In Their Own Words Students Reflect on the 2004-2005 Season TONI GLOVER 7TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL SCHOOL This year has not been my best year, but it is a year I will always remember…This year has given me the power and knowledge I need to be able to concentrate and be a leader in the Military Academy. How, squash taught me that before I can lead I must be able to follow. Squash taught me how to be a leader by letting me teach the new comers the rules of squash. And then I taught people which made me a leader and being a leader is an expectation I need for the school of my choice. DONTE LAMBERT 6TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL SCHOOL My year at Squash was a fun and excellent sport. It is as fun as my swimming team. We have a lot of fun with team leaders. We feel a lot safer with the team leaders around… You taught us a lot of things like squash, it is a pleasure for you to take us places like Boston and other places. I like how you buy us food and the supplies. Squash is a great sport for me. Squash is a great sport for anyone that wants to play… Steve is a caring and funny person. If you get to know him, you will know that he is funny. At my first day at Squash I didn’t know how to play until SquashSmarts came in and taught us how to play it... You give us raffles, food and other things… I want to thank SquashSmarts for coming in my life and helping me with my homework, teaching me how to read. I like academics because you teach us how to type, read and write journals. It is a pleasure how you teach me how to read. I didn’t know how to read at first, but you taught me how to read. Thank you. TEMPEST BOWDEN 9TH GRADE - SIMON GRATZ HIGH SCHOOL My name is Tempest Bowden and my experience is different than everyone else. I have been in this program for 3 years. One thing I love the most was the squash part of the program. I was the #3 player on the team because I lost my spot to a boy named Kareem. So I played him again and I got my spot back as the #1 player on the team. I couldn’t take being at the #3 spot. I couldn’t take it not one bit… Academics were more organized this year because we have the classroom now. It has air conditioning and heat, so we’re good on that part. I remember going to some special events like the Sixers’ game with Chase. That was super fun… The team has changed. We have some new faces, from Drew School and McMichael School. They all have great personalities…I have met so many people, but only because they either volunteered on a weekday or a Saturday. Our volunteers teach us so much. I learned more things almost every squash practice. Squash gets more difficult as we get better because you constantly learn new stuff. It’s hard... Our staff are wonderful people. And you know what, they have a lot of patience because I would not have been able to do this job. I believe that the staff likes healthy snacks because the other snacks are nothing but sugar. Little do they know that the healthy snacks are sometimes nasty. The only snack I like was the carrots and pretzels. I love them, though… This year we are going on the Urban Individuals. I hope to win since I’m going to be playing Under 17 this year for the first time [Editor’s note: by now, you all know that Tempest is the U17 National Champion!] The kids Under 15 was as breeze, I don’t know about Under 17. I say all of this to say that though we had bad times and good ties, we still get a lot of work done. That’s how I saw my experience in SquashSmarts during the year 2004-2005. DEVONTE HARRIS 7TH GRADE -DREW SCHOOL Squash is something that keeps my heart pumping and keeps me in shape. I didn’t like doing the court sprints because it tires me out… Academics are to improve your educational skills like math or reading… Special Events are like an award for me because of all my hard work… Teammates support me by cheering me on during a match, whether I win or lose the match… Volunteers are there to help you out with problems you might have… The staff is there to keep everything in order and to teach you drills and special shots. You might also have to do extra work of court sprints while you’re doing work or out of breath… Snacks are to keep you healthy and to give you the energy you need… Tournaments are places where you go to meet new or old competition. It’s also like a quiz to test how much you improved. Sometimes it can be hard to keep focused while under pressure of winning the last point for your team… If there were someone who was going to join squash I’d tell them it’s good for your health. It’s fun exercise. You can meet new people, see different sights and experience wins and losses. CURTIS JOHNSON 8TH GRADE - MARTHA WASHINGTON Squash has been an amazing experience for me because I have been to Maryland and Boston. On Friday we are going to Groton, MA. I’m starting to win my squash matches and also getting along with my teammates… Squash has been the 1st sport I have enjoyed playing besides football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and swimming. Squash is almost better than those sports that I enjoy. In squash, I travel often. The other sports I played I didn’t travel as much as in squash… My teammates are nice sometimes. The trainers and my teacher, Ms. Julie, are very nice. My special thanks are to the following: Ms. Molly, David, Steve, Tony and Ms. Julie. At the Urban Individual Nationals, I am going to try to bring home a trophy. [editior’s note: Curtis won the consolation plate trophy a three-game sweep in the finals!] I wish my teammates the best of luck on Friday. LAMIN CONTEH 7TH GRADE - DREW SCHOOL Squash has been a learning experience for me and my teammates. Even though this was my first year at SquashSmarts, I learned many things from SquashSmarts. SquashSmarts is a program that is full of good personalities. It has been a blessing to work with them for a year. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with Ms. Julie, Steve, David and Ms. Molly, etc… Academics is the main idea of SquashSmarts. I really thanks the volunteers in SquashSmarts for all their help they give when I needed it. For example, my homeworks, searching stuff on the internet and my class works… The fun things I enjoyed doing in SquashSmarts is special events. I also learned so many things from it, for example, our trip to Maryland, Lawrenceville, Boston and Haverford College, etc. It was so exciting to meet so many children and adults, getting to know them and shaking hands with them. It was hard fro some of my teammates but not for me… My teammates and I had so much fun on our trips, for example, practicing, cheering on a teammate and doing community service. JASMIN WINGATE 9TH GRADE - PARKWAY GAMMA I have been in the SquashSmarts program for 3 years. For the past three years SquashSmarts has helped me both physically and academically. The staff and tutors have been helping academically by giving me help with school projects and homework. After getting the help that I needed I have done 10 times better in school by getting the honor roll on my last two report cards... They have helped me physically by helping me improve my footwork to get to the ball quicker. By learning better footwork, I have improved in the other sports I like such as Basketball… This past year at SquashSmarts has been fun and exciting because of the many things we have done. We went to Massachusetts for the Urban Team Nationals. At this tournament 5 people on each team play against different teams such as StreetSquash, City Squash and SquashBusters. At least 3 people on one team have to win their individual matches in order for the team to advance onto the next level. Both years that I went to the team nationals I had a spectacular time because I met new people and played a lot of fun games… Overall this year was my best year because we have more teammates, volunteers and special events. We also have more time for squash. I hope that all my years at SquashSmarts continue to be like this year. SAKORA MILLER 7TH GRADE - DREW SCHOOL This year is my first year and it is awesome. I like the fact that we get one on one help in the classroom. When I come in to the squash classroom all I have to do is sit and pull out my homework and there is someone asking me if I need help. I also like that we have computers to work on because the one at my house does not always work… When you took us to Boston for the Tournament it was cool. I liked it when we got to meet other teams and their coaches. I also liked it when I beat them. One thing I did not like is the breakfast. I would like bacon, egg and cheese for breakfast… On the squash courts I think I am the best so you should give me more private lessons. If you give me more private lessons then I can win the next tournament. One thing that I would like to change is our hours. If we have more hours then we will get better faster. KALIK STANLEY 7TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL SCHOOL My time here at SquashSmarts has been nice, and squash is a good sport for me. The people are really nice to me, and I’m nice to them. I really like trips that we go on, like the Boston trip. There we discovered the “Midnight Runners.” The one thing I hate about squashSmarts is that I get accused for acting silly when it’s not me acting silly….I really like the matches I play in because they really are good match ups… I always learned fundamentals from all the other squash teams. I like SquashSmarts and the people there like Dok, Julie and Steve and the tutors. I planted a garden with Ms. Julie and it is nice. I went to the Sixers’ game and I got floor seats and I was seated in the MVP box and that’s why I like SquashSmarts. BRITTANY KENNEDY 7TH GRADE - DREW SCHOOL This year at SquashSmarts made me happy, sad, mad and upset, but through everything, I liked it… I like Lauren the volunteer because she helped me no matter what my problems were. I liked Ms. Julie because she made me feel happy when I was sad or mad or hurt. She made me feel more happy when I was already happy! She is a person who I would want to be around all the time. That is why I like Ms. Julie… When we went on tournaments, they were not fun because I kept getting sick and was not able to play my matches. If I could go to a tournament and not get sick and be able to play my matches I would probably treat people much better. (editor’s note: Brittany survived the Urban Individuals without getting sick and thrived by winning 2 matches…she was also very kind and supportive of her teammates!!!)….If somebody asked me what I thought about SquashSmarts I would say “SquashSmarts has its ups and downs. For many people squash is better. For others, Academics are better. I like academics better but you might like squash better.” JUNAID MUKHTAR 7TH GRADE - DREW SCHOOL Even though this is my first year I loved most things in SquashSmarts except for the snacks. Squash is the best aspect of in this program. I learned a lot about squash like what is squash. How do you play it? Where do you play it? And much more. The next best thing is the special e vents we had likej the Maryland Navy tournament and Boston SquashBuster Tournament National teams. I slightly don’t like academics, but like Ms. Julie. The volunteers and teammates are fabulous. I got along with most of the people. All the volunteers help me with boasts and drives. The staff helped me train and be a better person. I love playing squash and like doing boasts. I ‘like’ academics and reading books. The special events themselves were fine, but having pillow fights, talking and eating together with my friends was more fun. I don’t like snacks because most of the time I don’t get what I want. Although sometimes when I get yogurt I love it!... I would encourage anyone to join SquashSmarts because it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and places. GINA LAMBERT 6TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL SCHOOL My year at SquashSmarts was fun and exciting for me. We practiced and played our best at what we had been doing and I thank you for all of your help. You and the staff are helpful at what you are doing… You can never hate someone if they don’t hate you. You taught us how to play and we are happy to be playing squash because some of us like squash and some of us don’t like squash… Some people have difficulties because some people get angry if they get it wrong. I will keep my temper and be respectful to one another and be patient. I will shake hands after all 3 games. I will not throw my racquet at the wall or throw it at someone. I will keep on trying to win my matches and do what is right not wrong. I will listen to the coaches and what they say… The thing I would tell people that are interested in joining the program is that there is a lot of things you will have to do to fit in with this program, like caring, playing hard, and teamwork. If you don’t like to do those things, I suggest you don’t try out because it is going to be a waste of your time. DEMONTE HARRIS 7TH GRADE - DREW SCHOOL Squash has been a learning experience. It’s a great way to exercise. For example I learned the basics of squash… Academics is sort of fun, but we always have tot type, read and write. After a while it’s not that bad… Special events we went to West Philly High and painted. I thought it was fun because I like to paint… Teammates I think they support me a little bit when I win… The staff is David, Ms. Julie and Steve. They started SquashSmarts… The best snacks are apples and stuff because they’re good for you. KAREEM PRICE 8TH GRADE - MARTHA WASHINGTON SCHOOL This year at SquashSmarts my teammates and I were doing much more than last year. I like the squash and the volunteers. This year at SquashSmarts we got a lot of new students. The new students were way better than I thought. This year at SquashSmarts was better than I thought it would be. This year I got to go to more tournaments than usual. It was very fun. The tournaments that I went to this year at SquashSmarts were the U.S. Junior Open and U.S. Navy and the U.S. Future Stars. This year I got to meet more of new students and new volunteers. What I like the most about his year is the tournament that I went to. The tournaments I went to this year were hard. I played some of the top players in the country… The thing I didn’t like this year was the running. I didn’t like the running because we ran too much and it made everyone mad. That’s why I didn’t like it. I changed more this year because last year I was number three on the team. This year I was number one, but I’m number two now. I changed in academics… If I could change anything about SquashSmarts it would be some of the volunteers because some of the volunteers are very ignorant. For example, if you call them for help, some of them would just ignore you and go to a different person and help them instead of helping you... If someone asked me to join the SquashSmarts team, I would say it would be great to join SquashSmarts because it would help you in school with your class work and you would be learning a new sport to play. AMBER THOMAS 9TH GRADE - PARKWAY HIGH SCHOOL Over the past years that I have been in SquashSmarts I have learned physical and academics things from squash. The things I learned from here is the lesson people go through everyday... The most thing I learned is how to maintain my attitude during and after a match. I say that because when we all went to the team nationals I lost a match and didn’t get mad or upset that I lost the match or game as long as I try my best and play hard... The thing I would change in this program is the time on the weekend. I say that because I am a person who does not like to wake up at 8:45 or 9:15 am on a Saturday. I would much prefer 10:00 or 11:00 am. QUINETTA BOWDEN 8TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL SCHOOL My 3rd year at SquashSmarts has been an interesting one. From November to June has been an experience I’ll never forget. In November we recruited new teammates who at first seemed to be treated differently. But we realized there was know difference… In December a lot of new players had their first squash match which went pretty well. We also went to the Navy Future Stars Tournament. Also this year we celebrated the grand opening of our classroom with a little party. The best part of this year was going to Boston, MA to Urban Team Nationals. My team was the only team who won 5 games straight… My least favorite month was when nutrition month came in May. In May we had a lot of fruits and vegetables for snacks. Some of the snacks I didn’t eat, like the carrots… My squash game improved like crazy. My game has gotten so good now I have time to develop my trick shot. I would change the color of the classroom. I would make it red, white and blue. I would tell people who want to join to make sure they are ready to stop everything else and then join. but if we are supposed to be equal, they should have had to explain themselves to us. On a scale of 1-10 I would give this year an 8. IEASHA NEAL 7TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL My experience this year was great. I learned a lot of things over this last semester. I learned how to hit the ball and where it is supposed to go. Even when I have a bad day I love knowing that I can come to SquashSmarts… The Academics were great too (well, not like squash.) I learned how to use the keys and type up all the things I want… But what I really like better than squash and academics was going to the tournaments. I love traveling especially to Boston, Massachusetts. I loved that experience. I want to go again. I can’t wait until next week. .. Now the staff (well, helpers) were cool too. David, Ms. Julie and Steve were the most helpful. I like working with them very, very much… Now for camp I don’t know if I’m interested in that. I want to be lazy this summer... If I could change anything about squash it would be the snacks. I myself don’t like eating bagels and carrots and oranges. Now they need to serve more watermelon and strawberries, but beside that I like everything else. CRYSTAL BROWN 7TH GRADE - MCMICHAEL SquashSmarts is a very good place to go and play squash and have fun. I’ve learned many new things since November when I first started squash. In squash I also learned how to serve the ball, hit drops shots, boast, and a whole lot of other things. Every time I come to squash I feel like I just found a sport that I am good at. I think that I did make a lot of achievements. Squash has been a very fun experience to me. When I first joined I was very happy that I was one of the people who were chosen to be on the team because I was trying to get in SquashSmarts ever since the 5th grade. It was such a relief to know that me, Crystal Brown, was about to be a part of a real squash team. I also look forward to playing squash again next year… Academics is a very cool place to go and be a part of because in that part of the program you get to learn new things. Like for the past months that I’ve been in squash and also being a part of academics, I got better at a lot of different things like spelling, typing, definitions and a lot more. But there’re also rules in academics that you have to follow. Like no eating, don’t speak loudly, stay in your seat, so it’s like you’re in school in a classroom at school. In this class you have to treat others the way you want to be treated with kindness and respect… Trips are very fun to go on with SquashSmarts. They keep you busy, focus and it gives you something to do. It keeps you up and ready to move, I find that fun. Sometimes I get into little arguments with people in squash because I catch an attitude with them when they say or do something rude to me. Otherwise, I am a nice person. I show respect for others and myself, and I stay on my chill mode. I have fun and enjoy myself.