By Ryan Borucki

Since graduating high school I have attended two universities, endured six years of college, earned a bachelor’s degree and worked three internships. All of this has been exciting, educational and costly. And now all are part of my resume as I apply for jobs this fall as a graduate of Ferris State University's Professional Tennis Management program.

Each class attended (or missed) and workshops completed have helped to prepare me for working in tennis, but classes and on-court simulations can only take you so far.

This is where internships come in.

My three summer internships have put me in everyday professional situations where I have been forced to make real-time decisions. From member relations to event organization, I have been given the opportunity to gain first-hand experience.

This summer, for example, my boss had to make an unexpected trip for two days during the week. On these days we had a ladies' team drill session, junior classes and private lessons. Between another Ferris student and myself we were expected to take care of the club. This is normally a job for three to four people and we often run four courts for the ladies each day. I had regularly looked up to my boss for positive reinforcement on decisions, but for these two days I was forced to trust my skills and decisions.

Although this may seem like a small thing, it gave me the confidence to go with my judgment and rely on the skills I gained through Ferris State PTM--something I could not have experienced through the classroom.

In fact, the summer internships, which run two or three months, pack a lot of valuable experience, including: 

·         Court maintenance

·         Member relations

·         Event organization

·         Tournament administration

·         Ladies/junior practices

·         Club management

·         Tennis camps

·         Paddleball (never played until my internship!)

Internships are an extremely important part of the Ferris State PTM program. I've definitely benefited from my internships working at the Ferris State University Tennis Camps, Greenville Country Club in Wilmington, Del.; and Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove, Ill.

If you are looking to join the tennis industry or need summer help, give internships a shot. The position may be temporary, but the experience gained will last your lifetime.