A dedication to squash led JP Tew to the University of Virginia. Born in Washington, DC, and raised in Cincinnati, OH, Tew started playing the sport at a young age, influenced by his father, who played at Harvard.
Without a squash community in Cincinnati, Tew and his father traveled frequently to tournaments on the East Coast, and by his sophomore year of high school, he realized he was good enough to play at the collegiate level.
“Squash had always been something that I loved to do. It was this unique thing that my dad and I did together, and it really bonded us while I was growing up,” he explains. “But at some point, it occurred to me that playing in college could really be a possibility, so I started to take it pretty seriously.”
A Community on the Court
Tew says he chose UVA for its combination of strong academics, athletics, and community. Even though he committed to the school without coming to Grounds for an official visit because of COVID-19 restrictions, his prior visits to the area for tournaments and UVA’s reputation convinced him it was the right choice.
“The squash program at UVA was considered up-and-coming, and so I wanted to do something a little different and step into a situation to be a part of a team that was continually on the rise,” he says.
Once on Grounds, Tew quickly began to have a positive impact on the team. He earned Rookie of the Year as a first-year and MVP honors in his second.
UVA’s team environment has been a refreshing change for him, providing him with camaraderie and support from 15 teammates. Before coming to UVA, Tew’s squash experience was mostly solitary, as he trained alone in a city with little squash culture and traveled to tournaments with just his dad.
“I’ve been very blessed to have really good teammates, coaches, and friends outside of the team, and I have a tremendous amount of support from all those people,” he says. “Having a team around me has been huge.”
Collaboration in the Classroom
Balancing academics and athletics at UVA has been challenging but “manageable” for Tew, thanks to the encouragement he receives from not only from coaches but also tutors and professors.
“There are many resources available to help you if you need it, like office hours. And then getting into a routine has been really helpful to make it all manageable,” he explains.
Tew also emphasizes the collaborative nature of UVA, where students compete but also help each other succeed. This cooperative approach has been crucial in coordinating his schedule, which includes hours of practice, travel for competitions, and rigorous coursework.
“Peer connections have been really key to my success,” he says. “UVA is competitive, everyone is trying really hard, but it’s not at the expense of other people. I’ve found it to be collaborative, where everyone is looking to help each other.”
Focused on a Future in Business
Applying to McIntire was a step in Tew’s plan that he had in mind before he arrived at UVA. “It was always in the back of my head. It’s one of the top business schools, and I wanted to be around people who are ambitious and willing to work together,” he explains.
Tew is particularly excited about building relationships with the faculty. “The professors I’ve had thus far have been extremely helpful and have gone out of their way, above and beyond, really, to help me,” he explains. “I’ve had a couple of teachers come to squash matches without me even asking. It’s pretty evident they really care about us.”
Looking ahead, Tew plans to start his career in the corporate world, possibly in banking or private equity, to gain experience before eventually starting his own business. He’s eager to learn how companies operate and succeed, with a long-term goal of launching his own venture.
“I think that you can do a lot of good in the business world and help a lot of people. I think that McIntire is going to set me up the best to achieve my dreams and success in the future,” he says.
As Tew dives into his McIntire coursework, he’s ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead, driven by the support of his team, coaches, and UVA community.
“I’ve been largely self-motivated my whole life and have had to figure things out on my own. What I’ve found at UVA and at McIntire is a community of people who will push me and motivate me to be better every day. I think that’s the biggest thing I’m looking forward to during the rest of my college career,” he says.