Michigan Student, Chase Myers, Wins USTA NJTL Essay Contest with Tribute to Her Mother
The USTA Foundation proudly announced the winners of the 2024 National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Essay Contest during the exhilarating US Open Fan Week. Among the ten distinguished winners is Chase Myers from Westland, Michigan, whose heartfelt essay celebrating her mother as her "Greatest of All Time" resonated with the selection committee.
Chase, 12, is a participant at the Opportunity Tennis Academy, an NJTL chapter that empowers youth through tennis and education. This year, the contest attracted over 1,000 entries nationwide, challenging young minds to reflect on the question, "Who is your G.O.A.T.?"
Chase's winning essay underscores the profound influence her mother, Cassandra, has had on her life. “When I think of the G.O.A.T., I think of someone who inspires and pushes me to be my best,” Chase wrote. She attributed her growth in tennis and in life to her mother's unwavering support and lessons on persistence and effort.
The NJTL program, established in 1969 by tennis legend Arthur Ashe, aims to provide under-resourced youth with access to tennis, educational opportunities, and essential life skills. This year, the Midwest Section saw a remarkable number of submissions, with several chapters actively participating, continuing a trend of excellence in the region.
Chase’s journey began when her mother introduced her to the Opportunity Tennis Academy four years ago. Cassandra, who never had access to tennis in her youth, wanted to ensure her daughter had every opportunity to succeed. “My mom taught me that persistence is what keeps you motivated,” Chase reflected, emphasizing the valuable lessons she’s learned about respect, responsibility, and hard work through the NJTL program.
The winners enjoyed a memorable trip to New York City from August 21 to 24, where they participated in a variety of exciting events. Highlights included ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange alongside USTA Foundation Chairperson Chris Evert and attending a special luncheon at the Yale Club, where they were presented with honorary plaques.
Chase described her NYC experience as transformative, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to meet fellow winners and tennis icons. “I had a really good experience in New York City, where I met many amazing contest winners,” she shared. “My favorite part was sitting in the president's box and watching the All-Stars play, especially seeing Djokovic.”
When asked about her future aspirations, Chase remains undecided but is drawn to the world of business and has a keen interest in science and biology. Outside of tennis, she is an active eighth grader who also participates in girl scouts, track, and enjoys reading. Chase’s story is a testament to the positive impact of mentorship and community support fostered by programs like NJTL. As she continues to embrace challenges both on and off the court, she serves as an inspiring example for her peers and future generations.
Chase Myers Essay
The G.O.A.T. In My Life
“When I hear people talking about Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) I think of people that others strive to be like. They may not be the best in the world, but they are the best in someone or multiple people’s eyes. The most prominent G.O.A.T. in my life is the person who has pushed me to be the best, which is my mother! She taught me that persistence is something that should be valued. Persistence is what keeps you motivated. If you quit every time, don’t like something or it is too hard you will never achieve your goals. My mom’s the woman that helped me grow into a well-rounded individual. My mother shows me that I can’t see my true success if I give up on something without putting effort into it. Those are things that I’ll always remember even when I’m in retirement. She encourages me to do things that she did and wished she had done when she was my age like travel, school clubs, Girl Scouts and tennis. Her desire is to make me a better person, better than her. I practice tennis with a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) organization and learn different words that will help me be better. Effort to me shows that you can do a lot of things. Without effort, you could not get as many things accomplished. Another NJTL word is respect. Respect teaches me to be kind and nice to everyone I meet. I also learned about responsibility by making sure I attend as many practices as I can and that I don’t lag behind. I hated tennis when I started playing it. I hated how my friend who never played it was better than me. I hated how hard it was to hit inside the box. I hated how I had to play on hot summer days in the heat. I was ready to quit the whole sport the first year, but my mom encouraged me to practice and to get better. I did practice and I believe I improved. Her words taught me that when I think “I can’t”, I say to myself “challenge accepted!”. She taught me that when something is too much or seems too hard, to at least try it for a week. My mother pushes me to be my best no matter what, and that may annoy me, but I know deep down she wants the best for me. I’m grateful that I have a mother like that because I know others whose mothers don’t do the same. I love my mother for that. Most people associate a G.O.A.T. with someone in sports or in the entertainment business but my G.O.A.T. is a person who’s just trying to get through life and do good for her daughter. That is why my G.O.A.T. is my mother.”
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