For senior Anyah Turley (’25), University High School started as a place to pursue basketball. But over time, it became much more than that—it became a place where she discovered new passions, new confidence, and a mentor who challenged her to grow in ways she never expected.
At the start of high school, Anyah saw herself as an athlete first and foremost. “Basketball was my whole identity,” she recalls. “I only wanted to talk to basketball kids, be around basketball, focus on basketball.” But at University, she found herself expanding beyond that mindset, exploring her creativity, joining clubs, and realizing she was capable of more than she ever thought possible.
A major influence in that transformation was Anyah’s mentor, Assistant Head of School Stacey Summit-Mann. From the very beginning, Stacey saw more in Anyah than she saw in herself. She was the one pushing Anyah to get involved, to take on leadership roles, and to step outside her comfort zone.
“She keeps it real with me—she’s always honest,” Anyah says. “If I was having a bad day, she wouldn’t just let me sit in it. She’d acknowledge it and then challenge me: ‘Okay, how do we turn this into something better?’ She’s always pushing me to be my best self.”
Over time, that support changed the way Anyah saw herself. Stacey helped her realize that leadership isn’t just about speaking up—it’s about listening, problem-solving, and knowing how to push forward, even when things are hard.
“I used to keep to myself. I didn’t really feel like I belonged here,” Anyah admits. “But Stacey kept encouraging me. She’d tell me, ‘You’re bigger than this moment. You’re better than this.’ And over time, I started to believe her.”
That encouragement played out in all aspects of Anyah’s life—socially, academically, and athletically. Whether it was learning how to navigate tough conversations with teammates, lead presentations at Community Meeting, or find her voice in the school community, Stacey was there, guiding her without forcing her into anything she wasn’t ready for.
One of the things Anyah values most about their relationship is how Stacey meets her where she is. When one of their mentoring walks was rained out, Anyah convinced her to record a vlog, something far outside Stacey’s comfort zone—but she was willing to try it. Another time, when Anyah was working on her shooting, Stacey grabbed a ball and rebounded for her, bringing her own high school basketball experience into the moment.
“She always tries to understand me,” Anyah says. “And, I try to understand her. We both take things from each other’s experiences, and it makes our connection even stronger.”
As Anyah looks ahead to college—where she plans to walk on to a basketball program at either Howard University or UNC Charlotte—she knows that the lessons from University will stay with her. “I used to only see one path for myself, but now I see options. I know I can do more than one thing.”
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