When Kim and Brian Driscoll first started the Tennis class at ILA Meridian, the veteran tennis instructors weren’t quite sure what they were getting themselves into.

“I was wondering how I was going to do my best with so many different levels and so many different ages all combined into one,” Kim said. “I think Tennis should always fun. Even if some kids get a little loopy, I can’t let them go too far off the rails.”

And based on the experience of students in her first class, she figured out how to strike a good balance between fun and solid instruction.

“The teachers are really nice and there are a lot of challenges mixed into the learning” said Moses Jones, a student in the Driscoll’s Tennis class.

Even when it’s challenging, students are finding the class to their liking.
“Tennis is fun mostly because it pushes me far in a good way,” says Avery Seymour, a student in the class. “I’ve really grown a lot in the past months.”

That sentiment rings true with Kim, who’s worked hard to create such an environment.

“I think tennis is awesome,” Kim said. “There are no cons whatsoever. You hit the ball, you slam the ball, you win or you lose. Tennis is a very patient game, so when you get really impatient, you fall hard.”

Kim loves to watch kids play the game she loves so much. And she probably won’t stop helping them until they master her level.

“Tennis is a game where it sometimes expresses emotion,” Kim said. “You can feel anger, discomfort, fear, pain, joy, and so much more. And you can let it loose out on the court.”

That idea resonates with her students, too.

“Most the time when I try to slam a ball, I miss it entirely, but it feels good to sometimes wallop a ball or swing a racket,” Kingston Wiley said.

To sign up for Kim’s class this coming school year, visit the ILA website.