From First Serve to Full Circle
For Harshavi Patel, her journey with Philpott Children’s Tennis began with an early morning practice at her high school — and quickly grew into something much bigger.
Harshavi was first introduced to Philpott through the Girls Leadership Program at West Humber Collegiate Institute, where sessions were held before school every Monday morning. At the time, tennis wasn’t something she had seriously considered.
“My parents played tennis, but I’d never really picked it up until that moment,” she says. “From then, it kind of sparked something and I was really interested in it.”
That spark soon turned into a strong commitment to the program. After first learning the sport through her school program, Harshavi began attending Philpott’s weekend sessions in Scarborough — even though the commute wasn’t easy.
“From my high school to that program was almost a two-hour commute,” she says. “But even with all of that, I pushed through and I went every single weekend.”
What kept her coming back wasn’t just the tennis — it was the community.
“It didn’t feel like you were going to tennis lessons,” Harshavi explains. “It just felt like you were going someplace to have fun, learn something new, and just be with people.”
She remembers how welcoming the environment was when she first joined the program. Coaches and volunteers made a point of introducing themselves and helping her feel comfortable in a new space.
“Overall, I would say it was the sense of community and how welcoming everyone was that made me want to keep coming back,” she says.
Growing Through New Opportunities
What started as one program quickly opened the door to many others. After participating in the Girls Leadership Program, Harshavi continued through Philpott’s Tennis & Sport Leadership Program (TSLP) and began exploring new roles within the organization.
“From this one spot, it wasn’t just tennis lessons,” she says. “There were so many different opportunities to grow.”
Over time, Harshavi contributed to Philpott in several ways. She worked as a content writer for the website, helped manage social media, assisted with programming, and supported various administrative tasks — all while continuing to develop as a coach.
Even though Philpott is a small organization, she says that flexibility allowed her to try different things and take on new challenges.
“I was able to take that one opportunity and keep building on it,” she says. “There was always something new to learn.”
A Full-Circle Moment
One of the most meaningful moments in Harshavi’s journey came when she returned to West Humber, the same place where she first discovered tennis — this time as a coach for the Girls Leadership Program.
“It was like a full-circle moment,” she says. “I became what someone was to me.”
Standing on the court as a coach helped her realize how much the program had shaped her. The students she coached began looking to her not only for help with tennis, but also for support and mentorship.
“They could look to me as a friend, as a mentor — someone they could look up to,” she says.
Building Confidence and Leadership
Programs like the Tennis & Sport Leadership Program focus on more than just athletic skills. For Harshavi, they helped her develop confidence and leadership abilities that continue to shape her today.
“It teaches you confidence. It gives you a presence,” she says. “It teaches you how to connect to other people.”
Like many young coaches, the transition from participant to leader took time. When she first stepped onto the court as a coach, she learned by observing others and gradually taking on more responsibility.
“At first I would do whatever my head coach told me to do,” she says. “But over time, it becomes natural.”
Today, Harshavi focuses on creating a welcoming environment for the players she coaches.
“The main thing is creating a space where participants feel comfortable,” she says. “A place where they can be themselves, make friends, and have a good time.”
Looking Ahead
Now entering her fifth year of coaching, Harshavi remains deeply connected to the program that helped shape her journey.
She hopes to continue supporting Philpott’s mission and helping the next generation of players experience the same opportunities she did.
“Coaching is the front line of helping the next generation,” she says.
At the same time, she remains focused on continuing to grow.
“I’m still learning,” she says. “I’ve done a lot of things, but I’m still improving every day.”
