At 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 24th, nearly 100 high school freshman girls trickled into the auditorium at the Obama Presidential Center and sat in seats that formed a half-circle around the stage where the panelists were seated. Some of the girls conversed and laughed, while others danced in their seats to Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.”
The event kicked off at 9:58 a.m. with opening remarks from WNBA brand strategist Nina Kossoff:
“We’re powerful on our own, but when we come together we can really make change,” Kossoff said to open the program.
The event then transitioned into a panel moderated by an array of inspiring individuals. ESPN Journalist and Commentator Ari Chambers, Nike Chief Diversity Officer Kizmet Mills, former Chicago Sky player and Obama Foundation Manager of Athletics and Sports Leadership Programs Linnae Harper, and WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison.
Each panelist stepped onto the stage to a round of applause as Chambers introduced each of them, and began by introducing themselves and explaining their roles in basketball, culture, and community.
The event emphasized “finding one’s superpower” – something that each of the panelists touched base on.
“When I think about the word ‘superpower,’ the first thing that comes to mind is doing the impossible,” Harper said. “My personal superpower is connecting people with their resources, providing a pathway for them to reach their goals.”
Others on the panel spoke on helping others through basketball, leadership and community efforts.
The panelists then dove into explaining how they bounced back from their setbacks.
For Dugalic, it was learning how to accept help during an ACL injury she suffered in her junior year of college.
“After the year I came back from my ACL was when I started to figure out who I am, not only as a basketball player but who I am as a person,” Dugalic said.
Soon after, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stepped on stage to interrupt before introducing Obama a minute later.
“I know you’re all learning the power of perseverance, the power of resilience, the power of dreaming big, and this person – no one has inspired hundreds of millions of people around the world here in the United States like him.”
Amidst thunderous applause, Obama stepped on stage.
“Hello, everybody!” Obama exclaimed, wearing jeans and a white button-down shirt.
“Settle down now,” he said, smiling, as the crowd screamed.
“I wasn’t gonna let a bunch of amazing young athletes, scholars, and hoopers come through my spot without saying hello!”
He then joked about not immediately shaking anyone’s hands.
“I’m not gonna start shaking hands yet because mayhem will break loose,” Obama said.
He began by telling the girls how proud he was of them and then spoke of his own experiences from being a dad to two daughters.
“Malia is now 28, Sasha is 25, but I remember like it was yesterday when they were your age,” Obama said. “We live in a world that is a lot more complicated for you guys than it was in some ways when I was coming up. There’s so much pressure and noise, and sometimes I think – especially for girls and young women – there’s social attitudes that tell you that you need to be one kind of way.”
He then encouraged the girls that they were on the right track.
“You are going to do wonderful things, and you need to have the confidence and power that’s inside you and your capacity to, you know, live out your dreams.”
“You’re gonna have to work hard, and it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident it’s gonna happen.”
Obama joked with the girls about boys being “knuckleheads” and urged them to reach out to mentorship figures who could help them.
“One of the most important things you can do as a young person is find people who are willing to help you,” Obama said. “Find mentors. Find people who are doing the kinds of things you want to do and learn from them.”
“We only see the little fish bowl that we live in, but you know, it turns out there’s a whole big world out there full of possibilities,” Obama added. “The more you see out there that’s possible, the better off you’re going to be.”
Obama then shook hands with some of the girls as they screamed in excitement. He took a selfie with the crowd before leaving the stage at 10:22 a.m.
The panel then picked back up after the crowd took a moment to cool down following Obama’s surprise appearance. The panelists spoke of community impact, perseverance, and shared firsthand stories of some of the difficulties in their journeys before transitioning to a Q&A with the students.
