Michelle Skelley, of Hamburg, NY, received the Clinician of the Year Award.
We asked Michelle about her experiences in tennis, her interests and her favorite movies.
Michelle Skelley, Clinician of the Year
What is your earliest memory of playing tennis?
I began taking tennis lessons through our summer recreation program at the age of 10. My mother had also begun taking tennis lessons, and I thought it looked like fun. One of my earliest memories is at the tennis courts in the playground near our house with my mother. We were "playing" tennis, although in actuality she was chasing after all the balls I hit everywhere but in the court. I thought it was fun! This was the beginning of a lifetime of the two of us playing tennis together.
In all of your years in the sport, what achievement are you most proud of?
The greatest achievement I accomplished as a teaching professional was being selected to become a USTA Recreational Coach Workshop National Trainer. Through my work as an RCW National Trainer, and then a USTA QuickStart National Trainer, I have had the privilege to work with a faculty that has the best tennis instructors in the country. I have had the opportunity to travel across the country, helping to train other coaches how to make this sport fun and exciting for our youth and sharing my passion for this great game of ours. Every time I conduct a workshop, it is an honor to represent the USTA and Community Tennis!
What was the most difficult challenge you faced in tennis, and how did you overcome it?
The greatest challenge I face in tennis is balancing teaching full time in the summer with my family's schedule. My children are young and very active in sports, and when I am working and traveling, my husband and I do a lot of juggling to make sure we are there for them. I hate to miss any of their games!
If you could have dinner with any person in history, who would you choose and why?
If I could have dinner with anyone in history, it would have to be Mother Teresa. She embodied selflessness everyday of her life. I would love to be in the presence of someone so spiritual and so content with her life. At times, we all have tendencies to be selfish, whether with our time or our possessions. We can get caught up in the daily grind and find things about which to complain. I would love to learn to be more serene and experience her complete love of others.
What movie deserves the award for best picture of all time? Why?
In my opinion, the greatest movie of all times was The Sound of Music. It was the last award-winning movie from an era of movie making that is long gone. It is a great family movie based on actual events. Everyone can find a character with whom to relate, good triumphs over evil, and the music is timeless. I can't watch it without singing along!