Jillian Brisman ’28 made the uncommon decision to repeat her sophomore year at Ramaz to better position herself to pursue her goal of playing squash at the collegiate level.
That decision, she said, came with real uncertainty.
“Reclassing was a very hard decision as I had become very close with a bunch of people in my grade,” Jillian explained. “Knowing I had to leave those friends and make friends with a grade who has already been together for a year in high school, was very hard for me.”
Playing squash “on and off” since she was five years old, Jillian began pursuing the sport competitively at 11, inspired by her father. “I first heard about squash from my dad who would always talk about squash, because he played in college,” said Jillian. “He would always talk about how great it is to play on a team as it is usually an individual sport.”
As she developed into a more serious player, Brisman experienced many “ups and downs,” particularly with the mental side of the game.
“…One thing that was originally very hard was adjusting my mindset and learning how to stay focused when losing or not playing your best game. When I started playing at a higher level I would struggle to stay focused after losing a big rally or a game. Through persistent mental training I have been able to reset faster and gain confidence and have more trust in my training for when I step on the court.”
Her growth on the court translated into memorable experiences, among them, during the summer of 2025, when she traveled to the Netherlands to compete in the Dutch Junior Open and represent the United States.
Jullian’s decision to re-class required balancing social and academic pressures alongside an increased athletic commitment. “It was also hard as I knew if I would have less school work I would be upping the intensity of my training. I was unsure if I would be able to balance the tough training sessions with my academics.”Ultimately, Brisman said she feels confident in her choice. “…Ultimately I feel that reclassing was a good decision as my squash has improved a tremendous amount. Also, I had the opportunity to make friends with kids in my new grade that I would not have otherwise had.”
