Ask Krystal Cuello, a senior from Providence, about her last two years at SquashBusters, and the first thing you’ll notice is the enormous smile that appears on her face as she expresses her appreciation for all the doors it has opened for her.
Although Krystal’s time at SquashBusters has been short – she only joined two years ago – it has been extremely impactful. She joined the program with dreams of becoming a nurse. She even passed the CNA exam as a sophomore. But after spending two weeks this past summer at a mini-medical school at the University of Rochester, her goals have shifted, and she has her sights set on becoming a doctor. She loved the experience and is thankful that her academic advisor, Bianca, mentioned it. “It was such a great opportunity. I’m just really happy about it because I wouldn’t have known about it without SQB.”
Always one to study hard and get good grades, Krystal joined SquashBusters because she heard it helped with homework. She quickly discovered it gave her much more. “Everybody was so friendly and so welcoming. I immediately felt part of a family, like a second family, when I joined in. Every day, I wanted to come in to practice this new sport and get better at it . The energy here is so different. Everyone communicates with each other. There’s a special bond you can’t find at other places.”
Without SquashBusters, she believes she would have struggled with her homework. Her classes were getting more complex, and she sometimes needs help. Because she comes from a Spanish-speaking family, it was hard for her to ask for help explaining complicated concepts. “I don’t really have that guidance at home because my parents don’t really speak English, so the SQB tutors and academic coordinators can help me with those assignments.”
And you’d never believe it by speaking with her, but Krystal used to be shy. She credits SquashBusters for helping her gain the confidence to feel comfortable expressing herself. “Honestly, I used to be pretty quiet. I wasn’t able to express myself the way I am now. But here, I’m able to be the person that I am because nobody judges anyone. Everyone accepts you the way you are. It’s an open community of people, which has helped me improve my communication skills.”
Her advisors have always been encouraging and understanding, helping her on and off the squash courts. Krystal realizes how special SquashBusters is and is grateful to have the SQB Providence community surrounding her as she looks forward to an exciting future. In fact, because of the college prep support, she’s even looking forward to the college and financial aid process. At the end of the day, what matters to Krystal is her second family and support system that she knows will be there for her. “They’re always encouraging me to do my best and telling me to chase my dreams.”