Haleigh Washington inspires next generation of volleyball players in Compton
Saving Our Daughters is investing in new opportunities for athletes in Compton.
COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- What started as a normal volleyball practice turned into a memorable experience for students at Compton Early College High School when two-time Olympic medalist Haleigh Washington showed up to surprise the team.
Washington, a professional volleyball player with LOVB Los Angeles, crashed the team's practice Wednesday as part of an initiative with Saving Our Daughters.
The nonprofit, co-founded by actress and philanthropist Keke Palmer, invests in communities like Compton to eliminate social barriers that ultimate restrict students' success.
The student-athletes were not told Washington would be there.
As the team gathered around the net to start practice, Washington made her way through the doors. When they realized who she was, the gym erupted with excitement. Players huddled around Washington, smiling and greeting her while she let the students take a look at her medals.
Washington joined the girls on the court, participating in drills, offering advice and sharing her experience competing at the highest level of the sport.
"I believe in leaving the game better than you found it, and this is a great way to show the next generation what they can be and who they can be," Washington said.
Washington's visit comes as Saving Our Daughters launches new professional volleyball programming for high school girls this school year.
The organization's Cinderellas Curriculum provides career development and mentorship opportunities for girls, while its Behind The Scenes in Careers initiative expands that focus to areas including sports and other professional fields.
For the new volleyball programming, Saving Our Daughters partnered with Compton Unified School District and Compton Early College High School to introduce students to professional volleyball and the careers connected to the sport.
"It's important to see themselves reflected in individuals who look like them in these positions that are so admirable," Compton Early College coach Kimberly Ponce expressed.
This specific visit gave the student-athletes an opportunity to learn directly from professionals while seeing what a potential future in volleyball can look like, both on and off the court.
Washington also talked with the team about her own path to becoming a professional athlete and Olympian.
"She got her gold medal in her late 20s, and that inspired me to continue to play volleyball in the future, and that's nice." athlete Joseph Rodriguez said.
For some students, meeting an Olympic athlete offered a chance to see their own goals from a different perspective.
"Before today, I was focused on my academics and going into a medical career, but now, seeing how much Haleigh accomplished, I do see it as a career, " athlete Alexa Valdovinos said.
As the Compton Early College High School volleyball season gets underway, the students are taking the court with a little more inspiration and a firsthand reminder that the path from a high school gym to the professional level is possible.
