Nasean Catron started at StreetSquash in 2008 and that was the beginning of his road to independence. His first experience with the program was spent at the YMCA and Central Park.

“I was always excited to participate in drills and workouts,” Nasean said. I enjoyed learning how to properly hold a racquet and bouncing the ball.” 

He says that he was able to build a bond with his fellow StreetSquashers by being all-in for programming. 

“I remember the competitive spirit inside the program,” Nasean said. “A family was created through the determination and hardships.” 

After graduating high school in 2014, he felt confident going off on his own.

“I was able to traverse the world on my own, due to mentorship of everyone on staff,” Nasean said. 

He received a Bachelor’s in Criminology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Since then, he’s taken the opportunity to give back to other students by working as a student advocate at Harlem Children’s Zone and acting as a mentor to other StreetSquash students. 

Nasean says students entering StreetSquash for the first time should be their genuine selves.

“Be who you are,” Nasean said. “There’s nothing worse than being something you’re not.”

He’s taken many valuable life lessons through his time at StreetSquash.

“What I learned from Streetsquash is that it’s not what you know, it’s actually who you know,” Nasean said. “Nothing is out of reach, sometimes you just have to leap for it.”