One of the reasons I began writing this blog was to better connect with the community in which I live and work (Manoa and Makiki), and most of my blogs have centered around the places, things, and events I’ve thought were interesting and special. I’ve always believed that the most important part of a community is its people, and today I’m proud to bring you the first of what I hope will be many “Pride of the Community”(community member) profiles. If you know of any Manoa and Makiki members you’d like “profiled,” please e-mail me!

I’m especially excited to share my first “Pride of the Community” profile with you because it’s a “Kid Profile” (and you know I think that kids are the neatest people in the world!) that features Andrew Yip, a boy whom I met and interviewed on Saturday, September 20. Andrew, a Makiki resident, is a bright and enthusiastic third grader at Mid-Pacific Institute. Though he only just turned nine years old, he has already developed a passion for tennis that he nurtures by being focused, disciplined, and by practicing nearly every day.

Andrew’s interest in tennis began in Kindergarten when he was introduced to the sport during his Mid-Pacific Institute Physical Education class. Andrew enjoyed the time on the courts so much that the summer after his Kindergarten year, his parents, Bernard and Lori Yip, enrolled him in a Beginning Tennis class at Manoa Recreation Park through the United States Tennis Association (USTA). The USTA offers youth and adult tennis classes for beginning and advanced players at 22 sites across Hawaii, and through its class, Andrew’s tennis skills and love for the sport developed. During second grade, Andrew began to participate in the competitive Junior Team Tennis program, which helps its members (through group and individual play) learn more about the rules of match play. Andrew now takes private lessons from Coach Wei-Yu Su, practices twice a week with his Kilauea Junior Tennis team, twice a week with a Mid-Pacific Institute after school tennis class, and a few times a week with his dad on the Makiki Park courts.

Andrew with Coach Wei-Yu Su during one of his Saturday morning private tennis lessons

This past August, Andrew was one of only three Junior Hawaii tennis players invited to participate in a two and a half day intensive tennis camp at the USTA Nationwide Training Center in Carson, California. The 18 youth participants from across the United States, hand-picked by tennis scouts looking for the next U.S tennis hopeful, were brought together to learn technical, mental, and physical aspects of the game. Andrew said that his favorite parts of the camp were meeting Sam Querrey (a rising U.S. star in the tennis world) and working on technical skills like his serve.

Here's Andrew at the tennis camp in California

Andrew with tennis pro Sam Querrey who had just come back from the Olympics and happened to be practicing at the Carson Home Depot Tennis Center (the location of tennis camp). Querrey was getting ready for the U. S. Open!

Less than one week after coming home from the camp in California, Andrew was off to New York with his mom for a very special all-expense paid trip that he earned after entering and winning the 2008 Arthur Ashe Essay Contest. Andrew was selected as the national winner of the contest for the Boys 10 and under category for writing an outstanding essay answering, “How do you exemplify the ideals of Arthur Ashe?” His essay was chosen from over 2,300 submissions from around the country! Andrew, who had done a research project in second grade and learned how to find information, take notes, and put ideas into his own words, used the Internet to find information about Arthur Ashe and wrote many drafts before submitting his final winning essay. Andrew was a VIP in New York as he joined the nine other essay winners (there were boys and girls categories for ages 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 and under) and their parents for an exciting weekend of watching the Lion King Broadway production, cheering at a Mets game, attending an awards luncheon with Mayor Dinkins, and most importantly, being a special guest at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day Celebration at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Andrew was honored to meet Mrs. Ashe and enjoyed all of the interactive games at the event, especially the SpeedZone, which recorded his fastest serve at 62 miles/hour!

Here's Andrew at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, watching Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Phau play in the 1st Round of the U.S. Open

Andrew at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on 2008 Arthur Ashe Kids Day

Andrew with Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, wife of late tennis legend Arthur Ashe

The 10 essay winners at an Awards Luncheon in New York

In his winning essay, Andrew responded to this quote by Arthur Ashe: “You are never really playing an opponent you are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits this is real joy.” Andrew wrote that he would like to keep challenging himself… and to always give it what he’s got- “one point at a time.” After meeting Andrew, I know that he is giving it what he’s got- and that he’ll find his “real joy” with each point that he makes… in tennis and in life.

* Photos courtesy of the Yip family