talk a little about what it’s been like having to endure this break.
Being in the situation we’re in hasn’t been the greatest. The online schooling is definitely something we aren’t used to. It has been a new experience that none of us expected and, as much as some of us don’t like to admit it, I miss going to school dearly. I miss being able to ask my teachers questions about what upcoming senior events were going to take place, and having the freedom to talk to my teachers about schoolwork and counselors about my future steps. What I miss most is having my best friends alongside me as we near the closing of one life chapter and opening to another, graduation. We grew up with each other as the years passed by, throughout elementary, middle school and high school. Being in the situation we’re in makes us feel as if all that, including upcoming senior events, first proms, and being able to graduate with our closest friends has been stripped away from us. All we can do now is pray to God that all this goes away soon and we hopefully get the chance to experience some things we looked forward to most.

IF the entire tennis season is forced to be cancelled, how much would that make you feel?
Although we had the chance to go far as individuals this season, I wouldn’t be too bummed being that I was able to have a great experience and advance further than I imagined during team tennis (in the fall). However, it does make me wonder how far we could’ve gone this semester and what other great memories we could’ve made. Despite this being a possibility, I know that I had a great team tennis season with my second family and wouldn’t change a thing about what I’ve been able to experience my senior year.

Have you learned anything from having to deal with this unprecedented experience?
I’ve learned to be even more patient due to the fact that not only myself but my sisters as well have had to get used to the online schooling. I also think that we’ve all learned not to take things for granted. All of this took place so quickly, and just like that, our privileges of being able to play the sports we love, attend school events, and visit family and friends at our own convenience has been taken away from us. It’s been hard and I know that it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. At this point all we can do is pray to God that everything gets better soon and just cooperate with everyone and everything in order to get things done in a safe and successful way.