ACADEMICS
— THE NJTL ESSAY, A YTA TRADITION —
Every year the USTA Foundation holds an essay contest specifically for NJTL chapters nationwide
in which more than 300 organizations like YTA participate. A national winner for each gender/age
category (10x categories total) is selected. While the national contest is happening, we hold a
simultaneous contest where we select our own YTA winner for each gender/age category.
We call this our “internal essay contest.”
PROMPT:
“No matter what accomplishments you make, someone helped you.”—Althea Gibson
In this quote, Althea asks us to think about the people that supported your achievements.
In your own words, what does this quote mean? Who from your NJTL chapter helped you,
how did they help you, and what impact has this made on your tennis skill and/or life?
YOUTHTENNISADVANTAGE.ORG 13
12 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
900
59
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMMING
HOURS
100%
OF GRADUATING
SENIORS WENT ON
TO COLLEGE OR
SPECIALIZED
TRADE SCHOOL
NJTL ESSAYS
ENTERED IN
NATIONAL
COMPETITION
“Thanks to Wing Yan, I have learned
so much, made strong friendships,
and created memories that will last
my lifetime. Wing Yan’s faith in me
changed not just my tennis career,
but my life forever.”
— Neel, 17
YTA Essay Contest Winner
“…the most important people
who have helped me in my
accomplishments to date are
my parents, coaches, and the
people at YTA, and I love and
appreciate them with all my heart.”
— Anthony, 16
“I’ve had lots of support from a variety of
different people within my NJTL chapter,
from coaches to tutors. Coaches have taught
me how to build good relationships with
others and that sportsmanship is not only
something that can be used during tennis
but it’s also something that can be used
throughout my everyday life. With regards
to life skills, I find self advocacy to be at
the top of my list. Without this skill I
wouldn’t be the student I am today.”
— Eman, 17
YTA Essay Contest Winner
“YTA and its people
have helped me so
much on and off the
court and I hope to,
when I grow older,
to work or volunteer
for it.”
— Dhruv, 12
“I now look forward to things
that challenge me, and I have
Cynthia to thank for that.
Her lessons guided me to
achieving my goals and making
better decisions to grow. I would
not be the person I am today
without the help from my mentor
Cynthia Price.”
— Jade, 15
YTA Essay Contest Winner
“At YTA, there is always a “school
comes before tennis” approach that
encourages players to focus on their
academics (for example, if you feel over-
whelmed with schoolwork one day, it’s
ok to take a day off practice)….
if I hadn’t had the support from YTA,
I would not be where I am today, both \
in tennis and academically.”
— Oliver, 16
YTA Essay Contest Winner
“The coaches and
people at YTA who
helped me have en-
couraged me to give
back to others. I hope
to use the skills I have
learned to one day
inspire and instill that
same passion in peo-
ple to learn tennis or
other things, volunteer
to teach others what I
have learned, and to
help the world become
a better place.”
— Amias, 14
YTA Essay Contest Winner
“In tennis, sports and in life,
I will have to go through a lot
of failure to be successful.
I will remember what Shahand
has taught me. He has helped
me understand things in life
and in tennis. When I win
the U.S. Open, I’ll remember
Coach Shahand’s help along
the way. It’s just a game. It’s ok
to make mistakes because you
can learn from them.”
— Brayden, 10
YTA Essay Contest Winner