Article 14 May 2024
Ross McLean
14 May 2024
ITF Juniors Dwight Global
Dwight Global Online School, the official education partner of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, is hosting a series of webinars for junior players, outlining the benefits of online schooling while competing on Tour.
The first webinar in the series will be held on Thursday 6 June at 11.00 ET (16.00 BST). The theme for the webinar is 'The Player’s Journey: How Online School Supports a Path to Top College Tennis'. Sign up here
Two further webinars will take place later in the coming months, both of which will look at preparing for US college tennis as well as giving hints and tips on the college recruitment process. Dates for the two additional webinars are to be confirmed.
Ahead of the first webinar, itftennis.com caught up with Dwight Global sophom*ores Lev Seidman and Shannon Lam.
Tell us about your experience as a Dwight Global student.
Lev: At Dwight, I am able to take challenging and rigorous classes while having flexibility for my tennis. I have control over my schedule and I am able to move my classes around my practices. Furthermore, during tournaments I receive a lot of help from the teachers with both extensions and one-on-one conversations which allow me to focus on competing without getting too behind the curve.
Shannon: It’s really cool to see familiar faces in my classes, and likewise when I’m at tournaments and I see fellow classmates on the courts. It really makes me proud to be part of such a huge community and to know I’m not alone on this journey.
How important is it for you to have a platform to continue your education alongside your tennis career?
Lev: It is really important for me to be able to have a strong educational background while also progressing in my tennis career. I plan on attending college, and so the rigor that Dwight Global provides is preparing me to succeed in the future.
Shannon: It definitely is very important to continue having an education along with tennis, because it’s good to have multiple interests. Having discipline in school can actually translate over to my training, improving myself in tennis and also as a person.
How much of a sense of community do you feel with your fellow Dwight Global students?
Lev: There is definitely a great community with my fellow Dwight Global students. I have the chance to see and meet a lot of them at the various tournaments I play, as well as attend Dwight in-person events such as the orientation last fall. It is really cool to see fellow students in international countries for tournaments.
How much of a sense of community do you feel with your fellow students on the Dwight Global Travel Tennis Team?
Shannon: It gives me a sense of pride to know that there are other people on the same path as me, who want the same things and have the same goals.
How does what you learn through your studies complement your development as a tennis player?
Lev: I have learned work ethic and discipline through my studies which allows me to manage my student-athlete life better. It translates to my development as a tennis player because it has given me the skills to be able to be more focused on the court which has helped me improve.
What would you say to students considering applying to Dwight Global?
Lev: If you are serious about your tennis career as well as your academics, Dwight Global is a great option for you. However, the classes at Dwight Global are challenging, so it takes good work ethic and balancing to succeed. The rigor in Dwight Global will set you up for college and beyond which provides a strong plan for after your tennis career.
What are your hopes for the future?
Lev: I hope to play for a top Division 1 school where I can improve my game as well as get a world-class education. After that, I hope to make the transition into professional events and see how far I can go with that. I will feel more confident in this plan because the academics at Dwight Global will set me up for a solid backup plan if my pro tennis career doesn’t turn out the way I want.
Shannon: My goal for the future is to become a professional tennis player.
Shannon Lam Lev Seidman
