Blogs
America Has Become Their Home
9/16/08
After August 2006, Ana and Nina Sebescen knew their lives would never be the same again. At 18, still appearing immature with teenage braces and broad, somewhat naive smiles, they stepped into a new educational system on American territory. All of a sudden, the sounds of Serbian vowels and consonants disappeared. And all the faces seemed foreign. The Sebescen twins arrived on the Coppin State University campus.
It was not only the University's academia welcoming two international students from Serbia. Brought up in the tennis family with immense discipline and determination, they received full athletic scholarships and joined the women's team under head coach Charles Spencer.
The women's team, suffering from lack of motivation and team spirit in the two previous years, is finally getting back its momentum. In the midst of the inspirational crisis, however, the team learned the beauty of the sport and its huge benefits. They developed strength, grew ready and thirsty for competition, traveled along the East Coast and encountered great people. Their time to shine and perform some great tennis has finally arrived.
After a year of studying and playing tennis, and with a 4.0 grade-point average, the twins applied for the Honors College - Ana as an English/journalism major and Nina as a computer science major. As student-athletes they say choosing priorities was the hardest thing to do. There was no time to party. No time for hobbies. But, people who interesected their grueling schedule of classes, practices and lunch breaks become their athletic and academic family. People of trust and love. People who made their American experience wonderful.
As Ana and Nina prepared to follow the 2008 United States Open women's final battling American Serena Williams and Serbian Jelena Jankovic, they feel strange to cheer aloud for their flag. After all, American has become their home.
