One match. One hour. Five games. 11 points. Leading by two wins, first place seemed just a heartbeat away. As sweat dripped down his face, senior Koby Yu ran through the basic motions, agitation and anticipation swirling through his mind. The crowd roared, but the intensity of the moment kept Koby centered on his sole goal. Upon scoring the final point, exhilaration and relief flooded him.

Koby was initially drawn to squash at age 12 after seeing how unique and welcoming the squash community was. Despite starting later than most, Koby went above and beyond in his pursuit of squash. At age 14, Koby made it to the Junior Championship Tournament (JCT), a competition for the top players in the country. 

“When I reached the JCT, the feeling of accomplishment and feeling that I finally caught up enough to actually be able to compete with these guys who have been playing for so much longer than me definitely instilled a new sense of hope,” Koby said.

Koby continued playing squash throughout high school, driven to reach new milestones. Balancing squash with school and extracurricular commitments was challenging, but Koby persevered through these obstacles with a strong mindset. Whether it be daily two-to-three-hour practices filled with sweat and hard work or long flights overseas for competitions, Koby’s excitement for the sport never wavers. Even when battling injuries, he is not disheartened.

“Each one of those injuries is a major setback for me, both mentally and physically,” Koby said. “Fighting back to where I was at or even better was very inspiring for me. Every time I dealt with those injuries, it was a matter of knowing that I could get back, of being aware and of putting in extra work together to get there.”

Koby’s drive to embark on new endeavors translates to his creation of an independent business from scratch. The sense of accomplishment and joy he feels when finishing a project drives his innovative mindset, pushing Koby to achieve more.

“A lot of people don’t realize the potential that they have,” Koby said. “Just because you’re 16 or 17 years old doesn’t mean you can’t invent something. People limit themselves because of how they see themselves. Starting a business and realizing that I could actually do so much more than what I’d always perceived definitely unlocked many opportunities, and I was like, ‘What else can I do?’”

One of Koby’s most significant businesses was sharing data from annual research conferences with health care companies. After non-stop cold emailing, Koby connected with Chief Executive Officer Angie You from Architect Therapeutics, who supported his ideas, and the business eventually earned 50,000 dollars in six months. 

“It sounds so basic, but I love finding new deals, like finding clothes for really cheap and selling them for even more money,” Koby said. “It feels like I made something out of nothing. And that feeling is definitely rewarding, especially when it really just requires the agency to want to do something and to put even just a little bit of effort to see that come into fruition.”

Stepping out of his comfort zone through business by learning to communicate and think on the spot helped Koby become more communicative and venturesome in DECA. His energy while explaining new business ideas to judges in impromptu roleplays also flows into classroom environments. Koby’s advisor Dean Lizardo, has observed Koby’s sociability during advisory.  

“Every time we walk into an advisory, Koby has super high energy,” Lizardo said. “He makes his presence known when he is around you. He’s the type of human being that you want to be around because you feel a little bit more uplifted when you’re around him.”

Senior Lucas Chen, a friend of Koby’s since their world history class together in freshman year, admires Koby’s openness. Lucas recalls that even though both he and Koby were new to Harker in their frosh year, Koby’s friendliness through his patience and supportiveness allowed them to share a close bond throughout high school.

“He was so willing to connect me to his friends, and eventually they became my best friends over the four years,” Lucas said. “He’s been that bridge that helped me go outside of my social circle and grow as a person to be more sociable within school. His inviting me to sit at the table and be able to hold beautiful conversations was one of my most memorable moments.”

Koby expresses his appreciation for his friends and family with the same dedication he puts into his squash. His girlfriend, senior Allison Hoang, praises his thoughtful personality.

“He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met,” Allison said. “He puts everybody else before him, always. If I’m having a really bad day, he’ll take the time to cheer me up, even if it’s at a cost to himself. He’s the sweetest person, and he makes sure his friends and family are always prioritized.”

In the future, Koby plans to continue playing squash and pursue higher education in business. Across academics, sports and social interactions, Koby hopes to live his life through a bright lens. To him, optimism and perseverance lead to success.   

“Do not let your mistakes define you,” Koby said. “People who get caught up in the wrong of what they’ve done have a very negative outlook on life, and that won’t get you far at all. When you’re very positive, you can see things from a different perspective. You make yourself better as a whole.”