Obama!

Tom O'Reilly
May 19, 2020
3 min read

Congratulations on getting through another week! We did it together. We’ll do it again.

President Barack Obama made a commencement speech this past weekend. Since then, controversy has been swirling around some of his statements being critical of the current presidential administration and possibly other leaders who have mishandled this pandemic. No matter what you took away from his speech, one thing still holds true… there is something calming, reassuring, yet also energizing about Mr. Obama.

He made a funny observation that he doesn’t really even remember his graduation. It is unfortunate this graduating class misses out, for the time being, on some of the social celebrations, but after all they have sacrificed, this will bond them even closer. Mr. Obama noted that graduation is a mark of passage, and asked this class to reflect on what is important to them. This crisis has revealed our deep-seeded problems of class and race inequality, and that the old ways of doing things do not work for those most vulnerable. And, it doesn’t matter how wealthy you are if everyone is sick, you can’t go anywhere, and the world is falling apart. We have to do things together and we are reminded how interconnected we really are.

Possibly the most poignant part of the speech was his imploring these graduates to do what they think is right, for even the people in charge screw up and ask the wrong questions. It is important for the leaders of the next generation to listen to the truth inside themselves. Like most things, I was left thinking how can tennis help the next generation find this inner truth?

In a tennis match, to play your best and deal with pressure, one has to not only know their own play style, but they have to know their learning style as well. This is how you best develop your method and craft. Through this process, you also learn how to best counter or complement, and respect, all the other play styles. Although tennis is about competition, the game becomes beneficial for both sides when they respect each other. It’s not only about beating the opponent; it’s about knowing oneself, respecting the other, and learning from the game. As Michelle Obama famously said, “if they go low, then we go high.” The game is not about bringing your opponent down, but elevating the experience for both of you.

This pandemic has not only revealed the faults of our leaders, but it has reinforced how much we are all in this together despite socio-economic status. As we reopen society, it is up to every one of us to clean up after ourselves, observe the guidelines, and protect each other. Of course there are bigger issues of leadership and protocol decisions at play, but like in a tennis match, we are calling our own lines. Our honor and respect of each other, down to every single individual, is what will ultimately determine our success.