Lewis was introduced to tennis in seventh grade when one of her coaches encouraged her to give the sport a try. What started as something new quickly became a passion.
She tried out for the high school team as a freshman and, despite also playing volleyball, kept coming back to the court. Now a senior, Lewis is still swinging — and she has plenty of goals left to accomplish.
Outside of high school tennis, Lewis competes in USTA tournaments, where the competition is intense and the experience has helped push her game to another level.
Now, she has her sights set on a district championship — and hopefully a trip to the State Tournament.
But Lewis’ ambitions stretch well beyond the tennis court.
Doug Brown (VYPE)
A Future in New York
Lewis dreams of playing college tennis, and her dream school is NYU. There’s something about New York that has always captivated her.
“I love the atmosphere,” she said. “When everyone is walking, they have a destination. I love the people.”
She also loves the school and the opportunities that come with being in the heart of New York City. And then there’s her future career.
Lewis wants to pursue law, with a particular interest in entertainment law. Her inspiration? A certain fictional lawyer from Harvard.
“I’ve only watched one law show — Legally Blonde,” she joked. “Elle Woods is my motivation.”
A Creative Spirit
Tennis isn't the only place where Lewis expresses herself. She’s an artist. She participates in orchestra. She loves drawing and coloring, particularly portraits.
For Lewis, there’s a common thread connecting all three passions.
“I really love the creativity of tennis, art and orchestra,” she said. “All three have a way to express yourself.”
She has even dreamed about acting, although she admits that could be a long shot. If that path doesn’t work out, entertainment law could give her a way to combine her love of creativity and her interest in the legal world.
That curiosity is part of what makes Lewis unique.
She admits she’s interested in a lot of different things, but she’s determined to make the most of every opportunity.
Living in the Moment
Ask Lewis about her phone, and you might get a surprising answer.
She’s not glued to it. In fact, she doesn’t watch much television either.
“I’m in the moment,” she said. “I have big FOMO, so I stay off my phone.”
Instead, Lewis stays busy. She works as a barista at the Briar Club in River Oaks, keeps up with school and finds time for tennis, art and orchestra.
Academically, she enjoys pre-calculus and trigonometry. She likes formulas because once they click, they click.
“Once I get it, I get it,” she said.
Exceeding Expectations
At the heart of everything Lewis does is one simple goal: be better than expected.
She wants to remain humble, stay authentic and never stop pushing herself.
“I want to be humble… not humbled,” she said with a laugh. “I want to keep it real. I’m not trying to let people down. I’m looking to impress you. I want to exceed expectations.”
That mindset is what makes Peytan Lewis such an intriguing athlete to watch.
She’s chasing another district title on the tennis court, dreaming about playing at NYU, exploring a future in law and entertainment, creating art, playing orchestra and figuring out exactly where her many talents can take her.
One thing is certain:
Peytan Lewis isn't putting herself in a box.
She’s creating her own path — one swing, sketch, note and dream at a time.
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Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Doug Brown (VYPE)
Carmen Agnew (VYPE)
