Open Letter to HPISD Board of Trustees

Dear HPISD Board of Trustees,

Good afternoon. My name is Maddie Choi, and I attended this district from kindergarten through eighth grade. I’ve lived in University Park for the past 12 years, and this community has always been home to me. It’s where I built lifelong friendships, discovered my interests, and developed the foundation that shaped who I am today.

Growing up in Texas, sports have always been deeply embedded in our culture. Football especially dominates the conversation. Names like Matthew Stafford and Clayton Kershaw are instantly recognizable throughout our community. But most people in Dallas have likely never heard of squash players like Jahangir Khan, Mostafa Asal, Heather McKay, or Hania El Hammamy.

That’s because squash has remained largely absent from the athletic landscape here, despite being one of the most physically demanding and intellectually engaging sports in the world.

For those unfamiliar with it, squash is a fast-paced indoor racquet sport played on a four-wall court where players rally a small rubber ball at incredibly high speeds. What makes the sport unique is the combination of constant movement, strategy, precision, and endurance required at every moment. Unlike many sports that involve pauses between plays, squash is continuous. Players are constantly reacting, adjusting angles, anticipating shots, and covering the entire court within seconds.

I first discovered squash during a college trip to the East Coast with my brother a few years ago. We happened to walk into a collegiate tournament, and I was immediately captivated by the energy, discipline, and intensity of the sport. But when I returned home, I realized how limited access to squash truly was in Dallas. There were very few courts, very few youth programs, and almost no exposure to the sport for students in our area.

That realization made me recognize that this issue extends far beyond squash itself. Access to athletics often depends on what schools and communities choose to prioritize and invest in. In our schools, sports like football, soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse are visible, encouraged, and readily accessible. Squash simply has not yet been given the same opportunity.

What makes this especially surprising is how practical squash is to introduce. A single squash court occupies far less space than a football or soccer field, equipment is relatively minimal, and courts are significantly more cost-effective than many large athletic facilities. Even beginning with one multi-use community court or a small pilot program could create meaningful opportunities for students across the district.

The benefits extend well beyond athletics. Squash strengthens cardiovascular health, sharpens discipline and decision-making, and teaches perseverance under pressure. It is also a sport that emphasizes individual accountability, time management, and mental resilience — qualities that translate directly into academics and leadership.

Squash also creates unique collegiate opportunities. Because the sport has a smaller but highly competitive recruiting pool, student-athletes often have greater visibility during the college admissions process, particularly at academically rigorous universities. Institutions such as Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, and University of Pennsylvania all maintain highly respected squash programs. Introducing students to the sport earlier could expand both athletic and academic pathways that many families in our district value deeply.

Programs like Access Youth Academy and SquashSmarts have already demonstrated what is possible when schools and communities intentionally invest in access to the sport. Students gain not only athletic opportunities, but mentorship, academic support, and long-term confidence as well.

Inspired by these models, I founded my nonprofit, Rally For Squash, with the goal of expanding awareness of and accessibility to the sport here in Dallas. Through this experience, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative exposure and opportunity can be when students are simply invited to try something new.

That is why I’m asking you today to reconsider what equitable athletic access can look like in our schools and recreation spaces. By investing in multi-use squash courts, pilot programs, and partnerships with local organizations and mentors, we can broaden the range of opportunities available to students throughout our community.

And with squash officially set to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics, interest in the sport is continuing to grow worldwide. Dallas has the opportunity not simply to follow that momentum, but to lead it.

Thank you.