Joyce Short, who has worked with New York Junior Tennis and Learning for decades, takes a popcorn break in between classes, and plays pickleball with friends.
Joyce Short, 77, has survived many things.
She used to be a bond trader and was on Chambers Street in Lower Manhattan the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. When the World Trade Center towers collapsed, "I ran for my life," she said.
"That experience was an awakening," she said, adding, "It made me want to create a better society."
She had already been involved in the community, running a program for New York Junior Tennis and Learning, a longtime nonprofit that serves 90,000 children per year. She is also a fitness and life skills coach for the group's Scholar Athlete Program.
Outside the program, she has talked openly about surviving childhood trauma and sexual assault.
"Athletics gave me the resilience and drive that got me through," she said. "I hope to impart those benefits to my kids."
Ms. Short founded the Consent Awareness Network in 2009 to urge legislators to change laws around consent, in order to help others.
She lives with Casey, her 1-year-old toy Aussiedoodle, on Roosevelt Island.
MORNING MUFFIN I have two alarms. One is on my iPhone; the other is an alarm clock. Both go off at 4:30 a.m. I'm not a morning person, but I've been doing this for three decades, so I'm used to it. I don't do anything without brushing my teeth first. I'll have a banana or English muffin, then take Casey, who I got from a breeder last year in Indianapolis, for a quick walk. He's unconditional love and companionship.
COLD COMFORT I'm lucky: The 5:47 a.m. bus is across the street from my apartment. I usually get there a minute before it arrives. I'm cutting it close. If the elevator is working properly, I normally don't miss it. The sun isn't up yet and most of the world is sleeping. It feels quiet, cold, but invigorating.
KIDS ON THE COURT I'm at the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club by 6 a.m. They've hosted the N.Y.J.T.L.'s Community Tennis Program's winter session for over 30 years. When it's cold, we need indoor courts, which is why this class starts at 6. The kids are 5 to 18 years old, and we get about 25 to 40 kids each Sunday. The older ones don't need to be organized, so they're on the courts first. The little ones don't always know why they're there. They cry and don't want to leave their moms. We ultimately get them to play, then it's a sea of kids playing. Knowing they're learning and growing from this experience is inspiring.
PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA We do a group breakfast. Parents bring milk, cereal or fruit. Sometimes it's pastries or doughnuts. The kids line up and parents help serve. My favorite part is seeing the kids at a table, huddled in front of the TV, watching cartoons together. It's their choice, so I've seen a lot of SpongeBob.
DOGGY DAY CARE I'm out by 8:30 and come home to walk Casey, who has been in his crate because he chews anything and everything, including the floor. I walk him on the breezeway by the river, which is a big driveway for fire engines to get to the east side of the building. There's a doggy day care place downstairs in my building, Roosevelt Pups, which he loves, and he spends the rest of his day there.
COLLEGE PREP I get in my Mazda hatchback and drive to the Cary Leeds Center in the Bronx. It's the flagship site of the N.Y.J.T.L., where the Scholar Athlete Program is offered, which is advanced training for competitive kids. Our goal is to make sure everyone gets into colleges and universities.
LIFE SKILLS From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., I teach 10- to 17-year-olds. First, it's a life skills lesson to help build positive character. It's to give children insight into how they can best get along and succeed in life. Coming out of Covid, they didn't have interactions with other kids. They need support in building relationships. Then I coach a dynamic warm-up class outside in the stadium. We do karaoke, shuffle step, C-skips and laps -- all core activities to improve their physical fitness.
POPCORN BREAK I have a high endurance, so I'm not exhausted. If I don't bring something to eat from home, I'm big on berries and pineapple or arugula, then I'll get popcorn from the refreshment machine. Then I teach two more classes, which mirror the morning sessions and end at 3 p.m.
HELPING OTHERS I'm home right before my weekly 4 p.m. Zoom with some of my staff from the Consent Awareness Network. We talk about plans and future projects. I was 15 the first time I was assaulted. That happened twice more in my life. In 2009, I hit an emotional wall. I knew too many other women who had been through similar situations. Our laws are insufficient protection for people. I wanted to do more. I'm extremely proud of the network. It's given me a way to feel that what happened to me didn't happen for nothing.
PICKLEBALL PALS After the Zoom, I'm in a state of distress about the issues we're discussing. I need to get myself back into a positive mind-set. I pick up Casey, do a quick walk with him, bring him upstairs and then head to the Sportspark, a recreation center that has two pickleball courts behind the building. It's down the street and usually my friends are there. It's a home away from home.
If it's too cold to play, I'll go to Costco in Queens and get food for the next week. Usually that's something I can throw into the microwave, like chicken, chili or meatloaf.
EASY EATS After the game, a few of us go to Nisi, an upscale diner that's across the street from my apartment. It's convenient and they have a good selection. I usually get a chicken or salmon Caesar salad.
NO MORE DRAMA I walk Casey one last time. By 8, I'm ready to throw myself in bed. I turn on Netflix. I try to watch things that have humor without being ridiculously stupid. I want my brain to stop thinking. I recently watched "Royal Pains" and "Grace and Frankie." I'm out in three minutes.