I used to train with Ricardo Acioly’s team in Rio de Janeiro with Rodrigo Soriano, Fabrizio Gambassi, Juninho Fernandes, Franklin Vellozo, Fábio and Luiz Farias as well as the physical trainers Mário Brandão and Ronaldo Soriano. I trained there since I was 12. They have always helped me a lot and they were part of my growth not only as a tennis player, but as a person as well. The moment that we had to make an important decision, they were who we searched for.
We contacted Ricardo Acioly about the college news, and he was shocked but supportive of the idea. We set up a meeting and with all his experience, having graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1985, he pointed out some of the universities that might interest me since he knew that tennis was my priority. I think all of us, at some point in our lives, look back and see the people who made that special difference at crucial moments in our lives. The Sparrow, (how he is known now) was one of those people who opened doors for me. He got in touch with some coaches and put my name out there so that I could have the best experience possible.
Since it was already march of 2015 and I would have to start college in August since I finished high school in 2014, the process had to be fast, but smart. We hired Daquiprafora (a very competent team), a specific English teacher to study for the tests (TOEFL and SAT) and we started doing our part too (myself and my family) regarding the paperwork and scheduling of tests and visa.
We received the invitation to visit the University of South Carolina and I didn’t think twice about the offer. I was a little nervous because I barely spoke English and I would travel with my parents who were in the Basic level of the English course, so that means that when we arrive in America I would be in charge of the family.
The visit was great. I met some girls on the team, the coaches and the academic coordinators. The town was very empty due to the summer vacation in June, but I could see all the facilities and all the opportunities that the university offered for students and athletes. It was three full days of meetings, tours around the campus, and dinner with the head coach. The days were long, but it was very important to get an idea of how my life would be for 4 years.
The visit exceeded what I thought about American universities. English was a small barrier in front of all the support I received. I can’t forget to mention Thiago Pinheiro, a Brazilian tennis player who was part of the team at the University of South Carolina that I knew from juniors. He accompanied us during the campus tour giving us several tips and supporting my decision to go there as well as helping with the translation.
University of South Carolina, this is it! I didn’t have a lot of choice or time, but even if I had I think it would still be my first pick. The program and culture that the coaches created within the team gave me a lot of confidence that I was making the right decision.
After the visit, I returned home. The process continued; it was just the beginning. I had to share the daily training with academic and bureaucratic commitments. It was a decision that was going to change a lot of things in a few months. Instead of traveling alone to tournaments, I would travel with 10 other girls. I would go back to the classroom after three years of studying at home and not to mention the change of country, culture, and language. However, some things remained the same: the desire to play tennis.
It was a rush, but worth every second. Many people cite the nervousness in this final part, but I think for me it was mostly curiosity. I think it was because I didn’t have a lot of information and I didn’t know most people there. The last days at home, I tried to enjoy the last moments that I had in Brazil with my family, without creating a lot of expectations and always reminding myself: be yourself and give your best, the rest comes with time.
In the blink of an eye, I was leaving with a tight heart. I was always very attached to my family, I didn’t want to leave but at the same time, I knew that I was doing it for them, aiming for something better. My first semester at the University of South Carolina in Columbia began in August 2015.
“Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you. “