Woman with brown hair pulled into a ponytail gets ready to hit a yellow tennis ball. She is wearing black leggings and a navy blue sweatshirt.
Professional tennis player Kayla Day demonstrates her form on the court to students at Montessori Center School. Credit: Courtesy photo

Professional tennis player Kayla Day, a former Montessori Center School (MCS) student, spoke at the MCS campus in Goleta recently about the importance of sports and the positive impact Montessori education had on her life.

Day credits her childhood Montessori education with fostering essential life skills to succeed on and off the court.

“So much of who I am today, how I face challenges, my work ethic, etc. stems from my growth and development as a Montessori student,” Day said. “I credit Montessori with developing a positive sense of self and resilience in the face of adversity.”

Day, who was born in Santa Barbara, started playing tennis at the age of 7. She is currently ranked 173 and has a career-high ranking of No.122 by the Women’s Tennis Association.

Following her talk, Day took time to hit some balls and demonstrate a few techniques with fellow Montessori students.

To learn more about Montessori Center School, visit mcssb.org.