You have to study. You have to be smart. We arent wasting our time on sports. It isnt meant for us. This was my parents mantra. Weeknights were reserved for reviewing algebra problems or reading a novel. Participating in sports, my parents decided, wasnt an ideal fit for my life.Their reluctance to embrace sports stemmed from their upbringing in India. Physical fitness just wasnt a part of the culture in which they grew up. For them, the Eastern idea of exercise dwelled in the spiritual -- yoga and meditation were preferred to activities like running, basketball or tennis. When they settled in America, this mindset followed. Although they watched football and other sports, my father believed education offered the best opportunity for success. The idea of pursuing a sport with the same dedication as education seemed frivolous.So I devoted my energy to spectating. I stood on the sidelines, watching my peers dunk a basketball or round the bases during softball. My achievements came in the form of an A on the geometry test or crafting a debate response to a controversial issue. I accepted that my strengths resided in the cerebral; Id hide near the bleachers during P.E., even though I longed to know what it felt like to move with grace, running on the gym floor or landing a volley on the tennis court.During school I heard about a team hoisting a trophy or a coach congratulating players on a good game. What would it mean to hit a home run or high-five my teammates after a win? Sports morphed into a foreign language I sought to not only understand but experience. But instead of pushing my parents to sign me up for volleyball or softball, I acquiesced to their wishes and continued to focus on intellectual pursuits.Now, as a parent to a 10-year-old daughter, I carry on the encouragement for her to solve math problems and read books. I also emphasize practicing tennis. Every week, she devotes several evenings to her serves, backhands and forehands. On the weekends, she competes in tournaments. In a short amount of time, Ive witnessed her grow in ways I didnt get to experience in my youth.When she lost matches in her early tournaments, she would hunch her shoulders and shed a tear, unable to control her emotions on the court. She asked to quit, but my husband and I encouraged her to sit with her angst. Navigating this terrain wasnt always easy since it introduced a level of unease, irritation and, well, loss. It also introduced resolve.Together, we would endure losing streaks, painful practices and tears. Then, in the middle of raw irritation, shed hit a brilliant backhand or ace a serve. The flashes of her hard work started to sprinkle the court in unexpected moments. As her tennis game gained momentum, she would talk about how much she enjoyed the rallies on the court.When she swings her racket, her shoulders relax and a smile appears on her face. During a match, she pumps her fist and acknowledges how much winning a point means to her. A few weeks ago, she said, I love tennis. It helps me relax.Maintaining a balance between?sports and academics isnt easy. We encourage her?to employ time-management skills, limit her?screen usage and anticipate the unexpected and imperfect when splitting time?between schoolwork and tennis. Some days may be academic heavy, while other afternoons and evenings might sway more toward athletics.?Weve seen the balance pay off. Earlier this month, down 3-1 in a set, she evened the score and eventually won the match. I watched as her nervousness and frustration turned into grit and glee, all in a single afternoon.On the ride home from that memorable win, I reminded her she still had to finish the last few problems of her math assignment. I smiled, realizing shes embracing a well-rounded education, one that teaches her the importance of studying and working hard on and off the court.Rudri Bhatt Patels?work has appeared in the Washington Post, Brain, Child Magazine, Role Reboot and elsewhere.?Follow her on?Twitter? and?Facebook?or her website,?Being?Rudri. Tennessee Titans Jerseys Cheap .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. Josh Rosen Jersey . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. http://www.nflfansedge.com/miami-dolphins-jerseys-cheap/ . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. Green Bay Packers Jerseys Cheap . Siddikur, whose previous win on the circuit came in Brunei three years ago, finished his bogey-free round with a birdie on the 18th for a total of 17-under 199. Indias Shiv Chowrasia, who has finished runner-up in this tournament twice, was in second place after a 66.Jessica Ennis-Hill insists there is no chance of her continuing her career beyond the 2017 World Championships in London and may retire after Rio 2016. The Olympic heptathlon champion is building up to the defence of her title in Rio de Janeiro and admits she might even call it a day after Augusts event in Brazil.But the 30-year-old, who is recovering from an achilles injury which ruled her out of the indoor season, insists she is not looking beyond this summers championships. I think at the moment Im just focused on Rio and being the best prepared I can and going out there and seeing what I can do, she told Laureus.com.Then its going to be a decision to make after Rio for me - whether I decide to retire after Rio or whether I decide I want to do one more year and go to the World Championships and retire after that.But I definitely wont be going on any longer than 2017. Ennis-Hill wins Beijing gold Jessica Ennis-Hill wins heptathlon gold at World Championships The Sheffield-based athlete will head to Rio as the reigning world champion after her astonishing comeback victory in Beijing last summer when she took gold in only her second heptathlon since London 2012 and jjust 13 months after the birth of her son Reggie.dddddddddddd.Despite that success, she maintains she will not be favourite to land another Olympic crown.Ennis-Hill, whose Beijing success saw her nominated for the 2016 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, added: People will obviously expect me to just keep performing at a high level and winning gold medals. Ennis-Hill claimed victory in the Womens Heptathlon on Super Saturday at the 2012 Olympic Games in London Unfortunately its not that easy. And this year is going to be more challenging just because of the level of competition. Everyone has stepped up their game.Its going to be tough and I think Im definitely not the favourite. I think theres Brianne Theisen-Eaton (the Canadian who won pentathlon gold at the World Indoor Championships this month) and I think Katarina Johnson-Thompson.She had her disappointments last year and is going to want to come back and make amends for what happened in Beijing, Ennis-Hill said of her 23-year-old team-mate Johnson-Thompson, who finished in 28th place after failing to record a distance in the long jump. Also See: Team GB Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jersyes Cheap Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '