Why is that hatred for the ones that are different and always stand out?

You can find the answer by asking yourself these questions:

1. Can you live with yourself knowing that you didn't try harder?

- no -

2. Can you slow yourself down, so that you will be just a "regular normal tennis player" and not the best?

- no -

3. Do you want to be at the same level as everyone else?

- no -

4. Do you want to give up your will, and your spirit to be the best, just so you can get people who are jealous of you to say "hello"?

- no -

5. Are your tennis mates the only people in this world?

- no -

6. Do you need your tennis mate's love and affection to keep you alive and be who you are?

- no -

7. Is this the end of the world, and you are not going to meet people who like you and accept you for who you are?

- no -

8. Do you know what the NIKE motto is?

- JUST DO IT! -

9. Do you know what my uncle always tells me?

- no - (answers: GOLD FEARS NO FIRE!)

People will try to bend you, break you, crush your spirit, melt your will, taint your faith. But GOLD IS GOLD, and will always stay pure and unchanged.

Be like GOLD, sunny_babe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIh1rDHU7pQ

Hey Sunny, long time no answers from me, huh? LOL! Hope you're doing well.

It's natural to want to lash back out at these folks and/or get down on yourself as a result of what you're experiencing. Any great competitor looks at themselves first to change anything that may need fixed so make sure you've not done something yourself.

That being said, if you've determined that it's not you that's caused this ostracization, be sure to give people room to grow. When people start to seperate themselves through performance, many people that surround them get their egos pinched because it shines a spotlight on what they, themselves are NOT doing.

As long as they're not being ugly about it, grant them some grace and realize that in the long run, they may really appreciate the fact that you didn't roast them for their actions (or inactions as it were) when you could have. That builds loyalty down the road and some will become your biggest cheering section when you DO succeed at the highest level.

Now some people will never warm up to it and that's just life. Just remember, no statue was ever erected to a critic. They only give trophies, recognition and prize money to people who have the courage and the drive to separate themselves from the pack! No one every said the top was a crowded place and it's amazing how, in a moment of glory, the bitter memory of all those people just fades away. Until that time, use it as fuel for the fire!

Good luck, stay strong, keep your eye on the prize and go for your shots!

I hope you know that all those people don't deserve your attention! Girls like you, who can achieve all their goal, are often standing alone just because of jealous people. Sometimes being the best and almost perfect is a lonely thing. But I really hope that you realize that this is just school. After finishing high school, you will meet so many great people that will help you forget the bad memories from the past. And you know that there are many others who are ready to be your friends here in Y!A :) You shouldn't really mind the guys from the tennis club! You proved that you are better and this is making them crazy. Jealousy hides the fact that they want to be like you :)

You should keep the good work on the tennis court and in school because this is who you are, ambitious! And there is nothing bad in it. Only people who are mature enough will be next to you without thinking that they want to be beat you in something.

One big tennis fan is right on the money! [thumbs up]

And that is also part of the reason why Maria Sharapova never smile much.

Keep practicing and perfecting your skills, you will meet friends who like you as a friend and not treat you like an enemy. Keep a cheerful attitude, be friendly, and all smiles, never let them see you frown or upset, because that what they want to see, a Sunny_babe feeling down.

And check out this story, about two marathon runners, they competed against each other but are friends:

[Gebrselassie sets world record, then apologize]

BERLIN (AP) - Haile Gebrselassie said five years ago he was going to break the marathon world record.

After six failed attempts, and as people thought age might be catching up to him, the 34-year-old Ethiopian delivered Sunday at the Berlin Marathon.

Gebrselassie raced through the German capital's flat and fast course to set his 25th world record in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 26 seconds. That lowered his good friend Paul Tergat's previous mark by 29 seconds.

Tergat was one of the first to congratulate him, calling from his native Kenya shortly after the race.

"Sorry Paul," Gebrselassie told him over the phone. "I think I had better conditions than when you ran the record. After 20 kilometers, I knew I could break the record, because I felt so good."

Tergat was happy that he lost his record to a good friend.

"That's sport, records are made to be broken," he said.

Hey T they are just jealous of you because you know what you want and are willing to put the time and effort in to achieve your goals & dreams. Most people only wish for things but never put the effort in to accomplish them. Stay focused and keep winning in life for you and your family. Top marks in school are important and much better than low grades ask any University Admissions Officer, Academic Scholarship Department or future Employer. As for your current friends & acquaintences stay friendly and cordial but don't go out of your way for them since obviously they wouldn't for you but show them no animosity or ill will. Stay happy & positive it will pis$ them off even more that they can't get to you or your state of mind. And the ones that really are you friends will come to you. The best respect you can get is from people you admire like your parents, your teachers, your family and your true friends and eventually your future husband. Other people although it would be nice to make them happy and have them like you really don't factor much into the big picture of your life as long as you treat people nice and are kind but not a doormat. You are coming to the point where you will be making up your own mind and making decisions for your future yourself or actually living in Europe and working and going to school and trying to get a tennis scholarship sounds to me like you've already have reached that level of maturity. So no there is nothing wrong with you and you just need to keep on the path that you are currently on. You seem to be a very kind, considerate, stable, hardworking, focused, motivated & successful young woman. It is lonely at the top so you are just starting to experience that now. Consider it training for your future success. And to soar like an Eagle why are you wasting time with Turkeys? Pick your friends wisely spending time with people who really matter and care for you and you will find similar minded folk along the way that will become new better friends than some of your friends now. It is just the maturization process. Winners mature quicker than the rest so you are a winner. Rusty was quite right in all that he said. Mine may not have been as eloquent or as sweet an answer but raw and to the point. And my sweety Red makes a very good point too. I bet she as an attractive, overachieveing female can relate to your plight.

In my experience, it's plain and simple jealousy. Actually, not a personal experience, but rather, what I'm going through with the parents of my daughter's classmates.

She is an awesome athlete, as well as her classmates... they both took the additional training to become better at their particular sport, however, the plain simple fact is that not everyone can come in first place!

Just keep up the good work, be a good winner [self bragging stinks] and be a good friend to your teammates. If that doesn't work, find a friend you don't have to compete with.

naaa they just jeallous and stuff...

you dont need ppl like that =]