Nadree Stewart’s journey with StreetSquash Newark started, as he readily admits, with the lure of free pizza. 

“If I’m being honest,” Nadree said, “it was because of my friend Brandon. He invited me, and he said there was free pizza.” 

That simple invitation in 2014, when he was in seventh grade, turned into a six-year experience that changed him for the better.

StreetSquash wasn’t just about learning a new sport; it was a gateway to a world Nadree hadn’t imagined. 

“The traveling was one of the biggest things for me,” he said. “I would have never been to Yale, I would have never been to Princeton, I would have never been to Amherst or Boston.” 

These trips exposed him to different environments and cultures, sparking a curiosity that would later influence his academic choices.

The competitive nature of squash also played a significant role in Nadree’s development. He recalls the initial skepticism from other teams, a challenge he and his teammates embraced. 

“Everybody would kind of underestimate us when we come out there, but then we would do so well,” Nadree said. And then people would be like, who are they?” 

Beyond the court, StreetSquash provided vital academic support. Nadree acknowledges the program’s role in preparing him for college, from standardized test prep to navigating the application process. 

“They did so much prepping for it,” Nadree said. “So I felt ready for it. I always felt ready when going to different spaces.” 

The structured schedule of academics and athletics instilled a sense of discipline and balance that proved invaluable.

“This program shaped me,” Nadree said. “From seventh through 12th grade, it shaped me a lot.”

StreetSquash provided a positive outlet, keeping him engaged and away from potential distractions. It also broadened his horizons, leading him to pursue anthropology in college. 

“I wanted to learn about different cultures and different perspectives after being pushed into all these spaces by squash,” Nadree said.

Even now, Nadree carries the lessons he learned at StreetSquash.

“I always tell people about squash,” Nadree said. “It’s my fun fact every single time at a job, or any place when they ask, what’s a fun fact about you? I say ‘I played squash for a good six years in middle and high school.’”

For anyone considering joining StreetSquash, Nadree emphasizes the unique opportunities and personal growth it offers. 

“I would definitely push the traveling, the first-time experiences, the connections, and the networking that you do,” Nadree said. 

He says StreetSquash teaches life skills and experiences that go far beyond the sport itself.

It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most significant opportunities come from the most unexpected places—even when they start with something seemingly as benign as free pizza.