Taylor Cook got her start at StreetSquash in 2008 when she was a middle schooler at Academy for Social Action. She discovered the program through a visit to her school and was drawn in by the energy of the staff.

 

“The first day I was so nervous and I’m naturally a shy person,” Taylor said. “But over time I began to open up.” 

 

She eventually got comfortable enough to make herself known as the student who loves playing pranks on the staff. 

 

“A lot of my friends and the staff helped me feel at ease,” Taylor said. 

 

She says something that stands out from her time at StreetSquash is the rivalry they had with SquashBusters during Urban Nationals. 

 

“We also made some great friendships,” Taylor added.

 

Taylor had an opportunity to travel a lot. In addition to squash events, she went to Sleep Away Camp multiple times, went to Exeter Academy for a month, and did a summer program at The University of Rochester. She also played at Howe Cup numerous times, and took her first trip out of the country thanks to StreetSquash’s service trip in Guatemala.

 

“Those experiences opened my eyes to so much more of the world and the people in it,” Taylor said. “It helped to build my confidence, to put myself out there more, and be more observant and aware of what was happening around me.”

 

Following her High School graduation in 2014, she went to Buffalo State College to study Communications. Circumstances beyond her control forced her back home prior to graduating.

 

But she quickly took the opportunity to work for U.S. Squash assisting with various tournaments. Now she lives in Poughkeepsie where she works at Amazon. She’s hoping to one day go back to school but major in something other than Communications. 

 

“My time at StreetSquash really helped me with time management and managing pressure,” Taylor said. “I would internalize things more than I should have but I also learned that it’s OK to want more for yourself.” 

 

She says middle schoolers looking for something to do after school should definitely give StreetSquash a chance.

 

“Take a chance on whatever is presented to you,” Taylor said. “It might be a little strange at first, but if you stick with it, you’ll make friendships and lifelong bonds in places where you least expected.”