How important is it that we Honor those who’ve paved the way before us? There are a great number of historical figures who have inspired the world, most of all the people of Black communities. There is one individual in particular I would love to put a highlight upon. One of the best coaches to ever coach the game of Women’s basketball Dawn Staley. I am a Girls basketball coach at the High School level after five years of helping assist with coaching Women’s Basketball at the Collegiate level. Coaching has changed my life, and it is a huge act to inspire. I get a chance every year and every day to make a positive impact on someone's life, of all ages. From the kids I work with to become overall better and the adults I work alongside with to grow the community we serve. I have learned while watching and studying coach Staley that even coaching at a high level on the highest stage you can coach with love, be kind, compassionate, and understanding to those around you working towards the same common goals. Dawn is from North Philadelphia, after being the player of the year out of high school went to Virginia to attend UVA and play basketball at a high level. I admire her humbleness, love and respect for the game, making it known that she also teaches life lessons, not just basketball. I respect the number of positive impacts she has made on her student-athletes and how much she pours into young individuals who show up as and for themselves. Coach Staley is also a huge advocate for Black female coaches, I became drawn to her ultimately due to her passion for that. As quoted in an article I read regarding this topic, “Dawn Staley remembers when she was just beginning her coaching career when she’d look across the sideline and rarely see a Black female leading the opposing team.” This section in particular is where I could relate to this. As a first year Head Coach I was THE only Women coach in my League. I did not realize it until the end of the season when we were at the end of the season's coaches meeting. Not only was I the only woman, but I was the only Black Woman. Coach Dawn Staley: “There is an influx of Black women getting an opportunity,” Staley said. “Black women are getting more chances to be the head honcho in their programs. I hope we continue to be successful.” I relate with Dawn Staley in many different ways, even though I have been an athlete most of my life; I played basketball throughout middle school, high school, and college. I never thought I would be coaching. I did not want to coach, but it was a calling one I found, and I decided that this it. This has made me happy; I was making an impact on women who were just like me at one point in my life whether it was high school or college. Coach Staley stated, “There should be a fair number of Black women getting a chance because of who we serve,” Staley said. “We serve a lot of players who are Black. I don’t want people thinking I’m playing the race card. I’ve been in the game a long time; I’ve seen big jobs go to people that deserved an opportunity.” I continue to wish Coach Staley success, and I am excited to witness her continue to make a positive impact, break barriers and make history as an impactful Phenomenal Black Woman.

Mental health is a huge component to whether one has a chance of succeeding or not. If my mental health is not good, I won’t be good, not just as a woman, but as a student who was once a student athlete, throughout high school and college. Mental health has a huge impact on my academic performance because the way one thinks serves a huge part on how they get through everyday life. In the classroom and outside of the classroom. If my mental health is not in a healthy state, it will be hard to focus on the things that will contribute to me being successful. Those who struggle with poor mental health sometimes have a hard time pushing through with something, they have hard times in believing in themselves and what they truly want. When I was in school pursuing my Bachelors while also playing a sport, at one point it took an entire toll on my life. It was very hard for me to believe that I actually deserved being where I was. I am the first person in my family to go to college, play sports, and get my degree. Having high expectations for yourself isn't a bad thing if you believe in yourself, but if you don't believe in yourself it's going to be tough trying to keep up with those high expectations. Any time I was not performing the way I feel I was supposed to I felt less than. It showed in my game play, it showed in my grades, the test I took. They way I interacted with the people around me, even the ones who cared about me the most. It almost seemed like a form of self sabotaging. Specific steps I took while improving my mental health was first recognizing that I was struggling with a Mental Health issue, then talking to someone who I trusted to help me; which was my Auntie who is a professional Psychologist. I continued to play sports and attend school, I did not give up because I had a goal, I was going to finish that goal no matter how long it took me to get there. I stopped being so hard on myself and was simply doing the best I could to be the best in whatever I wanted to be the best in. I meditated, and I journaled my feelings, and I accepted things for what they were, while also only focusing on the things that I could control, not on the things I could not control.

Growing up at a disadvantage is already tough on a young kid. My parents were young parents who had their first kid at the ages 16 and 17. Young teenagers who were also at a disadvantage, having no idea how they would be able to take care of this child they are bringing into the world. My parents experienced so many things at a young age that no youth should see or experience. I lost my only uncle in May of 2023, my uncle was a drug addict who could not break his habit, it took over his entire existence, but I remember the most positive things about him more than anything. How we were only 9 years apart, when I was 1 year old, he was 10. I remember how he protected me as much as he could from hurt or dangers. Suddenly, he was an addict living on the streets, something as a young adult just trying to figure life out, I could not understand. Wait, I could kind of understand, his mother, my grandmother was an addict, and so was his father. My mom and her brother grew up in a tough home environment together, but the addict bug caught my uncle. We are a small family who did not have much but each other, the only Ill ever have now is gone and he is never returning. There was a time, as a young adult I tried to get him help but he wasn’t ready, it was heartbreaking, but I couldn't help anyone who didn't really want to be helped at the time. When I found out my uncle passed away so young, I was moving toward the peak of my career. I had just moved to another state to take a job that I was super excited about. I moved into my place and a week later I got a call from home saying my uncle passed away. That he was a John Doe for an entire 2 weeks no one knew where he had been. I had to fly home and take on the responsibility of planning his homegoing because no one else really could. I have always been a huge advocate for meditation and journaling because I believe that it truly helps, it has helped me. I even recommend it to my students who I work with while working at a public-school coaching sports and while being a support specialist. Journaling and meditation have helped me release energies that I have held within good or bad, I have a journal dedicated to gratitude and one dedicated to just venting. There are times I do not want to share my feelings with anyone so that is a way for me to release my emotions for a better state of mind. I want to continue my education because I want to provide my students, and student athletes with whatever they need to become successful in life. I want to make myself available in ways I can, going back to school to pursue further education will allow me to do so. I am always open to growing and learning until the day I am gone. The biggest influences in my life to be honest are my grandma and my younger siblings. My grandma was not able to get the opportunities I have now, so I work really hard often with her in mind. My siblings are younger versions of me, so I always want to make sure I am setting a good example for them.