2021 NJTL Essay Winners: Kaleb and Kayla!

Kaleb Ngwendson 

Bob Ryland was a very accomplished tennis player and coach known for seeing the possibilities within himself and in those he coached. I have dreamt of becoming a professional tennis player since I was five years old. I am the first tennis player in my family. Just like Mr. Ryland, I received my first actual tennis racket at age 8. From that moment, I started dreaming about becoming a champion someday like the tennis players I watched on TV. My coach at the time advised my mother to allow me to compete in tournaments because he said I had the athleticism and drive that were rare in my age group. However, I learned athleticism does not take anybody far without hard work. My parents taught me to work hard, give my 100% win or lose, and do everything with excellence. I never miss practice and play every match to win because I always envision myself holding a trophy like the players on TV. As I grew older, I became more aware of my race and what that represents. My 7th grade history day project was about people who broke barriers, and I chose Arthur Ashe who has inspired me the most. I am even more impressed by what I now know about Bob Ryland’s remarkable tennis career. As an African-American tennis player, his story inspires me to break boundaries and to excel in every aspect of life. People like Bob Ryland, Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, Venus and Serena Williams paved the way for kids like me to play tennis. Reading about Bob’s challenges like being forced to eat separately and sleep in a team bus during away matches, yet he graduated with a bachelor’s degree and had a remarkable run in college tennis. His perseverance inspires me to persevere through life’s challenges. I feel that I am striving toward making myself and others proud of who I am and what I have and will accomplish. Many sportswriters described Mr. Ryland as "easily the greatest player of his era." That can be me someday because anything is possible if you believe.

Kayla Christian

Robert Ryland's life was filled with racism, loss, and unequal chances, but yet he still managed to break boundaries in the tennis world, spread positivity, and helped coach tennis prodigies. I recognize how much privilege I have as a white person, and I realize I will never experience the amount of injustice Robert Ryland faced. That being said, his story inspires me to break boundaries in different ways and use my experiences to help others by spreading awareness around the BLM movement, women's rights, and mental health awareness. I am inspired to have an attitude like Ryland, filled with positivity, determination, and humbleness. These qualities are essential to me, and learning about Robert Ryland made their importance ever more clear. I aspire to break boundaries in my future by leading the way in helping people worldwide with mental health discoveries and tennis. I want to make people feel worthy and listened to. By starting with small things like helping others, smiling, and being kind, I hope to reach my goal of making a difference. I hope to spread a positive light to everyone I meet, just as Robert Ryland did!