Perseverance Pays Off for Kunal Wadwani

Some people find what they enjoy doing early on in life. Imagining their existence without that activity would be impossible. This is the case for Kunal Wadwani and his love for tennis. His passion and dedication to the game is extremely clear.

"I started playing tennis when I was 7-years-old," Wadwani said. "I've just loved it ever since. My dad put my brother and me in sports early on, and I've continued to play."

When asked about his favorite part of tennis, he simply replies, "I just love to sweat and run around. There's nothing like hitting a clean ball on the center of the racket." 

For Wadwani, tennis has become a part of his life, as someone who lives and breathes the sport.

He is currently a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University and originally from California. He cites that the stark difference in the weather can be a challenge for his game sometimes.

The weather is definitely the biggest thing you have to adjust to coming here from California. It's tough getting used to playing in the harsher conditions here." He shrugs and says, "But it builds character and it also gives me a chance to spend more time in the weight room." 

He continues to remain optimistic and focuses on adapting to the situation when needed. It all stems back to his love for the sport and his strong desire to continue playing tennis in college and continuing to improve.

"When I was applying to colleges, I knew anywhere I was going, I was going to play tennis. I chose CMU because it was the perfect balance of academics and high quality tennis. Choosing CMU also gave me the chance to compete for a national championship with a great team." 

He holds his team in high regard, adding, "They're just great guys and coaches. They're a hardworking group."

Not only does he keep a strong focus on the court, but also in the classroom, where he is an economics major. Economics proved to be a good choice for someone with his way of thinking. 

"I chose economics because I have an analytical mind. I like to think about social sciences too, so economics is a good blend of mathematics and the social aspects of the real world," Wadwani said.

In his free time and in between all his practices and training, Wadwani enjoys playing guitar and reading books. "Recently I've also gotten into reading Harry Potter," he says with a chuckle. He also likes to keep up with T.V. shows and movies, citing his current favorite T.V. show is Suits. 

Beyond the court and classes, he is also extremely passionate about social issues, stemming way back to his high school immersion trip to Costa Rica, where he spent part of the summer constructing an aqueduct in order to help a small village get fresh water. What made this trip meaningful for him was the chance to build connections with others in the village, while also giving him a chance to practice his Spanish.

"It was a rewarding experience and I really enjoyed working with the local families and getting to know them. They had so much less than we do here, but they were so happy and friendly," Wadwani said. 

Building off of these experiences, Wadwani continues to work hard both on and off the court. He focuses on working hard in the present, stating that he wants to do his best for the team. "I want to continue to improve and help the team in whatever way, to achieve a collective goal even if that means a lot more time in weight room," he says.

"For the summer," he adds, "I hope to get a summer internship. And after college, I hope to find a career in corporate finance."

Thinking about careers after college is a bit far off for the sophomore, and he reiterates that he wants to stay focused on his game and team. 

Asked for one word to describe him, Wadwani isn't hesitant to answer, "Persistent. I think it's important to have perseverance in order to move beyond the pressure and overcome obstacles."

With his enduring perseverance and dedication, Kunal Wadwani continues to forge ahead in his athletic and academic pursuits.