Christian Knight was part of StreetSquash’s inaugural graduating class in 2005. When she joined the program in 2001, she played squash and studied at The Harvard Club and Columbia University.
“It almost felt like you didn’t belong,” Christian recalls. “But it was like, no, we play too.”
She is grateful for the experience of going through StreetSquash at The Harvard Club.
“It’s a beautiful place,” she said. “To have the opportunity to be there and study there—it was really nice and a lot of fun.”
Christian first learned about StreetSquash in 2001 as a middle schooler at Thurgood Marshall Academy. StreetSquash staff visited her school and introduced students to squash in the gym.
“When I first saw it, I thought, ‘Oh, this is different,’” Christian said. “I wasn’t interested at first, but when my friends joined the program, I decided I should try it out.”
She was eager to explore something new.
“It was a new experience, and I like trying new things,” she said. “And we were going downtown to The Harvard Club or to Columbia University—it was just an adventure. Plus, I got to go with my friends after school every day, so I had fun.”
Christian’s fondest memories include playing in squash tournaments, particularly those against her friends at StreetSquash.
“We had rankings, so it got really intense,” she said. “I wanted to be on top in front of everyone. We were very competitive with each other.”
Her experiences outside New York City were also a significant part of her childhood.
“The squash camps were unforgettable,” Christian said. “I was on an Ivy League campus, and nobody can take that away from me. I met a lot of people and learned a lot.”
She also recalls the rivalry with SquashBusters, the only SEA program older than StreetSquash.
“That was a big rivalry,” she said. “We hated each other. But now, you’re all friends.”
After graduating high school in 2005, Christian earned an Associate’s Degree as a Medical Assistant from Monroe College. Upon graduating in 2007, she also gave birth to her daughter.
In 2011, she welcomed her second child, a son. However, Monroe was not an accredited school, making it difficult for her to find a job. She attempted to return to school in 2017 for social work but realized it wasn’t the right path for her.
Now, with her two kids a bit older, Christian re-enrolled in school in the winter of 2024. She’s currently studying sonography at The Mandl School.
“My dream was to be a labor and delivery nurse,” she said.
Christian credits StreetSquash for helping her overcome her shyness.
“Squash is an individual sport,” she explained. “So everyone is just watching you. That helped me come out of my shell a little bit.”
She encourages other kids in Harlem to get involved with the program.
“It’s a great opportunity and it’s full of new experiences,” she said. “It’s a whole new sport that you can still get a scholarship for and go to school for. Plus, there’s all the tutoring, and it’s free. This is a dope program.”
Though she graduated nearly 20 years ago, Christian says the friendships she forged during her time at StreetSquash still exist today.
“We all came together as a family,” she said. “After being together every weekend at tournaments, we got really close.”
As StreetSquash celebrates its 25th anniversary in the fall of 2024, Christian says she’s proud to have been part of the first graduating class—though it brings up some mixed feelings.
“It makes me feel old,” she laughed. “We were the first ones. It’s like we laid the brick. It’s an honor.”
