Hawa Bah joined StreetSquash as a seventh grader in 2008. She had previously tried karate and track, but neither felt like the right fit for her.

When former coach Katie Siegel visited her school to talk about StreetSquash, Hawa instantly connected with her. She rushed home that night to have her parents sign the paperwork.

“Looking back, it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Hawa said.

She fondly remembers attending various squash tournaments and competing against other urban squash programs.

“These competitions were an exciting way to test my skills, push myself, and bond with my teammates,” she said.

In tenth grade, she received the StreetSquash Sportsmanship Award and was named a co-captain of the team. That same year, she participated in multiple service projects and attended a squash camp in England.

After graduating high school in 2014, she began working as a sales associate, a job she held until 2017.

In 2018, she enrolled part-time at LaGuardia Community College to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice. While studying there, she developed a passion for immigration law. At the same time, she secured a role as a legal assistant for an attorney in Lower Manhattan when she wasn’t in class.

When the pandemic hit, she began to struggle and returned to StreetSquash in May 2021 to seek guidance from the College Access, Success & Alumni Support (CASAS) department.

“StreetSquash welcomed me with open arms and guided me toward the support I needed,” Hawa said.

In December 2021, she earned her Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

In September 2022, Hawa got married and moved to Northern Virginia, where she gave birth to her first child.

She is currently working as a Legal Administrative Assistant at a law firm in Washington, D.C., specializing in intellectual property and antitrust law.

“Life is like a game of squash,” Hawa said. “It’s unpredictable, demanding, and full of challenges. But with the skills and support you gain from programs like StreetSquash, you’ll learn to respond to every shot life throws at you with purpose and determination. Always stand at the ‘T’ and be ready for what comes next.”