Fazal Syed, a former professional tennis player and the current coach at Westtown School, was recently present at Valley Forge National Historical Park to share the joy of the 21 people who became U.S. citizens during the park’s first-ever naturalization ceremony, writes Melissa Jacobs for Main Line Tonight. 

Syed, who is a Valley Forge Park Alliance member, became a citizen in 2016. 

He came to the U.S. in 1995. At the time, he was a national tennis champion in India. He accepted an athletic scholarship from Temple University and came to Philadelphia as a 20-year-old, eager to experience America. 

Thanks to his coach, he turned pro his senior year of college and spent the following few years on the pro tour, traveling the world. 

Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, Syed often found himself profiled. Instead of making him bitter, the experiences made him both a better Muslim and American. He made sure to read the Koran, as well as biographies of the founding fathers. 

“I take lessons from them,” he said. “They had work ethics, and studied, and created real change in this country.” 

Read more about Fazal Syed at Main Line Tonight.