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Hey everybody, and welcome back to Echoes of the Yard. I'm your host Kendyl Terrell, a soccer player at Jackson State University, and this podcast is your source for all things HBCU. From the guests to the topics, the good and the bad, we're here to talk about it all. For the 15th episode, I'm joined by Gabrielle Allen, a volleyball player from Howard University. First, say hello. Hi. So we have so much to talk about. So tell me about yourself, like where you're from, your upbringing, any siblings, hobbies, interests.

Okay, I'm Gabrielle Allen. I am a computer information systems major from rural Maryland, which is like 40 minutes away from Howard University. I have an older sister and older brother. I'm the youngest of three and my sister went to Howard too actually. She played volleyball growing up, which made me want to play volleyball growing up, but she decided not to play in college, but I decided to carry on the legacy. I love that. Oh yeah. And yeah, I would say my sister is my biggest role model. Like like we're both in the same major and she's a computer information systems major as well. And now I went, I went, I have a concentration in cybersecurity and she was the same way. So honestly I was following all of her footsteps and like proud for it. So yeah. I'd like that. So tell me about your family. A little bit. You guys are kind of like a Howard dynasty, right? So like go more to detail about that. Okay.

So my mom, my dad met at Howard University. They're Howard sweethearts. And so my dad was on the football team. My mom didn't play a sport. And my dad also was a computer information systems major as well. So that's where it all started. But yeah, he was number 47. I can't remember his position, but they met at Howard University. They met my mom's freshman year and they're at Howard's yards from the beginning. And then my sister who graduated Howard two years ago, she just left. And she, so I was like the entire time she was at Howard, I was in high school. So I was watching her from afar. And I was like, I'm so excited. Like I, from the second that she went to Howard, I was like, that's where I'm going to go.

Like that's, I was a freshman when she was a freshman in college. And I was like, I don't want to go anywhere else. Like no one, I just want to go to Howard University. And that was it. And I'm glad I get to live out that dream. And all my, my aunts and uncles, all my dad's teammates are all my aunt, my uncles and my aunts and my mom's best friends from college. So I'm really like Howard family. Like our, our doormat literally says welcome Bison. So it's really, it's really great. I also have like my graduation party. Yeah. My graduation party also had like Bison plates. So it was just, it was so cute. It was so cute. I can't complain. No, it's crazy.

You say that because, um, both my parents went to USM, University of Southern Mississippi, and they both got their PhDs in chemistry. So that's where the line comes from us as well. I'm the youngest of four. Um, all my uncles, they're like alphas and you, like, they were on the football team with my dad. Like, it's just so funny you say that. Cause like our stories kind of align a little bit, just two different schools, but to be fair, I love a good HBCU love story. Like HBCU, everything is like runs through my blood. Um, but how and why did you start playing volleyball? Okay. So I'll say my sister like was four years older than me. So she played volleyball and I'm the, like the last, the third child.

So I feel like I just wanted to do everything she did. Like I was my sister's biggest fan. Like, like she played ball. We, first we did like lacrosse, tennis and like everything, any sport she did, I did. I was like following up behind her, like, you know, so she stuck with volleyball. And then, so I was like, you know, like, why not stick with volleyball? Like my sister was doing it. We had like, like we had the same, like youth coaches, like we had the same 12s coach. Cause I just did everything she did. Like, I just, everything she, I was just like, you know, and I kept playing. I really wanted to play in college, and she didn't want to play in college. And I like that; that was where we kind of separated.

Like, I actually would, I actually wanted to play volleyball in college. And that's why I went to Howard University. Cause I was like a black excellence and playing volleyball. Like, I personally don't have any aspirations to play professional volleyball. So going to Howard University was just like amazing to me. Cause it was like, I get to like all my life, I was like an athlete, but here I get to like expand on who I am and be with black excellence and just enjoy myself while playing volleyball. It's amazing. So, yeah. So when did you, like, when was that moment where you were like, yeah, I want to do this in college. I want to pursue this in college. When was that moment you were like, nah, this is, this is what I'm doing.

I'll say it was like my 17th year. I know it sounds like late, but like my 17th year, we had just won like an open bid for nationals and we were going to open nationals for the first time. And I remember like how we're leaving and how amazing it felt at that moment. And I was just like, wow, like this is, these are like the, like the highest, like the highest, like the highest are so high. Like the volleyball, like I just like, it made me so happy. I was like on cloud nine for like a month and I was just like, you know what? Like I really do enjoy, like it gets volleyball's hard, but I really do enjoy the sport. I really don't. I was like, I'm ready to say goodbye to it.

And like, well, like would have been a year. I wouldn't, I don't think I was able to say bye to my senior year. Like I can't, I luckily had like went through my senior year playing volleyball and I didn't have to worry about it. Like me not be like this being my last game. Cause some of my friends, some of my friends had that going for them. And I was just like, wow. Like, I can't imagine that. Like, this is like everything I've known for the past 11 years of my life. So I just couldn't. Literally, literally. I had the same moment. Um, I play soccer as I said, mentioned before, and just going from that high school to college, like, um, moment, it was just like, how can you say this is it for you?

Like, I feel like I'm just getting started. I do have aspirations to, um, achieve a pro career or whatever. Um, fingers crossed, but you're a libero on your volleyball team. So how does that feel? Because I know y'all have to do a lot. Like there's a bunch of leadership that comes from that role. Like what, what goes to your head when like game days and when you have to take on that libero role? Uh, on game days, I'm very like quiet. I don't really want to talk. I kind of want to be in my zone. Like I'm a very outgoing, like loud person, but when it comes to game days, I just want to be focused. And I just need to like, have like, be in my zone, be in my headphones, like not talk to just like, you know, like, Gabby, are you okay?

I'm like, I'm fine. I'm just trying to get in the zone, trying to get in the zone. And yeah, I feel like, especially now that I'm on my second year, watching all of my teammates, like watching them play and watching them, like the way they grew over the year, which just really, really helped me. And they've been so helpful to me. Like really, they've been so helpful to me. Like, I just think like, no matter if I have a bad day, I can always hear like someone telling me like, what's the next fix. And I love feedback. I honestly love like constructive criticism. Me too. Yeah. I don't see anything wrong with that. I'm just like, yes, tell me what I'm, yes, tell me. I clearly don't know. So tell me.

But yeah, on game days, I'm like, just in the zone. On that day, I kind of want to just lie in bed, don’t get up until I have to go to the gym. Like, like, just maximize like every peaceful moment I can have because, I have to really lock in for this game. Yeah, I love that. So, like, academics is really important to you. So how would you rate your overall experience at Howard as just a student? If part, how would you rate your experience as a student? I would literally say like, a 9.5 or like a 10 out of 10. I literally feel like I hear like, yes, I'm an athlete, but like my teacher, I don't like, I don’t want my teachers to know that I’m an athlete, if that makes sense.

Like, obviously, like, if I'm not coming to a game, if I'm not coming to practice, I mean, not, well, not coming to a class for a game, I will let them know. But I don't want to be like, some teachers have like negative connotations of athletes, like, oh, they're going to slack off and stuff. Yeah. Oh, like, yeah. I don't want to be like, oh, they're going to slack off and stuff. So like, being a Howard, I can really be my own person outside of my athletic career. Like, and this, I feel like this is the first time I've really felt like I can really be both. Like, I can really stay here. And everyone at Howard is so hardworking. Everyone has so much going for them.

Everyone's just as busy as me if they're not playing a sport. And that really motivates me because like, everyone is busy just like me. So that's not an excuse not to, like, not to get an A on a quiz or not to do it. Like, the president of like, Howard University, like, like doing stuff and I can do stuff too. And it's just like, being in this environment where it's Black excellence and it's like, wants to succeed no matter what's going on in their lives has been so motivating and like, has helped me really keep going. And like, which is like my why, like why I keep going every day at Howard. I love it. Okay. So now rated as an athlete.

As an athlete, I would still say like a nine out of 10, maybe eight out of 10, just because we miss a lot of like football games. But like, that's obviously because like, you know, like we have, we have a job to do. So I'm really like, I've used to that. Like my freshman year, I was like, oh man, like all my friends are out and I can't, but like, I've gotten used to it. But honestly, like, I feel like playing volleyball at Howard University has been amazing. It has so many connections. I've met so many people, especially like in the conference, in the MEAC conference. And I cannot complain. I really can't complain being an athlete. Like, I like, we get the free football tickets. So I mean, like, that's a plus too.

But honestly, I can, I cannot complain. Like, I really love the experience that I'm having. And I know it sounds nice because like, I'm legacy. Like, I'm like, you know, but like, honestly, I would not want to be anywhere. Like, I can't make myself anywhere else. And you mentioned like missing out on a few things from being an athlete. And I definitely can relate to that, relate to that. And it just goes to show like, to be a student-athlete, you have to make those sacrifices to get the job done. Like, you have to focus on your game, even though people get to experience that full college experience of partying, going to football games, and you know, like sharing those moments.

But it also makes it so like worth it in the end to miss out on those opportunities when you get the like, the feeling of winning, like, the feeling of winning for me is like, just as good as a party. Like, I can't lie. It's just like, ah, just being able to celebrate with my girls. Like, that's something I really like proud myself on. And, um, but being in college, so have you grown as an athlete since beginning your college, like sports career? I definitely think I have. I can definitely think coming in as a freshman, I was really scared. I did not know what to expect. Like when you come to college, like everyone is there it girl.

And on their, on their, on their sports team, everyone came, everyone was like, like on varsity, like for four years for freshmen varsity player, like, and it was just like, coming in, I was really scared. And I had to learn how to deal with my mental and how to really be like, okay, I am nervous, but how am I going to play through these nerves? Like, how am I going to deal with what I'm going to do that helps me not get as nervous during games or during practice or anything? And I had to like, learn also like having to like start all over like, you know, and club volleyball, they knew me for like 11 years, because I played the same club for 11 years.

So it's like, coming back, coming back and coming here, and having to start from the beginning how to fight for a spot again, and everything. I will say it was like really scary. But I'll put my I feel like I really grew my spring semester, like last semester, like we didn't have any games, just straight practices. And I had like, it was kind of like, oh, I have no choice. Like this is where the time I can mess up is where I can do work and stuff that I don't confident in. And I think my mental has grown a lot, which I think was in my playing, because like, when you're confident in yourself, you can do anything. So yeah. Yeah. So do you think like, um, playing at HBCU has made college sports easier or harder for you?

I think it's been easier, because like we're all Black girls. So it's like, everyone understands each other. We're like, okay, like, media day, like, I had my hair was fro, like a fro, like really fro. And I was like, but all these Black girls around me know how to do that, how to take care of their hair. I know how they understand, like, you know, obviously, your hair is not naturally straight. So we got, we brought a hot comb, we brought stuff for you, like, you know, and that has been, like, and so that was just, like, and stuff like these, my teammates understand me in a level where I, like, where, like, my club team teammates didn't, just because we're all Black girls.

And like, there's struggles that we go through in society, and just like, stuff that, just like, little stuff that, like, to us is nothing. There's like, but to us is nothing, but to other people, it's kind of like, oh, that's not like, that's not like the norm, you know? So I feel like it's easier. And it's like, the majority of Black girls, so even when you meet people from other schools, they still understand you for the way you are, because like, we're all Black girls. So yeah. So you like, you literally give the HBCU dream. So what else are you involved in on campus? Okay, well, I don't know if you can see it back, but I'm in a business fraternity at Howard University called Delta Sigma Pi.

And I, yeah, I did that last semester. And I'm also in the School of Business Council for Tech and Innovation, and I was in the student committee. And so, but I will say, 'Like', Delta Sigma Pi, that was like, I feel like I'd never had a professional experience coming to Howard University. I just was an athlete. And that's all I knew. And that's all I knew. And my sister, actually, my sister did this first. I'm not gonna lie, my sister did this first. And she told me, and she told me to do it. And so I was like, 'You know, why not?' My sister told me to do it, she succeeded, like, why not me? And so, yeah, so my sister did it.

And it was, was a game changer like I learned more about the corporate world than I ever had before any class could ever tell me I learned how to public speak if you told me that I was doing this a year ago I would have not believed you like honestly no literally like so they they helped me with my confidence I feel like the end like them helping me by confidence in the corporate world was kind of just like confident I held my confidence in general like in as a person and like I know like I'm just as good an athlete as I am as a regular person and it was like I feel

like you know even though they don't really like go together I feel like they kind of went like hand in hand and kind of like made me better at volleyball because like and now that I'm not I'm focused on other stuff now so I don't feel like stressed about volleyball so like if I'm having A bad day or bad practice, I can just go hang out with my like-minded brothers or like, or go like to the technical innovation committee and stuff like that. And just, I have so much stuff to do, it is a lot, I will say it's a lot, it's a lot doing that, but I can't lie, I love being busy, and I feel like that helps my mental health not having, if I have a bad practice, I can just do something else, like put my focus something else that I have to do today.

And so yeah, has attending an HBCU given you like more like a well-rounded college experience? I think it has, I honestly think it's given me like a well-rounded experience, just because like, you meet People like you meet new people every single day, like people that I didn't even know go here. I will meet them and I'll be like, 'Oh my gosh, hey, like!' And I feel like all the types of people go to Howard University, like any type of person you could ever imagine goes to Howard University, and I feel like it has helped me just like learn more about, have more like sympathy and compassion for people. Okay, it's just like you don't

know what people are going through, and you also like don't like people like I've never spoken to before they come up to me and they're like hello.' You know, I'm like, 'Oh, I would never guess you'd be my...' friend like one of my best friends walked up to me on a random Tuesday we were in the math class and she was like you know I always see you all the time I just want to I just want to like be your friend like I said you should go out to lunch or something and I was like oh of course like you know and I went to my like one of my best friends like

it's just now you're locked in and it's just like amazing what Howard really gives me and I like and I just think like it's so amazing like how especially like seeing like legacy like seeing the way I just give it like help my parents help my sister and I just feel like it's just been amazing watching It and like, especially being a part of it now, so, so what advice do you have for people that like are debating whether or not to attend an HBCU? Um, I would say just do it. Like, I well, like that sounds like simple, but like, if they want, like I, you can never experience anywhere else, like you can never, here where, like the color your skin does not matter, like it's not enough for all you do, like anything you do, it's never a factor.

Like I had to so, I had an internship last summer this last summer, yeah, and like, I feel like I was so confident because I was never, I was never, like held back because the color of my skin so even. African-American female doing tech, and that's not very common. I was sitting there talking to them as if I was just like, as if it was it wasn't this, it wasn't the um societal norm or whatever, and it just was like amazing. I feel like you just get gain your confidence here and it's just like you can't get it anywhere else that like, any other, any other school not HBCU, any other school, like just

yeah, like I can't emphasize that enough so no, I feel the exact same way, like coming to my HBCU, this is my third year of HBCU and I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm a third year running here um and I'm in my fifth year period but Like this is my third year at Jackson State and I cannot, I can't even put into words the feeling I get every time I step on that campus, like the feeling of security, the feeling of like oh my gosh, like I belong here. I literally tell every athlete I talk to, every person I talk to, that it's like a breath of fresh air knowing that I'm not going to be judged because I'm a black woman.

It's just like, I love it, I eat it up. Like, I can't eat it up the way I walk is different, the way I talk is different, the way I carry myself is different, the way I speak to people... it's just amazing, but okay. So what's your pitch for people to go to Howard? specifically oh okay I would say like Howard University has brought out a side of me that I've never seen before in my life and it's brought out a confident side of me and it's brought out an academic side of me that I didn't even know I had like I always like I always got straight A's but I never I came here and I was kind of like okay I'm here for volleyball I'm here for volleyball but it's just like I'm here for

it puts a different perspective of your life of like what do you really want to do and like I feel like Howard University has anything for everybody like has anything for everybody especially school of business I don't Like, don't get me started on that. I don't get me started on that. I love the School of Business, but anyways, um, I just feel like it had like Howard University makes me feel like no matter like what happens my four years here, I will, I will leave and I will be completely I'll be in the best situation I could possibly be, I'll be in the best place, like, academically, the stuff that I'll know, the stuff people that I'd had, the network, the alumni, just everything.

Like, that was kind of more than a pitch, but I was just, but yeah, I just think that Howard University is the best, and not to be biased, but yeah, not to be biased or whatever, but. um it's like it's really like amazing and I can't imagine who I would be without Howard University honestly so before I get to my last question what is one thing about your story when people ask you about your story and you're like oh my god I'm like oh my god I'm like oh my people hear your name when people hear Gabrielle Allen what is one thing you want people to know you by people to know me as

like someone who is just as good as and volleyball the way just as good in volleyball as she's in her academics I feel like my high school career I was struggling with like trying to find the balance of like volleyball and academics trying to find who I was outside of athletics and now I take a lot of pride in who I am like I think I've like I'm finding myself and outside of volleyball outside of athletics I'm finding myself in like a lot of athletics outside of that the 300 feet court whatever like I and I take a lot of pride in that because it was so hard I feel like part of that

was why it was kind of holding me back like when I had a bad game it would just be like okay who am I outside of volleyball if I'm and I don't if I don't find myself outside of volleyball those losses would be a I took them a lot harder or like those bad practices everyone has bad practice everyone's A bad day, and I took them a lot harder. But like finding myself outside of volleyball in the academic world, it's like it just was a breath of fresh air. I felt like that was really what I needed to do; like, I didn't know what I needed to do, and Howard taught me and like showed me that I saw I needed to do, and it just felt like, 'Okay, if I'm good at this, and I'm good because I will be fine in life; I'll be fine in life.' And when I tell myself I'll be fine in life, volleyball's a lot smoother.

Life's a lot smoother, like you know. And yeah, that's what I would say. So our last question is presented by our sponsors Cricket Wireless. So shout out to Cricket. A proud supporter of HBCU culture and HBCU-influenced the person you are today, I would say that is influenced me. Like, I say I have much more confidence; much more confident, I thought I was confident before, much more confident. Much more comfortable in who I am, and I will say like, I didn't go to like predominantly white schools or I didn't live in a predominantly white area, but it's still being at HBCU where like, I can walk around with my bonnet on and no one's going to look at me sideways. And yeah, like, it's just like showing me I'm very comfortable in who I am now, and I'm very confident.

I keep saying confident, but like, I'm very comfortable. Just who I am, like I wake up in the morning, I'm like yes this is who I am, like yes, like yes. I do volleyball, yes. I'm also in a business fraternity, yes. I'm doing this and that, and when I go back home and tell people like I'm doing all this stuff, they're like 'how are you doing all this stuff?' Like 'how are you like managing it's just' for me to me, that's what I needed like I needed so much other stuff to do to find myself and just to be not just a volleyball player.

So yeah, well thank you so much for joining us. You can definitely hear just from your story that it's not just about being an athlete at HBCU, it's about the whole HBCU dream and That that's definitely what I will remember from our conversation, like you're you're definitely the HBCU dream living through the student life, the athletic life, the legacy life, like just experiencing new things becoming a new person finding your identity, like I genuinely loved your story and I thank you so much for joining us. Thank you listeners; thanks for tuning in. We've got tons more great guests and we will continue talking about HBCUs from all angles, so make sure you rate, review, and subscribe so you don't miss out on more Echoes of the Yard presented by Cricket Wireless. Bye.