National Signing Day occurred on Feb. 1 and student athletes throughout the country announced what schools they would be attending to play their respective sports for the 2017-2018 National Collegiate Athletics Association season.

Senior Emily Kim will be attending Boston University, and hopes to take advantage of the opportunity to play Division One ten nis.

“I’m looking forward to getting to play against some of the best players in the nation,” Kim said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to have success as an individual and as a member of my new team as well.”

Kim is not the only one hopeful for the future. After Titus Wall’s personal success in the 2015-2016 school year, which included being recruited by many top D1 programs, Wall has decided to attend Missouri State University.

“One of the best parts about attending West was getting to play football in front of the whole student body,” Wall said. “The fact that I had enough success to get to play football at Missouri State is a great bonus.”

While the focus is often on how student athletes perform in their respective sport, both Kim and Wall believe that attending West has helped them develop skills that enable them to be successful at their particular sport.

“As a team we learn on the field that we should persevere through the hard times and stick together when we face challenges,” Wall said. “All the values that we learned on the field helped me develop the skills that have allowed me to attend Missouri State.”

Kim was quick to back up the points that Wall made about the impact of their respective teams on their success.

“Despite tennis being a largely individual sport, the team has helped me become a harder worker and a better teammate,” Kim said. “It has also given me a chance to become a leader on and off the court.”

Many were able to see their friends and teammates sign and commit themselves to specific colleges. One such teammate Rohan Moghe, a member of the tennis team had nothing but praise for Kim’s success.

“I got to be on the team for three years with Emily and it was a great experience especially getting to win a State title in our senior year,” Moghe said. “Since she is going to Boston University next year I know no matter what happens at first she will success there.”

Kim and Wall both believe that National Signing Day is a good opportunity for student athletes to be acknowledged for their success.

“Knowing my friends and family get to see me start the next chapter of my life is great,” Wall said. “Getting to play the game I’ve always loved after high school at a large school is just an added benefit that will help me in the future.”

Kim reaffirmed Walls’ statements on the benefits of National Signing Day.

“My favorite part about playing for my school has been getting to represent Plano West and all it’s great students,” Kim said. “ I am just looking forward to what the future will hold.”